Easterby: time was right to quit international arena

SIMON EASTERBY has announced his retirement from international rugby only two days after winning his 65th cap for Ireland.

The former British and Irish Lion, who turns 33 in July, chose St Patrick’s Day to call it a day. He won his last cap as a replacement against England at Twickenham on Saturday.

The Llanelli Scarlets captain believes the time is right to walk away from the international stage.

“I’d like to thank the Irish management and particularly the players for their support during my international career,” said Easterby, who played in every game of the 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 Six Nations Championships and is Ireland’s most capped back-row forward.

“I’ve been extremely fortunate to play with some of the great players of Irish rugby and it has been a privilege to be involved with them and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.

“But after eight years in the squad I now feel this is the time to step down.

“With the demands on international rugby players these days, and with a young family, I feel this is the right time to move on to the next stage of my life and over the next two years my main focus is on the Scarlets, where hopefully we can bring some success to the fans.” Easterby won his first cap against Scotland at Lansdowne Road in 2000 and continued success in an Ireland jersey saw him receive a call-up for the 2005 Lions tour to New Zealand as a replacement for the injured Lawrence Dallaglio.

With Brian O’Driscoll and Paul O’Connell injured, he captained Ireland in the 2005 autumn series.

Meanwhile Rory Best insists under-fire Eddie O’Sullivan should remain as coach of the national side.

The Ulster hooker believes O’Sullivan is an easy target after a disappointing Six Nations campaign. But Best reckoned that Ireland’s gameplan in their 33-10 defeat to England was fundamentally sound. “I believe Eddie prepared us very well for the England game. If you look closely at the video we were close to doing very well.

“I would like him to stay on. I have a lot of respect for him as a coach. He has brought my game on a lot in the last two years. When I look at the player I am now, and think about where I was a couple of years ago, I owe him big time.”

Best revealed that the Twickenham game-plan was to stretch England and put out half Danny Cipriani under pressure. “We got the set-up right but did not get numbers to rucks which cost us ball. If you cannot keep the ball you are not going to win games.

“England were good to be fair and there is no doubt that in Danny Cipriani they have a future star. We thought Cipriani might crack under pressure but he didn’t. He grew into the game which is the sign of a class player.”

Best said it was incumbent on all involved in Irish rugby to be positive and not to buy into the air of doom and gloom.

“We go to Australia and New Zealand this summer where it will be a big challenge to turn things around. But if Munster do well in the Heineken Cup and Leinster win the Magners League, suddenly we can be back where we were not so long ago.”