Kidney: We’ll keep feet on ground for Cup build-up

IRELAND may have confounded the bookmakers but their thoroughlydeserved victory over England in the RBS Six Nations finale came as no surprise to Declan Kidney.

As the Irish coach reflected on a campaign that ended more auspiciously than it began in Rome eight weeks ago, he said he was convinced all the hard work would pay-off.

After a mixed season, it was the perfect time to come good, although Kidney was largely unemotional as he put the win in perspective.

“It was a sign of a few more things going right, when a few small things made all the difference,” he said.

“It’s all about margins. Sometimes margins lie a bit. We probably scored three tries (one disallowed) but we did manage to score two from those we created, so that’s the balance we have been talking about for the last few weeks.”

With Ireland fuelled by the desire to play an expansive brand of rugby, Kidney promised more of the same from his charges when they regroup in August for a series of world cup warm-up games.

“We need to keep doing that to move forward because that’s just one match. It obviously leaves a great feeling and hopefully it will give the lads a bit of pep going back to the provinces.

“I’ve learned over the last couple of years that if you’re to win a match it should be the last one because that is what carries you through three or four months. The way the international calendar goes means you have to wait that long.

“For now we feel delighted and that will carry through to tomorrow. There may also be a sense of frustration too but that’s a good mix because it helps us keep our feet on the ground.”

And on that theme he was already looking at the challenge of getting out of the world cup group.

“We’re in with Australia who are powering ahead. Italy have shown that by beating France we know it’s going to take it all we can do to get out of our pool but this win will give us a bit of feel good.”

Kidney believes Ireland are unquestionably in a better place than when he took over two years ago through a learning process.

“Yeah, the good thing is we have all these players. We won two years ago with maybe 20 players but now have a broader band than that and can cope with a few bangs and knocks. I think we need the match practice for the world cup and that’s where the four matches in August will be important.

“We’re learning. Our game is based on trusting the players to make decisions and we’re getting better all the time to make those right decisions, to vary our play. There is a lot of talk about the game plan but the game plan is about making decisions out on the pitch.

“We’re not physically strong like South Africa to be able to motor over teams, there is a different skill set to some of the other teams, and I just believe in Irish lads that they’re fairly intelligent.

“Sometimes it’s a growing process to make the right calls. Have we made wrong calls in the past? Yes we have, but we are getting better at it.”

As the players get set to rejoin their provinces for more Heineken Cup, Amlin Cup and Magners League action, Kidney will have plenty time to reflect on a season of mixed results and performances, of promise, achievement and frustration.

“Overall we’re in a good place but I wouldn’t be hiding away from the fact that we lost three matches and were well beaten in one (New Zealand).

“After matches you can get carried away in the emotion of things but we will remain balanced and won’t hide behind those losses but enjoy the win because it’s in the moment.

“We knew we had to play a good game. We just knew we had to perform closer to our ability and I think that’s what we did. They (players) have shown courage in the last four weeks, the courage to go for it, I was also pleased with discipline, one of the areas we always said was within our control.”