Leamy keeps a lid on Ireland ambitions

DENIS LEAMY insists Ireland’s focus at the Rugby World Cup must be “all about getting out of our pool.”

Four years ago the national side had expressed big ambitions ahead of the global showpiece before coming home red-faced after a series of uninspiring performances. But Leamy believes the 2011 crop have learned hugely from that debacle.

He explained: “I think we’re better off moving on from it. There was such a big build-up and we probably didn’t help things in the way we went out in the open and stated that we wanted to get to the semi-finals and final.