Play on, Bowe tells ‘Golden Generation’

TOMMY BOWE has urged Ireland’s ‘Golden Generation’ not to hang up their international boots following their World Cup heartbreak.

The Ireland wing will return to action for the first time since the 22-10 quarter-final defeat to Wales when he turns out for the Ospreys against Glasgow Warriors tomorrow night.

He admitted he needed to totally get away from rugby following the World Cup heartbreak, but with the dust settled he is more determined than ever to be successful on the international stage.

The tournament in New Zealand had been billed as the last chance for the likes of Brian O’Driscoll and Paul O’Connell to lift the Webb Ellis Trophy. And while Bowe does not expect them to make it to the next global gathering he reckons they should continue for as long as they can on the international stage.

“There was a lot of talk prior to the World Cup that this was the last chance for the so called ‘golden generation’ of Irish rugby but Brian’s already come out and said he wants to carry on for at least another 18 months,” said Bowe.

“A lot of the other guys that people are talking about hanging up their boots also want to carry on.

“At the World Cup they were in the best shape I’ve ever seen them at and they can they definitely continue.

“I wouldn’t be surprised to see a very similar squad of players going forward with one or two younger players coming in as well.”

Bowe admitted losing to Wales in the last eight was a bitter-pill to swallow particularly after advancing from Pool C unbeaten. But he is confident that it is not the end of a golden era and Ireland have the talent to flourish at the World Cup in four years’ time.

“Getting knocked out at the quarters was very hard to take. We’ve never reached the semi-finals and had a great chance to do that after beating Australia and topping our group.

“But while it might have been Brian’s last big chance at the World Cup, the players in four years’ time won’t be thinking that and I’m confident we can challenge in 2015. We definitely have the young players coming through.

“Wales showed the way in the World Cup and their young players really stepped up to the plate. The only problem in Ireland is that when the stars go back to the provinces they always start. Maybe we need to give the youngsters more game time to blood them properly.”

Next up for Bowe, in an Ireland jersey is the 2012 Six Nations. He is determined to gain redemption for the World Cup exit but reckons the tournament will be one of the most hotly contested ever.

“In a way it will be no different to other years and we want to do as well as we can. But we’re hurting.

“It’s a massive Six Nations for us as it is all the teams. Every side has a point to prove. None of us won the World Cup, we’ll all have things that we weren’t happy with and all have things to put right.”