Rob Kearney: We need to keep expectations on even keel

Leinster ace claims Ireland were ‘lucky’ to win back-to-back Six Nations on points difference

Rob Kearney has moved to dampen expectations ahead of the World Cup by telling the Irish public: ‘Just because we have won back-to-back Six Nations titles doesn’t mean we are the best team in the world’.

Ireland’s stunning progress since Joe Schmidt’s appointment two years ago means many are tipping his side to make history and lift the William Webb Ellis trophy at Twickenham on October 31.

But Leinster full-back Kearney has sounded a note of caution, saying recent defeats to Wales and the Barbarians should act as much needed reality-checks for Ireland.

Instead, Kearney believes there are as many as 10 international sides who can beat Ireland and has warned they cannot begin to believe their own hype if they are to rule the world later this year.

“The problem we have is trying to manage expectations a little bit,” said Kearney.

“The Irish public think ‘back-to-back Six Nations means we are the best in the world now’. Sadly, that’s not the case.

“We have been so lucky to win two Six Nations, they were both on points difference and a lot of things have gone our way on those last two (rounds of) games. We could easily have found ourselves in second or third position.

“It is important within the environment as a group of players and coaches we are the ones who control our own expectations as opposed to having those expectations put on top of us.

“As soon as you start to believe you are the finished article and that you don’t need to improve any more then that will be your downfall.

“How do we do that? We look back at a game in which we were beaten.

“We played the Barbarians last week, got destroyed at the breakdown and got beaten. It isn’t a very difficult thing to do, controlling expectations if you know you can be beaten by seven, eight, nine, 10 teams in the world.”

Yet Kearney’s comments should not be taken as a sign he believes Ireland are incapable of winning the World Cup.

Instead, he points out this is the start of the ‘phoney war’ where every international player and coach talks up the opposition to ease the pressure on their own shoulders.

And as he posed alongside the William Webb Ellis trophy pitchside at Twickenham, Kearney took care not to touch it. That, he says, would be bad luck. Rather, he concentrated on talking up others.

“For the next few months all of these media interviews are going to be dominated by people saying, ‘no, you’re going to win it, no, you’re going to win it’,” he laughed.

“No-one wants to win it! No-one wants to say that at the minute.”

True, but people are certainly saying it on Ireland’s behalf.

Key to that expectation is Schmidt. Kearney believes his former Leinster coach has instilled a level of mental toughness in the side that has allowed them to become serial winners, an accusation that could hardly be levelled at many past Irish sides.

Unprompted, Kearney brings up the epic defeat to New Zealand in 2013 as a crucial game in Ireland’s development under their Kiwi coach.

After just 18 minutes Ireland were 19-0 up but Aaron Cruden’s conversion of Ryan Crotty’s last-gasp score condemned the hosts to a 24-22 defeat.

The 29-year-old is confident the result would be rather different if the game were played now.

“Put the Irish team in that same scenario now we would be an awful lot better equipped to close it out,” he said.

“That comes from winning. It is a habit. The more games you win the better you become at it. Your mental toughness is tested, it takes a battering and improves again. You then have more belief in your own team and the guys around you. The Irish team has a level of consistency now we haven’t had for some time. I’ve worked with Joe for five years and he is a superb coach. A lot of people will recognise and agree that he is now one of the best coaches in the world. We are a little more mentally tougher. When those big games come and we are in the dying minutes we can close them out or win them.

“You have six or seven different teams who can win the tournament. You just need to make sure when you do come up against one of those teams you fulfil your potential.”

One team that certainly didn’t fulfil their potential this season was Kearney’s Leinster. A fifth-placed finish in the Pro12, coupled with a European Rugby Champions Cup defeat to Toulon meant the sack for Matt O’Connor.

Kearney expressed sympathy for the Australian, but with the likes of Johnny Sexton returning to Dublin next season he feels better days lie ahead.

“Matt was a hugely popular guy with the players, everyone liked him and he was a good coach,” he said.

“Unfortunately the board made the decision our performances and results weren’t at the level they should be and he was the guy that suffered.

“Changes are coming, and players are coming back who will add a huge amount of value. I am hoping next season is better than this one for sure.”

It certainly will be if Ireland succeed. Kearney is playing down their chances, but the phoney war is just beginning.

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