Ireland don't have point to prove after World Cup, insists O'Mahony

The captain says the Six Nations opener against France is all about a good performance.

IN THE THICK OF IT: Peter O'Mahony during Ireland Rugby Captain's Run at the Orange Velodrome, Marseille. Picture: INPHO/Dan Sheridan

Ireland captain Peter O’Mahony has insisted his squad are not out to prove a point as they move on from their World Cup quarter-final exit on their return to France for the Guinness Six Nations opening round.

O’Mahony, appointed by Andy Farrell to succeed Johnny Sexton as national team skipper, will lead Ireland into a new era at Marseille’s Stade Velodrome on Friday night when they play the French to get the 2024 championship underway.

Sexton’s last game as a player came in the last-eight defeat to New Zealand last October as Ireland once again failed to go beyond the quarter-final stage of a World Cup and they face a French team whose own dreams of lifting the Webb Ellis Cup on home soil were crushed the following night at Stade de France by eventual champions South Africa.

Yet O’Mahony, 34 and set to captain Ireland for the 11th time in his career, said the World Cup would not be a motivating factor for his team.

“Performance is paramount for every Test match. We’re not trying to prove a point to ourselves about what happened, we’re trying to prove to ourselves where this team is at, where we want to go, setting up momentum.

“It’s not about putting things right or whatever, it’s about a Test match tomorrow night. That’s what the occasion is and that’s the most important thing for us. Performance is absolutely paramount. It’s what everyone is here to do, be the best version of themselves and that’s what we’ll try do tomorrow night.” 

O’Mahony said he was not under more pressure to deliver a result for Ireland now he had become captain.

“I think the immature version of me would have said yes, but I've plenty of miles on the clock at the moment and with that brings experience.

"I've a great group of people around me, a great coaching staff and playing group.

"We all feel the pressure of delivering a performance for Ireland, every time you're picked it's not just an honour but it's a huge responsibility.

"We all feel that, it doesn't matter if you're captain or travelling reserve. You feel a responsibility to deliver for the jersey and that's goes for us all."

The Ireland skipper also had time to praise Joe McCarthy’s contribution to the Ireland cause on the eve of the lock’s Six Nations debut. McCarthy, 22, is one of four new faces from the side which started against the All Blacks last time out, with Jack Crowley succeeding Sexton at fly-half, Calvin Nash replacing the injured Mack Hansen and Robbie Henshaw returning in the absence of Garry Ringrose with a shoulder issue, at outside centre.

O’Mahony described McCarthy, who will earn his sixth Test cap in Marseille on Friday, as “destructive” and said he was impressed by his work ethic "Obviously the performances that you've seen is the energy he's bringing. Big, athletic, what a man to do extras, to learn.

"He's been in a bit now and you can see every camp he's been to you can see he's picking stuff up and he's learning, he's a young man eager to learn and perform and play well and impress and that's exactly what he's done.

"Destructive would be a word I'd use for him but loves the game, is a great man to have around, is great craic and has really added to the squad in more ways than just rugby.”