Roy Keane: It’s time for Ireland to stand up and fight

There was more than a hint of that Munster warrior spirit coming off Roy Keane yesterday as he issued his own defiant call to arms ahead of the make or break game against Italy in Lille tomorrow.

“We could talk about sports science all day, trying to get players up — it sounds straightforward — for two huge games in four or five days,” he said at one point.

“It can take its toll on players who are maybe not used to that. But that’s not making excuses. You’d still want lads to look after the ball a bit better and have a bit more care in possession. And a bit more courage — show for their team-mates and give them some options. If you get fouled you get up and you get up pretty quickly.