Daragh Ó Conchúir: What would represent a good Six Nations for Ireland?
Mick Galwey: “Any team that wants to be successful, you have to win your home games and if Ireland win their home games this season they’ve beaten the two favourites. Look back to two years ago, the reason we won the Grand Slam is because we beat England and France at home. The reason we lost a Grand Slam two years previous to that is we lost to France in the first game ever at Croke Park.
I think we’ve a great chance. I wouldn’t be writing off Wales and Scotland but we’re good enough to go there and win.
Are we as good as we were two years ago? Time will tell. But there’s no team firing on all cylinders. I’m not saying the standard has dropped but between form and injuries, there is no northern hemisphere team that stands out.
If you look at France, they got hammered by Australia in the November series. England were probably the most impressive of the home nations in the November series but they haven’t beaten us over here in a long time and hopefully we can continue that trend. Whatever about not being able to fill the Aviva in November, there won’t be a seat left for this one. They’ll be hanging off the walls.”
DÓC: Is it fair to say that the scrum is where Ireland is most vulnerable?
Mick Galwey: “I think that’s over-analysed. I don’t think the current rules of the scrum suit any team. It’s all down to the referee. I think the IRB need to look at the scrum because there’s too much time, not alone at the scrum, but the re-setting of the scrum. It doesn’t make for good rugby, for good TV, for people watching it.
There is an issue in the sport in general but do Ireland have a problem? I don’t think we have.
If you look at Ireland at the moment, where we’re vulnerable is probably in the back row where we’ve had a lot of injuries. I’d like to be in a situation where we’d have Jamie Heaslip and Stephen Ferris and where Declan Kidney would have to pick from our top five or six players in that position.
The same with our back three. You’re missing Rob Kearney, Geordan Murphy, Tommy Bowe and Andrew Trimble. The lads that are there are fine by me but we need to have all those fellas back.”
DÓC: As a former second row, would you have gone with Donncha O’Callaghan over Leo Cullen?
Mick Galwey: “It’s a tough one. Leo has done exceptionally well as a captain and a leader for Leinster and he’s never really played a bad game. He’s Mr Consistent. You look at Donncha, he was left out of the Munster team for the last game and came on and turned it. He needs to perform like that the whole time. There’s no more honest and professional player than Donncha. He works well with Paulie and has played with him for Munster, Ireland and the Lions. He has proved himself but in fairness, Leo is knocking hard and will have a role to play. It’s a good situation to be in and there’s competition for places, just as there is in the scrum half position.”
DÓC: Should these Six Nations be used to blood more players with the World Cup in mind?
Mick Galwey: “The Six Nations is the oldest international rugby competition in the world and I wouldn’t look beyond it. If you play well in it, taking each game as it comes, the World Cup looks after itself. Okay, if we play poorly and lose a few matches, then you’re in trouble, but you can’t look forward to the World Cup to the expense of the Six Nations.”
DÓC: Who is likely to be the Irish star?
Mick Galwey: “I’ve been very impressed with Sean O’Brien. Everyone is talking about him but he’s getting his chance now and he’s picked on form. He’s playing exceptionally well. I’d also look to Keith Earls. I think he’s had a hard time with injury but I’ve seen him do some fantastic things. He’s got everything. He’s got gas, he’s got football. He mightn’t be a finisher in the form of Luke Fitzgerald but he just needs a clear run and needs to be given a definite role. I’d hate to see him becoming Mr Versatile or a super sub.”
DÓC: Who will be collecting the silverware at the end?
Mick Galwey: “I think whoever beats Ireland will win it. France have to go to Twickenham. It might go down to the last day. There might be no Grand Slam. If it comes down to England coming to the Aviva with it all to play for, I think Ireland will win it.”
Source: http://feeds.examiner.ie/~r/iesportsblog/~3/mPuQlDUnNc0/post.aspx
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