Heaslip hails Leinster triumph

Ireland's Jamie Heaslip insists Leinster's historic defeat of Munster at Thomond Park matched anything on that happened on last summer's British and Irish Lions tour.

Heaslip, who started all three tests in South Africa, was named man of the match as the Dublin side recorded their first victory in Limerick for 15 years.

Fellow Irish international Jonny Sexton's 67th minute penalty was enough to give the visitors a 16-15 win with full-back Rob Kearney crossing for the game's only try.

And after moving seven points clear of their great rival at the top of the Magners League with a game in hand, the No.8 turned his attentions to Friday’s Heineken Cup quarter final.

“That was right up there with any international match in terms of intensity,” he said..

“It's always nice to beat Munster, but we know that it was a battle and we just came out on top.

“We're not going to let this win go to our heads.

“Although it's good to have a bit more space between us at the top of the league, we have a lot of hard games coming up, particularly next week's against Clermont.”

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Kidney: We're desperate to claim the Triple Crown

Ireland coach Declan Kidney has warned against complacency as his side battle to win the Triple Crown in their final Six Nations game against Scotland at Croke Park.

Kidney’s men have already pulled off victories against England (20-16) and Wales (27-17) but must now overcome a Scotland side battling to avoid the wooden spoon.

And while disappointed to not be challenging for the title the 2009 IRB coach of the year insists his team is desperate to end the campaign on a high.

"This team isn't blasé about the enormity of winning silverware in any way, shape or form," says Kidney.

"It's a common goal to win silverware whenever we can, to be blasé would be disrespectful to those Irish players who spilt a lot of blood over the years but failed to win a Triple Crown.

"I recognised the importance of the Triple Crown when we won the first one in 2004 because of the long time since we'd won one before then.

"You always set your targets as high as you can in trying to achieve the ultimate, which is the Grand Slam. When you can't achieve that, the next best thing is the championship or the Triple Crown.

"Sometimes goals have to be reassessed mid-season and after we lost to France, we had to do that."

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Kidney eager to wave goodbye to Croke Park on a high.

Ireland coach Declan Kidney has told his players not to forget what is at stake when they take on Scotland in their last Six Nations fixture of 2010 on Saturday.

France’s demolition of Italy on Sunday means even if England do the impossible and beat the champions-elect in Paris, Ireland will need to overhaul a huge points difference to retain their title.

But with the Triple Crown still a possibility and the visit of Andy Robinson’s Scotland representing Ireland’s final match at Croke Park before they return to Lansdowne Road after a four-year absence, Kidney is desperate for his players to sign off with a win.

“For us Saturday is a final. Being a bit older than the players I came through two decades when we never won anything,” said Kidney, who will be well aware victory will see Ireland claim their fifth Triple Crown in seven years.

“We're playing Scotland next week in a one-off Test match which we see as a final.

“The GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association) have been hugely supportive of us while we've been at Croke Park and maybe we can pay them due respect by playing our last match here as if it's a final.

“The Scots are known for ruining Irish parties and they'll want to do that once more.

“The great thing about the Six Nations is that no two games are ever alike and they all present different challenges.”

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Ireland unchanged for Wales clash.

Ireland coach Declan Kidney has stuck with the same XV that beat England at Twickenham for the  Six Nations clash with Wales at Croke Park.

Leinster’s Jamie Heaslip was the only doubt after picking up an ankle injury in the 20-16 victory for which he was named man of the match but will be fully fit.

Clubmate Jonny Sexton also keeps his place in the No.10 shirt despite an impressive cameo from replacement Ronan O’Gara against England.

Captain Brian O’Driscoll is in line to win his 100th cap – his 63rd as captain – with second-row Donncha O’Callaghan making his 60th appearance.

And in the only change to the matchday squad fit-again full-back Rob Kearney returns to the bench after recovering from the knee injury he sustained in the defeat to France.

The Leinster and British Lions star takes the place of Andrew Trimble as Geordan Murphy keeps hold of the starting slot.

Ireland: G Murphy; Bowe, B O’Driscoll, D’Arcy, Earls; Sexton, O’Leary; Healy, R Best, Hayes, O’Callaghan, O’Connell, Ferris, D Wallace, Heaslip.

Replacements: Buckley, Cronin, Cullen, Jennings, Reddan, O’Gara, Kearney

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Bowe hails Kidney's wise words

Ireland winger Tommy Bowe has thanked coach Declan Kidney for turning around his Six Nations campaign in the win over England.

Bowe stole the show at Twickenham with two tries in the 20-16 victory to finally open his account in this year’s tournament.

The Ospreys star’s confidence was dwindling after he had been a virtual spectator in the win over Italy and defeat to France but after Kidney’s intervention he took his international tally to 13 tries in 28 appearances.

The 26-year-old will face several club team-mates when Ireland welcome Wales to Croke Park this weekend and Bowe can’t wait to get back to action.

“Not many coaches would spot that I was trying too hard but that’s one of Declan’s main strengths,” said Bowe.

“You don’t like being pulled aside by the head coach in front of everyone but he wanted a quiet word and told me to relax.

“I didn’t think I’d done that badly in the first two games but I was very, very frustrated.

“And I know people like Andrew Trimble and Shane Horgan are breathing down my neck – I just want to keep as much distance between us as possible.”

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Flannery six-week ban upheld

Irish hooker Jerry Flannery will not play again in this year's Six Nations after his appeal against his suspension was dismissed.

The Munster star was banned for six weeks after kicking France’s Alexis Palisson in Ireland’s 33-10 defeat in Paris.

An independent Six Nations appeal committee met at a London hotel and decided against Flannery’s reinstatement after considering submissions made by the player.

They upheld the original disciplinary committee’s finding that the act of foul play was in the mid-range of offending defined by IRB Regulation 17 although French commentators were demanding stiffer sentences.

Rory Best replaced Flannery for last weekend’s Six Nations win over England and is likely to continue in that role against Wales.

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Kidney gives Sexton first Six Nations start

Jonathan Sexton will make his first Six Nations start in Saturday's clash with England after replacing Ronan O'Gara at fly-half as one of four changes made by Ireland boss Declan Kidney.

As expected Leicester full-back Geordan Murphy comes in for the injured Rob Kearney while the suspended Jerry Flannery is replaced by Rory Best.

In the second row, Donncha O'Callaghan partners his Munster teammate Paul O’Connell as Leo Cullen drops to the bench.

Sexton was widely tipped to replace O’Gara before the start of the Championship after his cool performances during the autumn internationals but injury intervened.

However Sexton has forced his way back in the No.10 shirt after a storming performance in Leinster’s recent defeat of the Scarlets scoring 22 of his side’s 27 points.

O’Gara drops to the unfamiliar role of bench warmer, where he replaces Ulster’s Paddy Wallace, and is sat alongside the now fit Andrew Trimble.

Ireland team to face England: Murphy, Bowe, O'Driscoll, D'Arcy, Earls, Sexton, O'Leary, Healy, Best, Hayes, O'Callaghan, O'Connell, Ferris, Wallace, Heaslip

Replacements: Cronin, Buckley, Cullen, Jennings, Reddan, O'Gara, Trimble

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Ronan O'Gara kicked six from six for Ireland

Ronan O'Gara turned in a perfect kicking display as Ireland brushed aside Italy 29-11 in the opening fixture of the Six Nations at Croke Park.

It was a far from vintage performance from last year’s Grand Slam winners, but O’Gara – back in the No.10 shirt following the autumn tests – contributed 16 points while lock Leo Cullen destroyed the Italian lineout.

Tries from No.8 Jamie Heaslip and scrum-half Tomas O’Leary in the first half helped put Ireland in the driving seat but Declan Kidney will be worried both by his team’s lack of a cutting edge and by the manner in which Munster’s O’Gara limped off in the second half.

After an Italian offence at the scrum, O’Gara made no mistake with a tenth-minute penalty to pass the 500-point barrier in the Championship.

Worse was to follow for the visitors as O’Gara demonstrated his gifts with the ball in hand whipping a perfect flat pass for Andrew Trimble to run onto.

The Ulster winger broke down the line and the ball was superbly worked wide for Heaslip to run over with O’Gara adding the extras.

Neither side were really able to find their rhythm but on 26 minutes the Azzurri scrum exacted some revenge by forcing Ireland into conceding a penalty and Six Nations debutant Craig Gower stepped up to land a huge 45m penalty.

But no sooner had they got on the board than lock Carlo Del Fava was pinged for holding on and O’Gara restored Ireland’s ten-point lead.

Things went from bad to worse on 33 minutes when centre Gonzalo Garcia was sinbinned for a spear tackle on Brian O’Driscoll and Ireland would take advantage of the extra man.

Lock Cullen, making his first Six Nations start in seven years, once again stole Italy lineout ball and from the resulting ruck O’Leary needed no second invitation to dive over with O’Gara’s conversion giving them a commanding 23-3 lead.

But Ireland’s first half was blotted when Rob Kearney gathered a difficult bouncing ball only to fire his clearance straight at Kaine Robertson who gleefully dived over. Mirco Bergamasco took on the kicking duties from Gower but was off target with the conversion.

Bergamasco did though did split the posts with a penalty just after halftime but just like they did in the first half Ireland responded immediate through O’Gara to make it 26-11.

After O’Gara made exited the fray on 66 minutes and his replacement Paddy Wallace immediately added another penalty.

There were no fireworks in a turgid ending and the result will give both coaches plenty to ponder.

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O'Gara back as injury rules out Sexton.

Fly-half Ronan O'Gara will win his 94th cap in Ireland's Six Nations opener with Italy after Leinster sensation Jonathan Sexton was ruled out through injury.

Sexton had been set to keep his place at ten after an impressive display in the autumn win over world champions South Africa but a dead leg has ruled him out.

That means O’Gara gets his chance with Leinster’s Kevin McLaughlin also in line for his debut in the back-row alongside David Wallace and Jamie Heaslip.

Andrew Trimble is back on the left-wing for his first start since March 2008 instead of Lions tourist Keith Earls and Gordon D’Arcy will partner Brian O’Driscoll in the centres for the defending champions.

Ulster hooker Rory Best’s rapid recovery from neck surgery has been rewarded with a place on the bench after he played in Ireland A’s defeat to the England Saxons.

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Trimble set to return

Ulster winger Andrew Trimble insists his injury troubles are a thing of the past after being tipped to start for Ireland in their opening Six Nations match against Italy.

The 25-year-old missed much of last term with a knee injury but served a reminder of his talents with a stunning Heineken Cup try against Bath two weeks ago.

And after catching the eye of Ireland boss Declan Kidney, Trimble, who has bagged 40 points in 25 international starts, is set to start ahead of Keith Earls and Shane Horgan.

“I think this year has been hard work. It was a long pre-season with the operation and the ten weeks off my feet and getting back into it,” said Trimble, who appeared as a replacement against Fiji in November having not represented the senior side since 2008.

“I enjoyed working hard and then when the games started I tried to get myself more momentum as Ulster did as well.

“I have been really enjoying my rugby over the last while.

“Especially the last couple of games in the Heineken Cup. I am feeling fit and feeling fast, getting more and more confidence with every game I have played this year for Ulster.

“Now there is a bigger challenge ahead. The Six Nations is the next target, there are opportunities there.

“But there are also a lot of guys playing really well at the minute too. I am not the only one who is playing reasonably well.

“Shane Horgan, Keith Earls and Tommy Bowe are all playing well. A lot of guys are doing great stuff. So it will be a case of wait and see what happens.”

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Bradley tips front-row pair to feature in the RBS 6 Nations

Ireland A coach Michael Bradley has underlined the importance of front-rowers Marcus Horan and Rory Best ahead of the Six Nations.

Both started Sunday’s Ireland A’s 13-17 defeat to England Saxons, although Best was taken off midway through as a precaution.

And although the opening fixture against Italy may come too soon for the pair, Bradley has backed the duo to play an integral part for the Ireland in their Grand Slam defence.

He said: “It's very important for Irish rugby that both Rory and Marcus are available for Declan and the Six Nations.

“They are not quite there yet and may not be considered for the Italy game, but there are four mighty games after that and the more games they get, the better it is for Irish rugby.”

Bradley also believes Paddy Wallace – who featured started at fly-half – is in the line to get the nod to play centre, ahead of in-form Gordon D'Arcy.

He said: “Paddy went well at 10 although he hasn't played much rugby in that position recently.

“He is a player who has been involved all the time with Ireland and he doesn't even need to force his way back in. He's already there.

“He would have to be omitted. It's up to other players like Gordon or Jonathan Sexton to get ahead of him because it's Paddy's jersey.”

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Lancaster unveils Saxons team for Ireland clash

Head coach Stuart Lancaster has handed Ben Youngs, Tom Wood and David Attwood their England Saxons debuts for the clash with Ireland A on Sunday.

Leicester Tigers rising star Youngs will play at scrum-half while Worcester’s Wood, who agreed to join Northampton next season earlier in the week, and Gloucester’s Attwood will play at flanker and second-row respectively.

Wasps fly-half Danny Cipriani - on the comeback trail from injury - made himself unavailable for the game due to a family bereavement.

Highly-rated Saracens youngster Alex Goode will start at full-back to allow Shane Geraghty, who was axed from the senior squad after an under-par autumn international display, to play at No. 10.

Quins flyer David Strettle will play on the wing while newcomers Geoff Parling (Leicester), Jon Clarke (Northampton) and Miles Benjamin (Worcester) are on the bench.

And with the game being played at Bath's Recreation Ground boss Lancaster is expecting some partisan England support.

“We are really looking forward to Sunday,” said Lancaster. “We have a young squad full of quality players and a good mix of experience. I'm sure they will rise to a challenging Ireland A squad.

“Bath Rugby have a passionate and loyal fan base and we hope to see as many of them as possible out on Sunday cheering us on and watching this exciting group of players in action.”

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O'Driscoll eyeing Six Nations history

Captain Brian O'Driscoll is adamant Ireland can become the first team in Six Nations history to win back-to-back Grand Slams - despite having to play France in their own back yard.

Under Declan Kidney Ireland won the Grand Slam for the first time since 1948 last year however they are currently behind France in the odds to repeat the trick.

Kidney’s troops face a daunting trip to the Stade de France on February 13 – one of just two games on the road this year – in what could be a defining fixture in their bid to make history.

No team has won two Grand Slams in a row since the Five Nations became the Six Nations in 2000 but O’Driscoll insists not even France will stop them becoming the first.

“You hope it will be your time again, you get selfish after attaining a goal, you get a taste for it,” said O’Driscoll. “But it doesn’t mean your ambition isn’t still there – in fact it’s heightened.

“We know you don’t retain anything in this tournament. You give it back and try to win it again and that is exactly the way we are looking at it.

“If you are better than France this year you won’t be far away for they are strong. Marc Lievremont has changed the team a huge amount and they were very strong against South Africa.

“Back-to-back Grand Slams is all new ground to me I just go with the flow. But as a team we won’t look at things any differently and we won’t treat it any differently.”

Horan and Best part of powerful Ireland A squad for Saxons clash

Marcus Horan and Rory Best have been named in a strong Ireland A squad that will take on England Saxons in Bath this weekend.

Horan - who played in Munster's final Heineken Cup pool match - is named among the front rows alongside Best, who also recently returned to full-time training with Ulster having recovered from injury.

Denis Hurley has been included in the squad and is being monitored on his recovery from the leg injury which forced his late withdrawal from Munster's Heineken Cup clash against Northampton at the weekend.

Meanwhile several players sat out training with the Ireland senior squad in Limerick on Tuesday.

Donncha O'Callaghan (knee), Sean Cronin (sprained ankle) and Stephen Ferris (shin) did not train, but none of the players have been ruled out of contention for the first weekend of the Six Nations Championship.

Ronan O'Gara, Gordon D'Arcy, Jonathan Sexton and Shane Horgan all sat out training as well as a precaution following the weekend's games.

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