As newly-appointed Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan prepares his team for their Six Nations opener against Wales at Lansdowne Road tomorrow, the talk is all about the weather which has hit Ireland.
Driving winds and heavy rain have forced the Irish Students' game to be moved from Belfield to Wicklow RFC's ground but O'Sullivan is hopeful that by tomorrow conditions will have improved. "I think it is in the interest of both teams to have conditions that will make for playable rugby and it would be wrong to suggest that the current climate would be advantageous to either team," O'Sullivan said.
O'Sullivan has not had the best of luck since taking over, with both captain Keith Wood and fellow lion Malcolm O'Kelly out. "Luckily, the injuries happened earlier on in the week, which gave me more time to rectify things."
And suggestions of pre-match nerves were also quashed by the Cork native, who added: "I haven't had time to think about it really. It was no different than when I was assistant manager. I received a real walloping in my first game as coach with the American Eagles when the Canadians hammered us in Toronto, but I have been happy with the way things have been going this week," O'Sullivan added.
O'Sullivan also believes Wales will pose a far greater threat than when the teams last met in October. "I think the team they have this time round has a more realistic look to it," he said. "They have a strong middle three and some quality line-out jumpers. Overall, I think this is the best Welsh team we have seen in quite some time."
Filed by Sinéad Kissane
