YOU HAD TO feel for Peter O’Mahony as he dutifully sat down to face the Monday media in Carton House.
It must surely have been an immensely frustrating Six Nations campaign for the Munster captain. After returning from his lengthy injury absence to help Munster’s winning streak, a hamstring issue kept him out of the opening two rounds of the Championship until Josh van der Flier’s injury provided an opening onto the matchday squad.
But Joe Schmidt’s starting back rowers have been immovable throughout and so the Corkman has just 29 Six Nations minutes to his name this year as the finish line approaches with England’s name already etched on the trophy.
Even the matter of sitting down to face the press doesn’t go smoothly as team manager Paul Dean arrives to ask O’Mahony to scooch over, so that he can take his regular seat for the weekly injury update reading.
O’Mahony is never a man to make a fuss unduly and he tends to offer even-keeled responses whether he’s analysing victory or defeat. So when his opinion is sought on wider issues such as a perceived lack of progress or the absence of a cutting edge in the 22, O’Mahony exhales before bringing the issue back to the fine margins that have brought Ireland two losses in their four outings this year.
“We really are close, we know we are and we believe,” says the back row with a hand planted on the table.
Four months ago, you go and beat the All Blacks and it’s a different press conference to what we’re having now.
“It’s not like we’ve thrown everything out and done something different. It’s the same squad, we’ve just got to finish off the small things and we can beat any team in the world on our day.”
“It’s little things, smallest of margins at this level, foot placement here or there…
“It’s not an effort issue, we need to be more accurate. It’s nearly there, the smallest of margins, we know we’re a good enough team to complete and finish off those drills we’re asked to. We know if we do that, there aren’t many teams that can compete with us.”
With any luck, O’Mahony will be tasked with driving those standards from the start this weekend. He has had to tailor his game slightly to make an impact as a replacement instead of gradually influencing the tide from the start. Despite being a fierce competitor, he insists that he has been happy fulfilling any role for the team.
I love playing for Ireland. Obviously everyone wants to start. It’s been a weird season so far for me with the amount of stuff that’s gone on for me. I’m just happy to be there for the squad, whether they want me on the bench or whether they want me to start. I’m here to do a job and whether that’s doing one or the other, I’m ready to go.
“It’s the same as everyone, same as the lads who started the last day. Same as the lads who weren’t involved in the 23. Everyone’s here this week to put in a performance in training and prepare whoever’s starting as best we can to win at the weekend.”
Standing between Ireland a sweet win to bounce back from the disappointment of Friday night in Cardiff is the most difficult opponent this tournament can provide. And, on form, the best in the world. But ramping up intensity for England matches has never been an issue and that won’t start when this Ireland side have a point to prove.
“There is a huge amount to play for from our point of view, rankings, pride and wanting to leave the jersey in a good place after the Six Nations.
“Every time we come together, we want to build and improve and that’s no different. We have learned a huge amount already, we have a big game at the weekend and we want to build and add to that we’ve done already and take away learnings and leave it on a positive.
“There’s a huge amount of stake but there is a huge amount for us to go after as well.”
