Interview with Marcus Horan:  Marcus Horan won't be shouting from the rooftops despite a solid performance by the Irish scrum in Wales, writes John O'Sullivan

Marcus Horan took the media to task yesterday, albeit in a gentle fashion. While the supposed fallibility of the Ireland scrum prior to the Six Nations Championship match against Wales had received a fair old airing in print, the debate didn't extend to Eddie O'Sullivan's squad.

The Irish loosehead prop chided: "To be honest there has never been an issue with the scrum. We have always been confident. The issues have come from guys like yourselves. There have maybe been a few glitches with the provinces along the way but you will always have a bad day at the office. We are not going to be shouting from the rooftops that everything is brilliant.

"We are setting our targets one game at a time. We are over the first one, it went well and the scrums were 100 per cent. You couldn't ask for anymore.

"We are not going to be bragging about anything because there is nothing to brag about. It is a different proposition on Sunday and we are well aware of it."

Horan did concede that there was considerable scope to improve in terms of performance but did offer the mitigation of a little ring rust. "A win builds confidence (but) we have to move on. There was a lot of pressure on us leading into the game and maybe nerves probably showed in the first half from everybody.

"It's always hard being the first game and it's even harder when you're sitting in a hotel watching the other four teams playing. You just want to get the game under way. The Six Nations has started for us and we got the result we wanted if not the performance. There were some good aspects that came from it."

The experience and maturity within this Irish squad will guarantee that last Sunday's victory is consigned to history and replaced with a new focus. He intimated as much when describing the dressing room scene after the Welsh game.

"It was a weird dressing room to be in on Sunday. We won a Six Nations game away from home yet there were no major celebrations. It was a bit subdued.

"That's where we are at as a team in that we expect a lot of each other. We realise that there is a long campaign ahead of us."

Several bloody Irish faces at the Millennium Stadium suggested a very physical contest but Horan admitted that it was no more physical than most Test matches. "I think with the bangs and knocks, it heightens the feeling (of the rough and tumble). We have a great staff here who look after us very well.

"They obviously know us pretty well and know what guys are capable of a day or two after. I think the training will be organised around that.

"I think the Welsh game was a standard one. Denis's (Leamy) injury was a pure accident. I think there were a few other stray kicks and elbows but they were accidental, epitomised the intensity of the game. We spoke about it afterwards.

"People compare Heineken Cup to international level; the pace of the (Welsh) game was just unbelievable. You get guys that are so wound up that they are throwing their bodies in everywhere and you are bound to pick up things (injuries) like that."

Far from limping towards Croke Park, Horan can't wait for Sunday. "There is obviously a huge hype with the fact we are in Croke Park. That will add to the occasion; all of us want to be part of something big and have victory seal the day. It would be brilliant."

New Zealand referee Steve Walsh has been quoted as saying that he will pay attention to the contact area, where Ireland were accused of slowing down ball by Welsh coach Gareth Jenkins. Horan smiled: "Things change for every game you play. There are different factors and the referee is one. It's something we look at as a team. I think it is good that he (Walsh) said that. You know where he is coming from and we can address that in time."