Six Nations:Donncha O'Callaghan insists heightened expectation levels have contributed to the downbeat reaction to Ireland's Six Nations campaign and also revealed coach Declan Kidney will not stand for another high error-count performance.
Ireland visit the Millennium Stadium for Saturday's clash with Wales knowing they would have been on course for a Grand Slam had they shown more composure against France.
Narrow, error-strewn and indisciplined victories against Italy and Scotland have provided plenty of ammunition for their critics. But O'Callaghan believes the air of negativity which has cloaked the team throughout the Six Nations is also a product of their success.
"In the past when we won the Triple Crown, people would run on to the pitch, lifting the players off it," said the Munster and Lions lock. "And you're thinking that if we won a Triple Crown now, they'd probably be giving out to us!
"That's probably due to the high standards that are expected now and I don't think that's a bad thing.
"We can't play the small guys anymore, those days are gone. We've won European Cups, we've won Grand Slams, we've picked up a few scalps - South Africa, Australia etc.
"People's expectations are way higher than they should be and I think that's not a bad thing."
Ireland travel to Cardiff knowing they must address the indiscipline which has undermined their Six Nations.
On average they have conceded just over 12 penalties per match, compelling Declan Kidney to issue his players with a fiery warning when they analysed the 21-18 victory over Scotland.
O'Callaghan has revealed the team are determined to avoid another rebuke from their head coach.
"Whoever was in on our meeting with Declan last Tuesday wouldn't want to be on the end of a silly penalty this weekend," he said. "Everyone probably knows Declan as a nice man who is really calm and composed. But he let fly on Tuesday.
"It has been a while since he lost his temper. I can remember one or two with Munster, but it's fair to say he was fairly annoyed. We know him so it's tough for him to be that blunt and direct. It's a side to him that you don't like to see too much.
"You could see it's the main man calling the shots and guys don't want to reoffend."
O'Gara continues at outhalf after Kidney named an unchanged side against Wales.
Teams:
Wales: L Byrne (Ospreys); L Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues), J Roberts (Cardiff Blues), J Davies (Scarlets), S Williams (Ospreys); J Hook (Ospreys), M Phillips (Ospreys); P James (Ospreys), M Rees (Scarlets, capt), C Mitchell (Ospreys), B Davies (Cardiff Blues), A-W Jones (Ospreys), D Lydiate (Newport Gwent Dragons), S Warburton (Cardiff Blues), R Jones (Ospreys). Replacements: R Hibbard (Ospreys), J Yapp (Cardiff Blues), D Peel (Sale Sharks), S Jones (Scarlets), M Stoddart (Scarlets), plus two from R McCusker (Scarlets), A Powell (Wasps) and J Thomas (Ospreys).
Ireland: L Fitzgerald (Leinster); T Bowe (Ospreys), B O'Driscoll (Leinster, capt), G D'Arcy (Leinster), K Earls (Munster); R O'Gara (Munster), E Reddan (Leinster); C Healy (Leinster), R Best (Ulster), M Ross (Leinster), D O'Callaghan (Munster), P O'Connell (Munster), S O'Brien (Leinster), D Wallace (Munster), J Heaslip (Leinster). Replacements: S Cronin (Connacht), T Court (Ulster), L Cullen (Leinster), D Leamy (Munster), P Stringer (Munster), J Sexton (Leinster), P Wallace (Ulster).
