The shoulder injury sustained by Denis Leamy in Murrayfield last weekend will not keep the number eight out of travelling party for Saturday’s momentous clash with Wales. Leamy, who has been replaced by Jamie Heaslip in the starting line-up, has been declared “fully fit and ready to go”.
That was the verdict of Paul McNaughton at today’s briefing in Dublin, where the Irish team manager avoided becoming embroiled in a slanging match with Warren Gatland.
Gatland declared on Tuesday that “out of all the teams in the Six Nations, the Welsh players dislike the Irish the most” and questioned Ireland’s temperament in big matches.
McNaughton shrugged off Gatland’s attempts to crank up the pressure on his side and insisted his remarks would not be used as motivation for Saturday.
“There seems to be a lot of stuff coming out of Wales. I’ve read some of it. I don’t have any response to it really,” he said. “The only thing I can say about the Irish and the Welsh is that the Irish players certainly respect the Welsh.
“Wales might see it as mind games, but we aren’t taking any of this stuff seriously. I’m not being flippant here — it’s not worthy of a response. We won’t use it as motivation for the game really. The players have been around a long time and are just concentrating on the game.
“I don’t know what’s in Wales’ minds in terms of what is coming out of there. I suspect they are looking for a reaction and trying to ramp up the pressure.
“But it’s honestly having no effect on our preparations. The guys aren’t reading most of it.”
McNaughton rejected Gatland’s claims that Ireland spent an hour-and-a-half singing and celebrating in the changing room after beating Scotland 22-15 at Murrayfield on Saturday.
“It was completely wrong and nonsense — there wasn’t a note sung in the dressing room if that’s what he is talking about. Most of them can’t sing anyway!” he said.
“There wasn’t a note sung, and they were in reflective mood after the match — starting to think about the next game.”
Gatland today insisted his comments were motivated by admiration, with Wales desperate to claim bragging rights over their Celtic rivals.
