Ireland captain Brian O’Driscoll has challenged his team-mates to ignite the Lansdowne Road crowd tomorrow by banishing the slow starts which have dogged their Six Nations campaign.
Victory over Scotland would set up a potential championship decider against England but with Frank Hadden’s side in the grip of a stunning revival, Ireland need all available assistance.
Italy and Wales have been dispatched in Dublin already but a subdued atmosphere shrouded both contests, partly in response to the nervous openings which have hampered Eddie O’Sullivan’s team.
O’Driscoll believes his side must inspire home fans by racing out of the blocks in what is shaping up to be a memorable encounter.
"It’s up to us to create the atmosphere. We need to start well and give the crowd something to cheer," he said.
"Getting the crowd behind us will feature in my team talk because sometimes they can be worth a couple of scores. We’ll try and start well and get the crowd geed up.
"We’ve been starting a little bit slower than we wanted to. In these close encounters it’s about getting hold of the ball and keeping it.
"Hopefully tomorrow we’ll go from the B of the bang and not the G and the fans will weigh in behind us after seeing some good play."
Scotland’s transformation under Hadden has been remarkable with few predicting they would travel to Lansdowne Road still in the Six Nations title hunt.
Heavyweights England and France have both been brought to heel at Murrayfield and Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan hailed the progress made since Hadden replaced Matt Williams last April.
"Frank has had a massive impact on the Scottish team since he’s taken over. They’re playing a well-organised, well-structured game," he said.
"They’re a well-balanced side, taking the ball up, sending it wide and kicking to the corner. Their defence has improved, they’ve forced teams into making mistakes and have capitalised on errors.
"They’re playing with a lot of passion and pride and are unrecognisable from the last few years. The difference is Frank Hadden.
"It’s pretty much the same squad and it’s not quantum physics to see Frank has had an incredible effect."
Lansdowne Road is gearing up for its last Six Nations match before undergoing redevelopment next year but O’Sullivan insists sentimentality should not be allowed to colour tomorrow’s performance.
"It’s the last Six Nations game at the old stadium and we’d loved to go out on a win. If that happens I’m sure we’ll feel very nostalgic about the ground," he said.
"There will probably be a good run on programmes tomorrow because I’m sure it will be a collector’s item. But it’s not something we think too much about.
"It's there and it's going to happen but if that's our modus operandi for winning tomorrow then we're in trouble."
Agencies
