Ronan Kelleher says criticism of Six Nations win shows 'rugby is in good place'

Source: The Irish Sun
Author: Owen Cowzer

Ireland won back-to-back Six Nations - but faced criticism after falling short of the Grand Slam

RÓNAN KELLEHER says the shrug that greeted Ireland's back-to-back Six Nations successes should be taken as a compliment.

Kelleher is back in Leinster action this week as they face the Bulls at the RDS in the URC tomorrow, ahead of next week's Champions Cup clash with Leicester.

He returns with another Championship medal for Ireland but cannot help but notice that the public's reaction was not as positive as it was to last year's Grand Slam.

And he reckons the fact that winning four of the five games has -- for some -- taken the shine off the success is a good thing.

Hooker Kelleher said: "It's a great place to be, I suppose! I can't complain, really.

"Obviously there was a little bit of disappointment after the England game.

"But for us we still managed to get it done with the back-to-back Championships.

"It shows the health of Irish rugby that there was an air of disappointment that it wasn't back-to-back Grand Slams.

"But that's only a positive thing. We're obviously in a very good place."

It is such a good place for Ireland that Kelleher was an impact replacement rather than starter, as Leinster team-mate Dan Sheehan got the nod.

It is a role he has occupied a lot this season -- he has started five games for club and country -- which has meant adjusting his mindset ahead of matches.

He added: "It's still quite full-on. It is completely different though. You know you can be called upon at any time.

"You're kind of constantly, when warming up, trying to get a second wind.

"Then you're trying to keep invested in the game as well. Trying to figure out, 'What have we ran already, what have we done?'

"It is a different challenge than when you're starting and it was tough getting that second wind in a game but it was good. I don't really know how to describe it!"

He will likely see more starts in the coming weeks as Leinster can expect a busy schedule if they keep progressing through the Champions Cup.

Kelleher's main focus now is on the Bulls -- as Leinster look to win the URC title they have won four times in the past six years but have failed to claim for the last two.

He added: "It's a credit to what the teams before us have built and the expectation. It's only a good thing, really.

"It's only a positive thing that that's where the expectation is for a Leinster team. It's about us trying to live up to that.

"I think because we haven't won in the last two years, there is just that extra bit of motivation maybe.

"Where we know we came up short last year, we know we didn't put in our best performances in those semi-finals, it's just about making sure we're there or thereabouts in the run-in of the season.

"This weekend is massive for that because they're sitting four points behind us with a load of home games to come.

"We know this is a massive opportunity. It could be a big eight-point, ten-point swing, in the table. It's really important for us."