MX23RW : Thursday, April 25 05:44:10| >> :600:3059134:3059134:
Six Nations | Group Stage
Mar 21, 2015 at 2.30pm UK
 
Scotland
10-40
Ireland
Russell (29')
FT
O'Connell (4'), O'Brien (24', 71'), Payne (49')

Six Nations finale: Ireland skipper Paul O'Connell wants to focus only on Scotland

Ireland captain Paul O'Connell insists that his side will be solely focused on their match against Scotland at Murrayfield during Saturday's staggered Six Nations finale.

Ireland captain Paul O'Connell has insisted that he and his players will be solely focusing on their game against Scotland during tomorrow's staggered Six Nations finale.

The men in green are one of four sides in with a chance of claiming the title on what is set to be an enthralling showdown to the 2015 tournament.

Ireland face winless Scotland in Edinburgh in the middle game after Wales's trip to Italy, but before pacesetters England host France at Twickenham.

To win back-to-back Six Nations titles for the first time in their history, Ireland must better England's result against France by eight points and hope that Wales don't better their result by 22 points or more against Italy.

When asked about the staggered kickoffs, O'Connell said: "It's kind of like Heineken Cup or Champions Cup rugby, where it's a dangerous place to go to start thinking about anything but winning the game.

"You'll have a plan going into a game of how to beat a team and you'll be trying to execute that as well as you can. That's all we've been spoken about, that's all we've addressed.

"I'm sure things will happen throughout the day, but our big focus is the start of the game - starting the game well, starting the game in a disciplined fashion and getting off on the right foot. It's the same as if we were coming over here to win by one point. That's all you can do. Whatever happens, happens."

Despite some calling for all three games to kick off at the same time, O'Connell was thankful for the overall Six Nations schedule.

"For me, the Six Nations and the way it works out with two weeks on, a week off, a week on, a week off and two weeks on, it's actually quite a good way to play," he added.

"You do get rests, but we are at the end of the championship. We've always, going back four, five years or so, had to manage the load going towards the end of a championship.

"The Six Nations, the way it works, it actually does put you in a good position at the end of a competition. You're not as battered and bruised as you can be if it was five games in a row or two in a row then three in a row."

By leading out his side tomorrow, O'Connell will become Ireland's oldest ever captain at 35 years and 152 days old.

ID:212405: cacheID:212405:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:3286:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Paul O'Connell of Ireland speaks to the media during the launch of the 2015 RBS Six Nations at the Hurlingham club on January 28, 2015 in London, England
Read Next:
O'Connell "surprised" at Scotland plight
>
Read more about Paul O'Connell Rugby Union
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
10am
Blanch
Nadal
10am
Cachin
Ofner
10am
Elahi Galan
Bautista-Agut
10am
Gasquet
Sonego
10am
Hanfmann
Mensik
10am
Koepfer
Carballes Baena
10am
Kovacevic
Medjedovic
10am
Lajovic
Monteiro
10am
Machac
Ruusuvuori
10am
Michelsen
Fonseca
10am
Nishioka
Auger-Aliassime
10am
O'Connell
Arnaldi
10am
Purcell
Giron
10am
Ramos-Vinolas
Kotov
10am
Tabilo
Cobolli
10am
Zhizhen
Kecmanovic
10am
Azarenka
Maria
10am
Eala
Cirstea
10am
Annie Fernandez
Potapova
10am
Gauff
Rus
10am
Keys
Camelia-Begu
10am
Podoroska
Navarro
10am
Karolina Schmiedlova
Jabeur
10am
Swiatek
Wang
10am
Baez
Van Assche
10am
Coric
Zverev
10am
Martin Etcheverry
Shapovalov
10am
Humbert
Van De Zandschulp
10am
Hurkacz
Draper
10am
Marozsan
Cerundolo
10am
Paul
Klein
10am
Rublev
Bagnis
10am
Altmaier
Fils
10am
Darderi
Fritz
10am
Griekspoor
Daniel
10am
Munar
Struff
10am
Musetti
Seyboth Wild
10am
Navone
Rune
10am
Shevchenko
Alcaraz
10am
Alexandrova
Krueger
10am
Andreeva
Noskova
10am
Bejlek
Kalinskaya
10am
Boulter
Montgomery
10am
Bronzetti
Rybakina
10am
Collins
Danilovic
3pm
Cristian
Krejcikova
10am
Dolehide
Kalinina
10am
Garcia
Wang
10am
Linette
Sabalenka
10am
Pavlyuchenkova
Saville
10am
Sorribes Tormo
Svitolina
10am
Vekic
Sakkari
11.30am
Arango
Yastremska
11.30am
Osaka
Samsonova
11.30am
Ostapenko
Bouzas Maneiro
1pm
Haddad Maia
Errani
2.30pm
Lourdes Carle
Kudermetova
2.30pm
Mertens
Stephens


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!