It’s all systems go towards the Six Nations, with just two weeks before the first game of this year’s competition. Although we have had a number of squad sessions, you can never have enough as there are always areas to improve on.
We are still training with a squad of 35, which has its pros and cons. On the upside, there is plenty of competition for places and there is always enough for two teams at training, so we can implement changes in match-like situations. On the other hand, you don’t know who you’ll be playing alongside in a game and it sometimes takes longer to get things done with more people about.
The squad will be cut after this weekend. It will be a tough one as we know it’s our last chance to impress in order to stake a claim on a place in the Six Nations line-up. As there is a new coach in, none of us are taking our place for granted. It will be tough to pick 22 people, without disappointing some players, and maybe leaving someone out that deserves to be there.
There were no club games last weekend due to the horrendous weather. Our club wasn’t due to have one anyway, so with no other games to watch I didn’t know what to do with myself. But it was really relaxing just catching up with old friends who know nothing about rugby. I have missed so many birthdays, hen nights and weddings that I feel guilty when I meet up with my friends again.
But I can never fully get rugby out of my system. On Sunday I joined up with some of the Blackrock girls to do an endurance session in place of our match. I’m sure some people thought we were crazy, out running around in shorts on the snow-covered ground. But it’s what we do.
An aspect of the game that is starting to interest me more the older I get is psychology. I think sports psychology is absolutely huge and its importance is often underestimated. We spend hours in the gym and on the pitch training, but we also need to train our minds. It can give you the edge in a game and help you remain focused when tired.
When we think of psychology, we think ‘complex’, but a lot of the mental exercises that I have started to do are so simple and only take a few minutes a day. I think more teams in every sport need to tap into this area, and I firmly believe that it can help bring results.
The weekend was full of Heineken Cup matches which the Sky Box was ready to record. However, the Munster game was postponed until Sunday due to storms in France, which meant that there would be a clash between the Leinster and Munster matches. But on Sunday evening I managed to see both games.
Munster were very impressive in their eagerness to run the ball as opposed to using Ronan O’Gara all the time to kick, and Paul O’Connell was at his devastating best, which bodes well for Ireland. Munster have now secured a home semi-final against the Ospreys. They played like champions and it will take a very good team to beat them.
Although Leinster beat Edinburgh, it was not in very convincing fashion. Leinster are bursting with talent, but it just doesn’t seem to have clicked for them yet. When the likes of Rob Kearney, Luke Fitzgerald or indeed Brian O’Driscoll got the ball, they looked dangerous and like they could create something. Leinster got the win that they were searching for, but didn’t look anywhere near their best. They must now prepare for an away quarter final to Harlequins, which will be a challenge.
With the Heineken Cup now taking a back seat for the next two months, everyone is focused on the Six Nations. We have so much talent in the men’s game in all the provinces, I think now for Ireland it is just a case of getting the right combinations together. It would be great to see the lads win a grand slam.
Fiona Coghlan is an Irish International rugby player. Her column appears every fortnight in Metro Éireann
