Ireland forwards coach Paul O'Connell has spoken ahead of their Six Nations game with Scotland in Murrayfield on Sunday week.
His words gave another reminder as to character of O'Connell, and his mindset which made him one of the most feared and respected second rows to ever play.
Given Scotland's form, particularly at home, the game has a good chance of being Ireland's toughest challenge of the tournament, where anything less than a Grand Slam will be seen as an underachievement.
However, as O'Connell notes, this Ireland squad want it tough.
“It’s a massive game, it’s not a dangerous game.
“If we come out of there with a one-point win, it will be brilliant for us. These are the games we want.
“It’s why we played with the roof closed in the Millennium Stadium, it’s why we were trying to get the Maori games and took on that five-game tour (in New Zealand). You want it hard. The harder it is, the better."
Paul O'Connell Wants Things To Be Hard For Ireland
Wayno has got this one wrong, high degree of danger, upright in tackle, arm tucked, no wrap and shoulder to head with huge force! Red card all day long! pic.twitter.com/F9xIQvvIGx
— Andy Goode (@AndyGoode10) February 11, 2023
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To further his point, Paulie stated that Ireland were pleased - from a purely rugby playing point of view - that Uini Atonio was not sent off when they played France on 11 February, despite the clear red card violation.
It’s one of the reasons I was happy (Uini) Atonio wasn’t sent off in the French game, because you want it to be as hard as possible – so that we learn as much as we can about ourselves.
Murrayfield is a really tough place to go and more so now with the confidence that the Scottish players have.
Ireland take on Scotland at Murrayfield on Sunday, 12 March (kick-off 3pm), before taking on England at home on Saturday 18 March, in their final game.
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