Six Nations wide open says Ireland coach

Ireland coach Declan Kidney has forecast the Six Nations starting next month will be a tight contest unlikely to produce a Grand Slam winner.

The Irish trail World Cup finalists France, as well as Wales and defending champions England when it comes to the bookies' favourites.

"I'm not a regular reader of the odds but I imagine they're tight because it's as tight a championship as there's ever been," Kidney said Tuesday.

"It comes just after a World Cup year and look what happened to Wales after 2007 - they failed to reach the knockout stages in France but went on to win the 2008 Grand Slam.

"Whoever comes out of the traps running will have a good tournament.

"It will be very hard to win all five matches and if a team does that then all credit to them.

"The championship could be decided by points difference. Each match is like a cup final in its own right."

Kidney hopes that the Irish can gain a psychological fillip from the strong European Cup showings of Leinster, Munster and Ulster, who have all reached the quarter-finals.

"If we can win the first match then we'll build a bit of momentum with the lads having done so well with their provinces," said Kidney.

The Irish kick off against the Welsh on February 5 in Dublin.

Date published : 25 Jan 201216:16:26

Add your comment * required information

*

*
This will be kept private & will not be displayed alongside your comment.

*
eg. London, UK

*

Please tick to confirm that you have read rugby.co.uk terms & conditions.

advertisment

skip to content