Sean O’Brien has dismissed suggestions that Ireland will struggle to play as a team as long as players are focused on individual performances.
Joe Schmidt’s men were unconvincing 28-22 winners over Scotland in their second World Cup warm-up game at the Aviva Stadium last weekend.
The axe is looming and the New Zealander will trim his squad from 45 to 31, with the final decision to be made before August 31st.
Players will be desperate to impress the coaching team with timing running out to stake a claim for selection.
O’Brien doesn’t feel players are more focused on impressing the coaches, than operating for the good of the team.
“No I completely disagree with using that as an excuse, as a team at the weekend we were a little bit flat looking, we didn't come off the line as a unit in defense and we gave away stupid penalties at crucial stages of the game that gave them momentum”.
“If it is down to individuals making silly mistakes or trying to do their own thing, they need to go back and asses where they are in terms of the overall picture and the bigger picture of where we’re trying to get to.”
“If someone tries to do their own thing in the game it’s not going to work out for them, if someone tries to help the fella next to him he’s going to shine even brighter.”
“The weekend was down to a few silly things that we didn’t click as such, we played some nice rugby at times but our defense was shaky.”
O’Brien is seen as a certainty to be in the starting XV for the opening Pool game against Canada on September 19th.
But the Tullow tank doesn’t believe he has any right to be in the team, he scoffed at the suggestion that his spot is guaranteed:
“I don’t think so, look at all the back-rowers. Everyone in there is chomping at the bit, pushing each other on.”
“Nobody is in bad form, everyone is training pretty well. I never count my chickens before they hatch, it’s good to have that healthy competition it keeps driving everyone on.”
Sean O’Brien was speaking to 98FM’s Darren Cleary at the launch of Leinster’s new Canterbury jersey for the 2015/16 season.
To celebrate the launch of the new 2015/16 season Leinster jersey, Canterbury, official kit supplier to the club, has today announced the biggest collection of money can’t buy prizes and experiences in the club’s history. Fans are being asked to prove why they are Leinster’s most committed fan on Canterbury’s Facebook page or by tweeting using #CommittedToLeinster.
