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Ireland's Rob Kearney.

'Mentally tougher' Ireland won't fall into complacency trap -- Rob Kearney

The fullback is adamant the world’s second-ranked side cannot afford to rest on their laurels.

IRELAND FULLBACK ROB Kearney has warned his side against complacency ahead of the Rugby World Cup.

Joe Schmidt’s men have risen to number two in the World Rugby rankings having won consecutive Six Nations titles and lost only one of their last 13 internationals, But Kearney insists that he and his team-mates still have plenty of improving to do if they are to make an impact on the biggest stage of all.

“As soon as you start to believe that you’re the finished article and that you don’t need to improve anymore, that will be your downfall,” he said in an interview with BeIN Sports.

“If you can marry that and constantly have the idea that you need to be improving, you need to be better in your performance on a weekly basis, then you’re in the sort of mind-set that is needed to compete at a World Cup.

“Listen, with winning back-to-back Six Nations comes expectation.

“As players, we need to ensure and maintain levels, knowing that if we don’t perform on a given day, we can get beaten by any team in the world.

“It’s more important that in the environment of a group of players and coaches and staff that we control our own expectations as opposed to having expectations put down on us.”

The 29-year-old Leinster man went on to claim that his side’s impressive recent form means that they will be mentally stronger than they have been in previous tournaments.

‘Better equipped’

“I’d like to think that we’re a little bit mentally tougher so that when those big games do come and we’re in the dying minutes of close games, we have the ability to close them out and go on and win them,” he added.

“Winning is a habit and the more big games you play, the more finals you play, the better equipped you are at dealing with the big occasions.

“If I take an example of 18 months ago, we were 19-0 up against the All Blacks at home in Dublin and we still managed to lose it.

“I think if you put this Irish team in that scenario now, I think we’d be a lot better equipped to close out that game.”

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    Mute Barry Mullane
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    Aug 19th 2015, 7:01 PM

    For who, he’s better than Jones, and, while he played very well there, I Don’t think Schmidt will trust Zebo at 15 at the business end of the pool stages

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    Mute Cian O Donoghue
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    Aug 19th 2015, 7:18 PM

    I don’t necessarily disagree with you, but why do you say Kearney is better than Jones?

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    Mute Gary
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    Aug 19th 2015, 7:28 PM

    Cian, I think it’s at this stage it’s based only on experience. Leaving that out, I think they’re possibly on a par.

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    Mute Philip
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    Aug 19th 2015, 7:29 PM

    Very much so

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    Mute Chris Mcdonnell
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    Aug 19th 2015, 8:25 PM

    Kearney is better than Jones. He may not be playing well at the minute but apart from a dip in form for most of last season he’s clearly one of the best fullbacks in the world.
    No coach has ever picked Jones ahead of him, he’s been on lions tours, won a grand slam, triple crowns and six nations titles as well as HC’s with Leinster, he also won ERC player of the year in 2012.
    No doubting Jones is a good player and playing well but really he’s not in a on form Kearneys class

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    Mute Oran Burns
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    Aug 19th 2015, 8:42 PM

    I agree with Chris.
    Players aren’t robots they are human like anyone else.
    Form is temporary but class is permanent.
    Kearney will be at 15 for Ireland when it counts.

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    Mute philip ryan
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    Aug 19th 2015, 8:46 PM

    He’s clearly behind Dagg, Falou, Halpenny, brown, Le Roux, Hogg so consider your statement Chris. He’s not near the top.

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    Mute Philip
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    Aug 19th 2015, 8:49 PM

    as u said your self Kearney’s not in form! Going in the WC Would u prefer a form player playing out of his skin or a player who’s as u said was out of form all last season n his last world class game was 2/3 years ago

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    Mute Jason Rush
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    Aug 19th 2015, 10:00 PM

    Going by current form, there is no way you can consider Kearney as being one of the best fullbacks in the world. It might not be nice to hear but he’s not that great and is living off his 2009 form. The man does nothing in attack, hasn’t been that dominant in the air and has never been great defensively. The best fullbacks in the world know how to run with the ball, step, pass. He’s a very rigid player.

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    Mute Barry Mullane
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    Aug 19th 2015, 10:39 PM

    He’s a better footballer, better in the air, more experienced and a good option for a drop goal. I like Jones but think Kearney is better. For the record I reckon Zebo would be a great option at 15 if Kearney isint doing his stuff

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    Mute Colin Friel
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    Aug 19th 2015, 11:55 PM

    If you took an on form Kearney and on form halfpenny, then, aside from the kicking of halfpenny, I’d say Kearney is a lot better. But other than that I agree with you.

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    Mute AlexOlsenRox
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    Aug 19th 2015, 11:57 PM

    No way! halfpenny all day (kicking is really important BTW)

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    Mute Dan Fitz
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    Aug 19th 2015, 6:58 PM

    Kearney could be under pressure for the 15 spot

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    Mute RobsonKeane
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    Aug 19th 2015, 6:53 PM

    We’ll see how “mentally tougher” media darling Kearney is when Schmidt eventually drops him. Could happen in the next few weeks…

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    Mute PCon
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    Aug 19th 2015, 7:02 PM

    so bitter!

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    Mute Eóin McAnaspie
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    Aug 19th 2015, 7:09 PM

    Pretty odd comment to make but each to their own.

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    Mute Philip
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    Aug 19th 2015, 7:31 PM

    It he carries over this lack of form from last season, he shouldn’t make the starting 15. Form players win theses tournaments

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    Mute Philip
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    Aug 19th 2015, 7:50 PM

    I am not pro or anti any province, I only give my honest opinion on players regardless of where they play their club rugby. Might I suggest lonestar that u take the blue tinted glasses off any call players on face value for the next 7/8 weeks

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    Mute Chris Mcdonnell
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    Aug 19th 2015, 8:26 PM

    Philip you are without doubt one of the most anti Leinster trolls on this site.

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    Mute Philip
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    Aug 19th 2015, 8:51 PM

    I’m far from anti Leinster, maybe ur too pro Leinster to see it, I’ve a feeling ud like to have Shane Jennings in the back row

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    Mute AlexOlsenRox
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    Aug 19th 2015, 9:49 PM

    Philip you are getting embarrassing at this stage…you call it as you see it? All you seem to ‘call’ is the faults of any Leinster player in the Ireland set up.

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    Mute Philip
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    Aug 19th 2015, 10:17 PM

    I’ve been very critical of Kilcoyne & Hurley, I’m always saying I don’t think Matt Healy deserves as much praise as he gets and I’ve never rated touhy or cave as nothing more than journey men but caves last outing did impress me. Alex u seem to get hyper defensive when someone criticises a Leinster player. Do u think my criticism
    of R.kearney is unjustified?

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    Mute AlexOlsenRox
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    Aug 19th 2015, 10:39 PM

    The majority of your comments on Leinster players are negative. It’s a trend noticed by many on the42 and I am by far sensitive. Kearney had dipped in form by HIS standards but I’d have him starting 15 everyday of the week over Jones and Zebo and I’m guessing Joe will pick him too ps he knows more that you and me.
    As someone once said…I’m just calling it as I see it….

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    Mute eggandjam
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    Aug 19th 2015, 10:53 PM

    Kearney is 100% nailed on at FB so the majority of this debate is completely pointless. Get behind the team!

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    Mute Paul Kennedy
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    Aug 19th 2015, 10:32 PM

    I agree with the majority of the comments about Kearney. He is desperately out of form. The only problem is we don’t have too many viable options. Joe doesn’t seem to trust Jones fully, while Zebo lacks experience, something that Kearney has in abundance and one of the reasons he is still in the driving seat. Experience will only keep him in the team for so long because on form he doesn’t merit the jersey. Zebo might turn out to be a fantastic full back but he needs to start there consistently for Munster. Kearney is a media darling, he is in the indo every second day, this is gonna make his fall even harder. let’s hope he recaptured some form in time for the world cup.

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    Mute Range Rover P38
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    Aug 19th 2015, 10:38 PM

    Shocking comments for the most part. Drivel.

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    Mute Adrian Carroll
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    Aug 20th 2015, 1:20 PM

    Maybe the reason he is the starting fullback is because he has the full trust of Joe, whereas the other options don’t. Plus he know the systems and power plays inside out. If Ireland were playing one of the big teams tomorrow in a match that mattered, I know who I would want at fullback

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