IRELAND HEAD COACH Andy Farrell has revealed that they have drafted in high-performance coach Gary Keegan to work on their mental skills this autumn.
The IRFUโs review into last yearโs disastrous World Cup campaign found that Irish players had suffered from โperformance anxietyโ at the tournament in Japan.
Long-serving mental skills specialist Enda McNulty parted ways with Ireland in the wake of that tournament but Farrell, who took over from Joe Schmidt after the World Cup, has now called in the highly-regarded Keegan to work with his players.
Keegan was previously a major influence in the transformation of Irish boxing, helping to drive it towards to big successes at the Olympics.
He has worked with hurling and football teams, as well as with Leinster Rugby. The experienced Keegan is now part of the IRFUโs National Professional Games Board and also chairs Cricket Irelandโs High Performance Advisory Group.
Questions continue to be raised about Irelandโs confidence and mental skills in the wake of their dire second-half performance against Georgia last weekend when they failed to pull clear of the visitors in Dublin.
But Farrell says Ireland have been working on his side of their game with Keegan, while former Ireland team manager Mick Kearney โ who left that role in 2016 โ has also been helping players to deal with pressures outside of rugby, having come back in during the 2020 Six Nations.
โGary has been with us for some weeks now and he has been doing a tremendous job, so that process has started,โ said Farrell.
โMick was obviously here in previous years as the manager but he is there as a mentor for many of the players as well.
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Andy Farrell's Ireland have drafted in Keegan. Dan Sheridan / INPHO
Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO
โA lot of our players, it isnโt just the stress of a match week. For a lot of our players, it isnโt just the stress of a match week, they are dealing with life outside of rugby that can build up in a different manner.
โMick helps massively with mentors for players outside of rugby. With Gary and Mick, we are well on our way to starting something there that will be a big help in the future.
โGaryโs mental skills as far as how that translates to performance is second to none and his whole connection piece in bringing the whole squad and the management into a place together is a big part of his remit.
โStress comes from people wanting to put their best foot forward when they are given the opportunity. How do you deal with that? Thatโs something we can help from the outside, to help them along with that stress. Thatโs international football, isnโt it? Thatโs why itโs so different and why everyone wants to be a part of it.โ
Ireland hooker Rob Herring says he and his team-mates have enjoyed Keeganโs input over recent weeks.
โItโs been good,โ said Herring. โItโs something you probably hear a lot โ trying to find an edge mentally and just to change things up.
โI guess itโs good to get another personโs insight into how weโre doing in camp and some of the things he has picked up, what we can improve and what weโre doing well.
โIndividually, weโre connecting with him and heโs just looking at what your routine is and where you can make more improvements.
โItโs nothing major, just small things heโs noticing or where we can improve. Ultimately, everything you do individually adds up towards a better team performance. Thatโs the main thing we gain out of it.โ
Former team manager Mick Kearney has been mentoring Ireland players. Colm O'Neill / INPHO
Colm O'Neill / INPHO / INPHO
Farrellโs Ireland will need to be mentally clear and sharp for this weekendโs Autumn Nations Cup third-place play-off clash with Scotland in Dublin.
With Ireland having struggled in the second half against Georgia, the Scots will be eyeing their first away win in Dublin since 2010.
While Farrell noted Scotlandโs improvements in 2020, he underlined his belief that Ireland will deliver a โbig performanceโ this weekend and welcomed the return of captain and out-half Johnny Sexton.
โJohnny coming back from a hamstring injury is a big boost for the lads,โ said Farrell. โHeโs our captain and has been missing for a couple of weeks, although he has been working unbelievably hard in the background to make his presence felt.
โHe has been ahead of schedule, chomping at the bit, and heโs ready to go.
โHe brings a feeling to the group that makes everyone feel right and ready to go for a big match at the weekend.โ
Bernard Jackman, Murray Kinsella and Gavan Casey preview Ireland-Scotland, chat Ben Healy and Johnny Sextonโs futures, and discuss Argentinaโs shocking handling of the racism storm involving their captain:
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Ireland draft in high-performance coach Gary Keegan to work on mental skills
IRELAND HEAD COACH Andy Farrell has revealed that they have drafted in high-performance coach Gary Keegan to work on their mental skills this autumn.
The IRFUโs review into last yearโs disastrous World Cup campaign found that Irish players had suffered from โperformance anxietyโ at the tournament in Japan.
Long-serving mental skills specialist Enda McNulty parted ways with Ireland in the wake of that tournament but Farrell, who took over from Joe Schmidt after the World Cup, has now called in the highly-regarded Keegan to work with his players.
Keegan was previously a major influence in the transformation of Irish boxing, helping to drive it towards to big successes at the Olympics.
He has worked with hurling and football teams, as well as with Leinster Rugby. The experienced Keegan is now part of the IRFUโs National Professional Games Board and also chairs Cricket Irelandโs High Performance Advisory Group.
Questions continue to be raised about Irelandโs confidence and mental skills in the wake of their dire second-half performance against Georgia last weekend when they failed to pull clear of the visitors in Dublin.
But Farrell says Ireland have been working on his side of their game with Keegan, while former Ireland team manager Mick Kearney โ who left that role in 2016 โ has also been helping players to deal with pressures outside of rugby, having come back in during the 2020 Six Nations.
โGary has been with us for some weeks now and he has been doing a tremendous job, so that process has started,โ said Farrell.
โMick was obviously here in previous years as the manager but he is there as a mentor for many of the players as well.
โA lot of our players, it isnโt just the stress of a match week. For a lot of our players, it isnโt just the stress of a match week, they are dealing with life outside of rugby that can build up in a different manner.
โMick helps massively with mentors for players outside of rugby. With Gary and Mick, we are well on our way to starting something there that will be a big help in the future.
โGaryโs mental skills as far as how that translates to performance is second to none and his whole connection piece in bringing the whole squad and the management into a place together is a big part of his remit.
โStress comes from people wanting to put their best foot forward when they are given the opportunity. How do you deal with that? Thatโs something we can help from the outside, to help them along with that stress. Thatโs international football, isnโt it? Thatโs why itโs so different and why everyone wants to be a part of it.โ
Ireland hooker Rob Herring says he and his team-mates have enjoyed Keeganโs input over recent weeks.
โItโs been good,โ said Herring. โItโs something you probably hear a lot โ trying to find an edge mentally and just to change things up.
โI guess itโs good to get another personโs insight into how weโre doing in camp and some of the things he has picked up, what we can improve and what weโre doing well.
โIndividually, weโre connecting with him and heโs just looking at what your routine is and where you can make more improvements.
โItโs nothing major, just small things heโs noticing or where we can improve. Ultimately, everything you do individually adds up towards a better team performance. Thatโs the main thing we gain out of it.โ
Farrellโs Ireland will need to be mentally clear and sharp for this weekendโs Autumn Nations Cup third-place play-off clash with Scotland in Dublin.
With Ireland having struggled in the second half against Georgia, the Scots will be eyeing their first away win in Dublin since 2010.
While Farrell noted Scotlandโs improvements in 2020, he underlined his belief that Ireland will deliver a โbig performanceโ this weekend and welcomed the return of captain and out-half Johnny Sexton.
โJohnny coming back from a hamstring injury is a big boost for the lads,โ said Farrell. โHeโs our captain and has been missing for a couple of weeks, although he has been working unbelievably hard in the background to make his presence felt.
โHe has been ahead of schedule, chomping at the bit, and heโs ready to go.
โHe brings a feeling to the group that makes everyone feel right and ready to go for a big match at the weekend.โ
Bernard Jackman, Murray Kinsella and Gavan Casey preview Ireland-Scotland, chat Ben Healy and Johnny Sextonโs futures, and discuss Argentinaโs shocking handling of the racism storm involving their captain:
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