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Ireland draft in high-performance coach Gary Keegan to work on mental skills

Keegan was a key figure in the transformation of Irish boxing.

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 IRFUโ€™s review into last yearโ€™s disastrous World Cup campaign found that Irish players had suffered from โ€œperformance 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 IRFUโ€™s National Professional Games Board and also chairs Cricket Irelandโ€™s High Performance Advisory Group.

Questions continue to be raised about Irelandโ€™s 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.

โ€œGary has been with us for some weeks now and he has been doing a tremendous job, so that process has started,โ€ said Farrell.

โ€œMick was obviously here in previous years as the manager but he is there as a mentor for many of the players as well.

andy-farrell Andy Farrell's Ireland have drafted in Keegan. Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO

โ€œA lot of our players, it isnโ€™t just the stress of a match week. For a lot of our players, it isnโ€™t just the stress of a match week, they are dealing with life outside of rugby that can build up in a different manner.

โ€œMick 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.

โ€œGaryโ€™s 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.

โ€œStress comes from people wanting to put their best foot forward when they are given the opportunity. How do you deal with that? Thatโ€™s something we can help from the outside, to help them along with that stress. Thatโ€™s international football, isnโ€™t it? Thatโ€™s why itโ€™s 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 Keeganโ€™s input over recent weeks.

โ€œItโ€™s been good,โ€ said Herring. โ€œItโ€™s something you probably hear a lot โ€“ trying to find an edge mentally and just to change things up.

โ€œI guess itโ€™s good to get another personโ€™s insight into how weโ€™re doing in camp and some of the things he has picked up, what we can improve and what weโ€™re doing well.

โ€œIndividually, weโ€™re connecting with him and heโ€™s just looking at what your routine is and where you can make more improvements.

โ€œItโ€™s nothing major, just small things heโ€™s noticing or where we can improve. Ultimately, everything you do individually adds up towards a better team performance. Thatโ€™s the main thing we gain out of it.โ€

mick-kearney Former team manager Mick Kearney has been mentoring Ireland players. Colm O'Neill / INPHO Colm O'Neill / INPHO / INPHO

Farrellโ€™s Ireland will need to be mentally clear and sharp for this weekendโ€™s 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 Scotlandโ€™s improvements in 2020, he underlined his belief that Ireland will deliver a โ€œbig performanceโ€ this weekend and welcomed the return of captain and out-half Johnny Sexton.

โ€œJohnny coming back from a hamstring injury is a big boost for the lads,โ€ said Farrell. โ€œHeโ€™s 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.

โ€œHe has been ahead of schedule, chomping at the bit, and heโ€™s ready to go.

โ€œHe 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 Sextonโ€™s futures, and discuss Argentinaโ€™s shocking handling of the racism storm involving their captain:


The42 Rugby Weekly / SoundCloud

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