Caelan Doris says Ireland must keep improving to retain Six Nations title
Share:
Captain Caelan Doris acknowledges back-to-back champions Ireland must improve and evolve in order to continue their recent domination of the Guinness Six Nations. Ireland are bidding to become the first country to lift the title three years in a row since the tournament was expanded in 2000.
Interim boss Simon Easterby will oversee this year’s championship challenge after head coach Andy Farrell temporarily stepped aside to focus on leading this summer’s British and Irish Lions tour of Australia. Leinster back-rower Doris dismissed the significance of his team being installed as title favourites by bookmakers and is wary of the threat posed by rival nations ahead of a February 1 curtain-raiser at home to England.
“I hadn’t looked at the bookies actually,” the 26-year-old told reporters during Tuesday’s Six Nations launch event in Rome. “We’re aware of how competitive it is and it’s (about) improving and preparing as best as possible. I don’t think we take that (betting odds) into account too much.
“It’s awareness that if we don’t keep improving then someone else will take the reins. “From the very first meeting yesterday, it’s about our evolution and about improving. In each game you can’t take anything for granted and that’s the great thing about this competition.
“We’ve got England at home first up and it’s hard to look beyond that for now. “In terms of our preparations and mindset generally, it’s one of needing to evolve and needing to improve individually and collectively. It’s an exciting prospect.”.
