Dempsey waiting for green to go

John O'Sullivantalks to the Ireland fullback about getting ready to make a fresh start

Ireland's opening game in the Six Nations Championship, against Italy at Croke Park on Saturday week, cannot come quickly enough for the players. The pall cast by the World Cup in France continues to hover over every conversation, and any expunging of the memories can be performed only on the pitch. It doesn't really matter what the players say in the interim.

This week the extended Ireland squad are ensconced in their Killiney base, having come together on Monday.

Coach Eddie O'Sullivan, his management team and the players have already addressed World Cup issues but rather than dwelling on the negatives have concentrated on matters they can influence, namely the Six Nations Championship.

Playing in a green jersey again should be cathartic, provided Ireland open their campaign positively. Girvan Dempsey will be hoping to win his 79th cap that day, and as a senior member of the squad he knows a little bridge-building will be required between team and supporters. But he is keen to stress the players will be driven by their own expectations.

"Going into the Six Nations we as a squad feel that we have put the World Cup to bed and we want to move forward, show that we are a very focused and driven team," he says.

"We're still hungry for success and looking forward to getting into the Six Nations and putting on a green jersey again - showing what we're capable of."

For the players there can be no baggage, no emotional residue, from France if they are to deal with the demands of the present tournament. It's a clean slate in playing terms.

Dempsey admitted: "That's the only way. If you carry that (disappointment of the World Cup) in, it's not going to help you in any way.

"It's going to be back to a very old cliché in terms of focusing on one game and that's Italy.

"It's the first game up and we have to try and kick off the Six Nations on a good footing and get the tournament rolling against a very good side, as they showed in Belfast and at times during the World Cup.

"It's back to Croke Park, which is a fantastic venue for us, and it's nice to be going there.

"Regardless of what's happened and gone before, it's a fresh start, a new tournament, and we've set goals and targets in terms of what we want to achieve. The pressure is always there and it's up to us as to how we handle that."

He is adamant it is not about restoring a reputation tarnished by the World Cup.

"We have our own targets and goals, our own expectations. The public will have different expectations that vary from one person to another in terms of what they think would be acceptable. People out there feel that we have to win the tournament; there are others who feel that another Triple Crown (would do).

"It's all dependent on whom you talk to but we as a team know what we want. We have had some good meetings. We are very driven in terms of what we want to achieve during the Six Nations and (to) be the team we want to be again."

He accepts that the national squad will be a maelstrom of emotions this week in terms of how players are feeling in the context of recent campaigns in the Heineken European Cup.

"There is a mix there, the Munster guys coming in on a high after victories like that (against Wasps) and then you have other guys on a bit of a low after losing.

"It's up to the players and the management to collectively bring everyone together and refocus on what we are trying to do at international level. I looked at the Munster game and thought it was fantastic. They (the Munster players) are going to be on a high and hopefully that will give us a lift in training."

In fairness to Dempsey there isn't a great deal more he can say because the only commodity that matters now is deeds, not words.

Ascertaining how the Ireland squad has emerged from its World Cup ordeal can only be gauged on the playing fields, starting at Croke Park on Saturday week.

The Ireland squad, all 32 players, trained on the all-weather pitch at UCD yesterday and there were no injury concerns. The 22 for the Italy match and the Ireland A equivalent for the game against England Saxons will be announced on Friday.