D Tuesday, February 2, 2010 SPORT 21 Fearless: Ireland full-back Rob Kearney Touch Wood, Ireland can triumph again DANNY GRIFFITHS finds out why Keith Wood has such high hopes again for Grand Slam-winning Ireland ahead of the Six Nations ChampionshipI RELAND legend Keith Wood believes the current crop of players will be ranked as their countrys greatest-ever team if they retain the Six Nations crown. Ireland won the Grand Slam last season before enjoying hugely successful summer and autumn series which extended their unbeaten run to more than a year. Now Wood, 38, a former British and Irish Lions, Ireland, Harlequins and Munster hooker, believes they will be front-runners when the 2010 Six Nations begins at the weekend. This team ranks right at the top with the very best Ireland teams there have been, said the 38-year- old, who will be a BBC analyst during the championship. And if they win back-to-back Grand Slams they will be standing alone with no one to match them. I think they can win the Championship again but whether or not they can get another Grand Slam, I am not entirely sure. Confidence is certainly sky-high at the moment and that will be a big advantage as long as they avoid it becoming overconfidence. And, even though Ireland are playing winning rugby with Leinster and Munster both on a high after reaching the last eight of the Heineken Cup it is the style in which Declan Kidneys side are triumphing which particularly delights Wood. Its a pleasure to watch Ireland at they moment, they have so many good players in all departments, he added. Rob Kearney looks one to watch, hes a very exciting player and if he gets off to a good start he could be one of the players of the tournament. He is brimming with confidence, he runs a very good line and is fearless under the ball. Keith Earls is another who offers something different and I expect a big campaign from him. Ireland start their defence at home to Italy on Saturday and Wood added: Every teams a danger and Italy are no exception. You cant take anything for granted. 12 Years since the last back-to-back Grand Slams, won by France Phil wants to get back in the groove GOLF: Phil Mickelson will focus on defending his title at the Northern Trust Open in Los Angeles this week after an eventful start to his season at Torrey Pines. The world No.2 began his 2010 campaign at the Farmers Insurance Open by deflecting questions about the Tiger Woods scandal. He was then accused of cheating by fellow professional Scott McCarron for playing with a pre- 1990 Ping wedge featuring non- conforming grooves, but which is approved for PGA Tour use. And after his title challenge faded in San Diego on the final day, Mickelson wants to put technical issues with his swing right with coach Butch Harmon ahead of this Thursdays first round at Riviera. Mickelson said: Im excited about next week because my game is feeling not as rusty as it looks and Ive had some success up at LA. Ireland pass the Afghanistan test CRICKET: Ireland survived a mid- innings wobble to record a comfortable five-wicket win over Afghanistan in the first game of their quadrangular series in Sri Lanka. Chasing a relatively modest 122 for victory, skipper William Porterfield smashed nine boundaries as he raced to 46 from just 30 balls. The loss of Porterfield sparked a mini- collapse as Ireland stumbled to 98 for five, but an unbroken stand of 26 from Gary Wilson and John Mooney closed out the game. Earlier former captain Trent Johnston took four for 22 in an inspired spell. Its getting tough at top Federer TENNIS: Roger Federer may have claimed his 16th grand slam by beating Andy Murray to win the Australian Open on Sunday, but the 28-year-old Swiss says his hopes of adding to his record haul are under threat from younger players such as Murray, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Novak Djokovic, Marin Cilic and Juan Martin del Potro. I feel like Im being pushed a great deal by the new generation coming up, added Federer. I always feel tennis changes every five years because when I came on tour, matches were played very differently. It was more of a bluff game, guys serving well, but there was always a weakness you could go to. Today that doesnt exist anymore. Thats also thanks to guys like Murray, theyve made me a better player. sportdigest Back in the swing: Mickelson Wales wait on ByrneLes Bleus lose Chabal WALES head coach Warren Gatland has delayed announcing his team to take on England on Saturday pending the availability of Lee Byrne. The full-back is currently banned following his brief illegal appearance as a 16th player during the Ospreys Heineken Cup win against Leicester nine days ago. But he has appealed the suspension, with a hearing expected to take place in Dublin today. If the Lions stars appeal fails, then James Hook looks set to retain the No.15 shirt he wore during Wales autumn Tests. France lock Sebastien chabal has been forced to pull out of Les Bleus rBS 6 nations opener against Scotland at Murrayfield with a back injury. The 32-year- olds place in the squad has been taken by Toulouses Yoann Maestri. chabal did not train over the weekend in a bid to help him recover. However, the French rugby Federation said yesterday that chabal will not be fit in time. chabal said on Twitter: Its a back problem thats lasting a bit. return home and rest. What a drag! Appeal: Byrne RUGBY SIX NATIONS GAA NATIONAL LEAGUE Dublin a real danger now, says Declan Kick-off: Kerry star Declan OSullivan, right, and Kildare boss Kieran McGeeney at the launch of the National League Picture:Sportsfile Kernan: Joyce will be back for Galway BOSS Joe Kernan is happy to report that rumours of Padraic Joyces demise have been greatly exaggerated. Joyce, 32, had surgery on his Achilles over winter and, according to boss Kernan, doubts have been expressed publicly about the forwards ability to bounce back. I saw someone writing in the paper that he could be finished he will be back this year, confirmed Kernan. Padraic has had an injury and is nearly back from it. I hope he will be back for maybe the third or fourth game in the league. By Paul Keane DECLAN OSuLLIvAN has tipped Al- lianz league rivals Dublin to play with a new-found freedom in 2010. Back-to-back All-Ireland winning skip- per OSullivan was one of the Kerry play- ers that led Dublins 17-point demise at Croke Park last August. The stylish forward said Dublin just werent at the races in that All-Ireland quarter-final but claimed the big positive they can take is that all the pressure is off them for 2010. Realistically, Dublins army of fans cannot be too expectant this year after two heavy All-Ireland quarter-final beatings in a row from Kerry and Tyrone. Dublin meet Kerry in the first round of the National League on Sunday in Killar- ney and OSullivan expects the Dubs to flourish with no pressure on them. In a strange way last year could take a bit of the pressure off them, said OSullivan of Dublin. The media frenzy that has built up around them over the last few years might die down a bit now after losing to Tyrone and losing to us. They probably have nothing to lose now coming into this year. The expecta- tions have really dampened down, Pat Gilroy has shaken up the panel and they will all be coming into the league hungry for it and with no baggage. Meanwhile, OSullivan said no news is good news regarding the future of veteran midfielder Darragh S. The longer we dont hear anything the more hopeful we are that hell stay on. index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html