Donncha O'Callaghan has turned his attention to Ireland and the Six Nations as he endeavours to put Munster's Heineken Cup defeat to Leicester behind him.
Speaking ahead of today's Ireland training session, O'Callaghan
was quick to dismiss suggestions that question marks hang over the
Irish pack after the European champions defeat in their final game
in pool four. Instead, he admits the visitors to "Fortress Thomond"
may have just wanted the win more than the hosts.
It was the first game Munster had lost in European
competition at the historic ground and the last game before the
Limerick venue is redeveloped. The disappointment was still
evident in the big lock's voice.
"Its hard to put your finger on it," said O'Callaghan. "I
think we went out as prepared as we could have and we gave it
everything we could to be honest.
"We just got beaten by a team that was more up for it and more physical on the day at Thomond Park, which is hard to say. But they probably wanted it more. And they deserved it."
O'Callaghan feels that the Munster pack performed but just met a better pack on the day who "put us back on our ass".
"I'd like to say it was an under-performance from us but it didn't feel like it," he added.
The Ireland lock dismissed suggestions that the Munster pack is necessarily the Irish one, citing "a huge amount of competition for places" from the likes of Leinster's Trevor Hogan and Malcolm O'Kelly, and Ulster's Best trio.
The European Cup winner also feels that there are no fears of a knock-on effect in the Irish camp.
"It's grand to be doom and gloom on the provinces and say it will kick into the national camp. I don't think that's the case. We're too long in the tooth now to be caught out with stuff like that."
Ireland's Six Nations opener against Wales at the Millennium Stadium on Sunday week (February 4th) will be a real test for the players, while the loss of a "priceless" player like Shane Horgan is a real blow, according to O'Callaghan.
"You'd be mad to write-off Wales in Wales, especially with the type of rugby they are playing. You look at Llanelli, the in-form team of the Heineken Cup, and you look at Cardiff and you know Welsh rugby is on a high at the moment."
"For us, Shane Horgan is a massive loss. He's one of these fellas who, as a forward, you love to have in your team because you look out there and he doesn't take a backward step in attack or defence.
"Guys like that are priceless for forwards like us," added O'Callaghan.
That said, Wales have also lost an influential winger in the shape of Shane Williams. Ever the sportsman, O'Callaghan actually sees his absence as a pity rather than a bonus.
"To be honest you want to be playing against the best and it's disappointing that they lose out on someone like that, but they've got strength in depth anyway so it shouldn't be a problem.
"That's not taking away from a special talent like himself."
