Jack Conan looks forward to living in the comfort of his own home, mindful of Italian threat – Irish Times

It can be a distracting stadium at the best of times, and for a Sunday afternoon kick-off in early February when Italy are the visitors, the whole Aviva doesn’t seem ready to go wild.

But it will be Ireland’s first match here since their memorable, if climactic, World Cup campaign, and their first official home game since their Grand Slam coronation against England on St. Patrick’s Day.

At least the atmosphere for Ireland at the Stade Vélodrome during five World Cup matches in France and last Friday, for spectators and organizers alike, is more than just a company holiday.

“The atmosphere was unbelievable,” Jack Conan said of last Friday night.

“It felt like 95 percent French there. So when we were singing the national anthem, they probably intentionally went off-key or played it at a different pace. And then when they sing their national anthem, it’s just loud and you can feel the energy when the place is bouncing. It’s incredible.

“That’s one of them, I love it. Whether it’s our national anthem, their anthem, or our opponent, it’s incredible to feel that energy.” I can’t help it.

“Then, as the match progresses, you know you’re doing something well because you don’t hear as much from the crowd and it fades a little bit,” Conan ventured, and in fact, each decibel level The volume was reduced by half during the Irish performance.

“I think going to France and playing there, and the experience of the last few months, is very different than it was at the Aviva or most places around the world.

“But to be fair, when you play at the Aviva and it’s sold out, it’s the best place in the world to play. You look around and you see your family and friends and you finally get to do the laps. When you do, it’s incredibly special when you see so many people you know in the crowd.

“So I hope everyone is in a good mood, the beer is flowing and you can hear the 54,000-odd crowd for the early kickoff on Sunday.”

A stunning 38-17 victory over France should have added to the excitement of winning the Six Nations. There is still debate as to whether this was Ireland’s best performance since their trip to New Zealand, or whether France were simply below the level of recent years.

“I think that moment was very good. I don’t know,” Conan added, pausing. “It’s very difficult to compare the matches because the opponents, the types of attacks and the ‘D’ are different.

“But Friday night’s performance was a great stepping stone. We had already finished our World Cup record, but rather than erase another loss, we had a clean slate and a clean slate to build on for the coming weeks. It was great to be exactly where I wanted to be.”

How well this team can handle the punches in situations where previous Irish teams would have succumbed was proven when France twice came back within one point.

“There were a lot of moments where things didn’t go my way, decisions that didn’t go my way, and I tended to get a little upset,” Conan admitted.

“At the start of the second half we came in with a good lead, but then we conceded some penalties and they were up a few points so it would have been easy for them to attack us. But I think almost everyone’s ability to focus and stay calm in the next moment is something that has improved tremendously over the years. It’s something we’re always trying to improve on. .”

Connan attributes this to the work of Andy Farrell, Gary Keegan and his team leaders, who have created a more tolerant culture compared to when Connan first broke into the Leinster and Ireland squads. You can also say that there are. Because of this, he believes it is a better environment for young players.

“We have incredibly high expectations and standards in this place, but especially mistakes are no one’s fault. I don’t blame you either. Young people are very forgiving and understanding of it because we’ve all been through it.

But the satisfaction of last Friday’s victory is tempered by the knowledge that France were well below par. Bearing in mind the breadth Italy showed in Rome last year and the try they won against England last week, Conan admitted: [France] To be honest, they didn’t attack particularly well and didn’t challenge us very much.

“We know it was a big win, but it will be a big challenge for us defensively as Italy have a completely different attacking scheme, playing from everywhere and taking every chance.”

Conan believes, for example, that Italy’s starting play is superior.

“They do a lot of different short lineouts, three-man lineouts, four-man lineouts, challenge you around the seam, and then try to tighten you up and take width. They come from everywhere. Not afraid to play.

“I think France have become a bit more realistic, especially since we played them at the Aviva last year. Maybe they thought they played a little too much in certain areas of the pitch.

“I know they’re obviously off at times, but they scored an unbelievable try,” said Conan, referring to Damien Penault’s 80m try at the Aviva last year. weekend.

“Again, I know Italy do that sometimes, but maybe they will challenge us a little more with their width and the way they like to attack.”