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Ireland captain Caelan Doris says improving the team’s discipline during the Six Nations “starts with me” as he admitted he must set a better example for the squad.<\/b><\/p>\n
Andy Farrell’s side’s discipline has been a key talking point in the build-up to Thursday night’s opener against France in Paris (20:10 GMT) after a chastening loss to South Africa in November which yielded four yellow cards and a red. <\/p>\n
As they bid to reclaim the Six Nations title from France, Doris says discipline has been “right up there” in Irish minds during their pre-tournament preparations. <\/p>\n
“It’s one of the key points we’ve talked about since coming into camp especially off the back of November where it wasn’t good enough,” said Doris.<\/p>\n
“I would’ve had chats with the coaches post-November around me as captain needing to lead it better. <\/p>\n
“I gave away too many penalties in November, so it starts with me and the more senior players.”<\/p>\n
Speaking after leading Ireland’s captain’s run at Stade de France, Doris added: “Across the board it’s very important, especially with the way the game’s going. <\/p>\n
“There are more cards these days. They’re harder on offsides, breakdown and they want to favour the attacking team, so smart decision-making there and being really clinical and disciplined is going to be very important. <\/p>\n
Injury-hit Ireland, who lost 42-27 to France in Dublin last year, are underdogs for Thursday’s game, like they were in 2024 when they travelled to Marseille and won 38-17.<\/p>\n
But 27-year-old Doris says he is not taking too much inspiration from what happened two years ago.<\/p>\n
“The internal view and perception is that there’s still a lot of belief at the core. That’s grown over the last 10 days,” he said.<\/p>\n
“We’ve created evidence for more confidence and belief based on how we’ve shown up on the field and also connections built off it and work being done off it as well.<\/p>\n
“There’s a pretty positive feeling based on how we’ve trained and how the lads have shown up and integrated.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n