Kelleher Reflects on Ireland's Historic Murrayfield Triumph

In a recent interview, Ireland hooker Ronan Kelleher highlighted the monumental win at Murrayfield in 2023, which underscored the team’s unparalleled mentality as back-to-back Six Nations champions. This memorable match against Scotland was a testament to the squad’s unwavering spirit and adaptability, especially amid adversity.

During their previous visit in 2021, despite facing significant injury challenges—such as flanker Josh van der Flier taking on line-out duties and prop Cian Healy switching to hooker—Ireland displayed remarkable fortitude. Kelleher reminisced about the atmosphere in the changing room during half-time, recalling, "There was no panic. I just remember a few people laughing, like 'this is wild.' It was just a next-man-up mentality."

Despite injuries sidelining key players, Ireland managed to secure a 22-7 victory, laying the groundwork for a historic Grand Slam win just a week later against England. Kelleher expressed his pride, stating, "It was a brilliant day, and we were obviously delighted. It led to a big Grand Slam win the following week, so yeah, it was massive."

As the squad prepares for this year’s championship match in Edinburgh, Kelleher acknowledges the challenges posed by Scotland, a team that has proven difficult to conquer since 2017. "Scotland are always very difficult to play against," noted Kelleher, commending the talent within their ranks. Yet, with the momentum built from their past performances, the Irish team is poised to continue its strong showing in the tournament.