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Kearney: Ireland must not let heads drop

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Rob Kearney knows Ireland can’t afford to dwell on their stuttering start to this year’s RBS 6 Nations, insisting a strong finish in their remaining two home games is a must.

Rob Kearney knows Ireland can’t afford to dwell on their stuttering start to this year’s RBS 6 Nations, insisting a strong finish in their remaining two home games is a must.

After a draw with Wales in their opening match and a narrow one point defeat to France, Ireland headed to Twickenham on Saturday knowing victory over England was crucial to keeping their slim hopes of defending their title alive.

Conor Murray’s try had put them ahead early in the second half but England hit back with two tries in five minutes from Anthony Watson and Mike Brown helping to seal a 21-10 triumph.

It means Kearney’s Ireland have accrued just one point from their opening three matches with home games against Italy and Scotland to come to round off their campaign.

And while the team have had to contend with a number of injuries as well as the retirement of captain Paul O’Connell, Kearney knows they can’t be looking for excuses.

“To be honest, I think we still had a little bit of hope on Saturday that in the back of our heads that results could have gone our way and we could have been right back in it,” said Kearney.

“But we’re out of the championship now, we just need to make sure we finish really strongly and round off in mid-table. It is frustrating and of course you want results now.

“But you can’t always be riding the crest of a wave. There are times of transition and perhaps we are in one of those now.

“But at the same time we need to make sure we’re not making any excuses and the team that goes out are doing as best they can.

“I think we played quite well at times and if we took some of those opportunities it could have been a very different scoreboard.

“It’s absolutely imperative that we finish off the tournament with two home wins now.”

Click here for the complete 2016 RBS 6 Nations fixture list with TV coverage