Ireland determined to maintain number one ranking position - Tadhg Beirne
Principality Stadium will be hosting Ireland's opening Six Nations fixture
©PA
Ireland forward forward Tadhg Beirne insisted that his team is determined to maintain the number one position in the World Rugby Rankings during the upcoming Six Nations tournament.
Andy Farrell's men had a fabulous last year where they finished second in the Six Nations tournament and followed it with a maiden away series win over the All Blacks in New Zealand soil.
They also had an undefeated autumn series with wins over South Africa, Australia and Fiji as they consolidated the first position in the rankings with a 0.62 points lead over second placed France.
With the World Cup scheduled this year, Beirne said the team is motivated to enter the showpiece event as the number one ranked side.
"We're ranked number one in the world, so no matter who we come up against, we have a target on our back,” Beirne said.
"If we were playing the number one team it would be the same thing... It’s pretty exciting in my opinion and I look forward to the challenge when I get to be on the pitch to being able to put our best foot forward and hopefully maintain that number one spot.
"We’re here to win. That’s what we want to do".
Ireland's first game of the tournament is against Wales with a fully packed stadium expected at Principality Stadium and Beirne is wary of the intensity ahead.
“We’ve spoken about that this week, about how big an occasion it can be, not to be shocked by the noise, by the intensity that they can bring from being at home. That’s on us, to deal with those pressures.
“In the past, in the last couple of times I’ve played there, my first cap in the Six Nations was there and unfortunately it didn’t go particularly well, they ended up winning a Grand Slam in the last game of the season.
"That was my first experience of it and I’m not going to lie, it really shocked me in terms of noise level, just the intensity of the game.
“So I think it’s important for us to, you know, anyone who hasn’t played there before, making them aware of how intense this game will be and how good Wales can be at home.
"If we can go in ready and prepared for that then I think we’ll be in a very good place.”
