Alan Gaffney has praised Declan Kidney's training methods for keeping the Ireland team in peak physical condition.
Ireland coach pays tribute to training methods and player fitness
Ireland's defence coach Alan Gaffney has praised Declan Kidney's training methods for keeping the team in peak physical condition as they chase the grand slam.
Ireland face Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday with just the Scots and Wales standing between them and a first grand slam for more than 60 years.
The Irish have avoided serious injuries throughout the Six Nations, despite tough matches against Italy, France and England, and Gaffney believes it is down to the coaching staff.
Gaffney paid tribute to Kidney, strength and conditioning coach Paul Pook and the remainder of the medical staff.
"It's been fantastic," he said.
"A lot of credit for that goes to the way Declan's controlled things or had things done - also the fitness guys and the strength and conditioning, and obviously the medical staff," said Gaffney.
Training
"You go to the training sessions - they've now been reduced, they're not long at all and that's been done to keep the players fresh and off their legs.
"We get it done, get a really high tempo in the sessions but get them off the pitch and don't keep them out there for the sake of it."
Ireland's fitness has helped them produce some fine rugby on the pitch, while they showed their battling qualities in a brutal match against England.
Ireland's form is such that fit-again centre Gordon D'Arcy and scrum-half Peter Stringer will have to fight hard to get near a team which has remained unchanged for their three Six Nations games so far.
Gaffney, however, believes that the challenge for places in the team will only mean improved performances on the field.
"Every moment 'Darce' plays and the more time he has, the more of a challenge there is," Gaffney added.
Challenge
"It's a very healthy challenge at the moment, with both guys playing good rugby.
"It's the same with Tomas (O'Leary) and 'Strings' [Stringer]. They bring different things to the party and both players have their strengths. Again, it's a great battle there.
"Sometimes it's horses for courses. We'll examine both, see what they bring to the party.
"We're pretty much aware of that and pretty much aware of what Scotland will do or what we hope Scotland will do, in the main.
"We'll sit down and work it out and see how we're best suited for the day."
