Ireland star insists they are ‘building something pretty special’

Stuart McCloskey believes Ireland are “building something pretty special” but concedes the squad’s confidence levels have dipped in recent times.

Andy Farrell’s side scraped a nail-biting 20-13 Guinness Six Nations victory over Italy on Saturday in Dublin to kickstart their campaign following an emphatic round-one loss away to France.

Ireland won successive championship titles in 2023 and 2024 but have struggled against Test rugby’s leading nations during the past 12 months, fuelling suggestions the team is in decline amid a transitional period.

Ulster centre McCloskey, who produced eye-catching assists for two of Ireland’s three tries against the Azzurri, feels there is “plenty more to come” as attention turns to a Twickenham showdown with England.

“We haven’t been playing our best rugby,” he said.

“Our confidence probably isn’t what it was two or three years ago, if you’re being completely honest about it. But I think we’re building something pretty special.

“The squad’s capable of much more than we delivered, definitely against France, and what we delivered (against Italy).

“There’s plenty more to come from us, I hope. I think we’re doing the right things. We’ve been training well. The attitude’s good.

“I’d love to see a bit more of it come out on the field and us take a few more of the chances we’re creating but it doesn’t always happen like that. If we keep doing the right things, hopefully good things will happen.”

McCloskey was arguably Ireland’s standout performer during a disjointed Aviva Stadium display which could easily have ended with Italy celebrating a draw.

The 33-year-old spun on his knees to set up Jamie Osborne’s opening try but Ireland trailed 10-5 at half-time.

After Jack Conan’s score levelled matters early in the second period, McCloskey threw a quarterback-esque pass to allow provincial team-mate Robert Baloucoune to cross, before the hosts survived intense late pressure.

McCloskey said of his assists: “The first one was great from Jamie following through on that line. We’ve been working on that a lot: guys getting through tackles and offloading.

“The other one, I think it was penalty advantage – I hope it was penalty advantage – and a lot of my attitude, whether here in Ireland or in Ulster, is to get Rob the ball at any stage because he normally does something pretty special.

“I mess around in the gym a lot with the ball in one hand. It’s something I try to be good at and thankfully it came off.”

Ireland’s campaign continues next weekend with a tricky trip to south-west London.

England had won 12 games in a row since being beaten in Dublin last year – before suffering Saturday’s 31-20 Calcutta Cup loss to Scotland in Edinburgh.

“They’ve really turned a corner over the last year,” McCloskey, who made his international debut at Twickenham a decade ago in a 21-10 Six Nations defeat, said of Steve Borthwick’s side.

“They seem to always have issues with Scotland – just Scotland – for some reason.

“I’m sure it will be a monumental task. They’ve got a great side, they’re very well coached.

“We’ll probably go over there as underdogs but I don’t think we mind that. I know if we deliver the right things it will be a good game.”