Gibson-Park sees big room for improvement with Ireland

Jamison Gibson-Park says there's ample room for Ireland to get better in 2023.

Andy Farrell's side begin a huge year of Test rugby this Saturday, when they face Wales in the opening round of the Guinness Six Nations at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.

And with Ireland top of the world rankings, they're favourites to pick up a first Six Nations title since 2018.

In 2022, they won a Triple Crown, a series win in New Zealand, as well as November internationals against South Africa and Australia.

But despite that, the Ireland scrum-half says they still aren't happy.

"I think there's plenty of room for growth both individually from the lads and collectively as a team," the New Zealand native said.

"That's why we're here and we're trying to get better. Hopefully we'll see the fruits of that on Saturday.

"You look ahead to the weekend and a match like that at the Principality and it's a pretty massive challenge, isn't it? Stuff like that probably excites me the most, those big challenges. In terms of growth, it's been pretty massive from the team and a few individuals as well."

The obvious improvement for Ireland, even before the World Cup in September, is to win silverware.

Gibson-Park is one of several members of the squad who weren't around when Ireland last won a Six Nations championship five years ago.

The Leinster scrum-half (above) has cemented his place as Ireland's first choice nine since making his debut in 2020, providing an incredible pace and energy to the Irish attack, with his quick-tap penalties in particular causing trouble for several teams during last year's championship.

And his ability to make quick decisions has been a vital part of Ireland's attack under Andy Farrell and Mike Catt, which he says is an element of