O'Mahony: Another championship means everything to us

Since Ireland got in on this gig, back in 1890, they've managed to win the championship outright just 15 times so 'just’ retaining their title this evening is nothing to be sniffed at, says captain Peter O'Mahony.

Ireland’s tally is behind England (29), Wales (28) and France (18) in all-time Home / Five / Six Nations victories.

They have shared the prize on a further eight occasions and the Grand Slam, for which another tilt today was denied by England last weekend, has been achieved just four times.

If Ireland win or draw against Scotland later this afternoon, O’Mahony, alongside Conor Murray and Cian Healy, will have medal number five in his back pocket.

"No, I don't think so because as you said it's so rare," he said when asked if winning the title was devalued in the aftermath of blowing another Grand Slam shot.

"I know we've had a few in our most recent history but going back over a long period we're way down the list of championships won.

"You're talking about back-to-back Grand Slams and no-one has done it [in the Six Nations] because it's so hard, that's why.

"You've got to win 10 Six Nations games in a row, win five away from home.

"It's unbelievably difficult to win a game away from home in this championship, if you look at the stats across the board.

"So, it's everything to us tomorrow. Absolutely everything to us, another championship.

"It's probably a manner of the Irish psyche, 'Jesus, another championship', you know what I mean, when all of a sudden a few years ago you'd have taken your arm and your leg off for one.

"We're still in the same boat, it matters a massive amount to us. It's what we're here for, that's the be all and end all of it, we're here to win a championship for our country and it couldn't mean any