Donncha O'Callaghan has called on Ireland to improve their discipline © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

News: Ireland close to Slam form - O'Driscoll

News: Ireland not daunted by Millennium Stadium

News: Wales out to put the brakes on Ireland

News: Gatland praises underrated Mitchell

News: Halfpenny and Davies start for Wales

News: O'Driscoll rounds on Ireland's critics

News: Same again for Ireland

Players/Officials: Declan Kidney | Donncha O'Callaghan

Tournaments/Tours: Six Nations

Teams: Ireland | Wales

Ireland lock Donncha O'Callaghan has admitted that the squad received a tongue-lashing from coach Declan Kidney after indiscipline almost derailed their Six Nations win over Scotland two weeks ago.

The Irish take on Wales in Cardiff on Saturday and with the words of their coach still ringing in their ears they will endeavour to keep a lid on their penalty count. On average they have conceded just over 12 per match in the Championship so far.

Wales have gone as far as to include winger Leigh Halfpenny in their side to boost their long-range kicking arsenal but O'Callaghan has revealed that no-one in green will be coughing up easy points after Kidney's tirade.

"Whoever was in on our meeting with Declan last Tuesday wouldn't want to be on the end of a silly penalty this weekend," he said. "Everyone probably knows Declan as a nice man who is really calm and composed but he let fly on Tuesday.

"It has been a while since he lost his temper. I can remember one or two with Munster, but it's fair to say he was fairly annoyed. We know him so it's tough for him to be that blunt and direct. It's a side to him that you don't like to see too much. You could see it's the main man calling the shots and guys don't want to reoffend."

O'Callaghan also commented on the recent negative press surrounding the squad, an issue raised by skipper Brian O'Driscoll, insisting that their success was partly to blame for criticism.

"In the past when we won the Triple Crown, people would run on to the pitch, lifting the players off it," he said. "And you're thinking that if we won a Triple Crown now, they'd probably be giving out to us!

"That's probably due to the high standards that are expected now and I don't think that's a bad thing. We can't play the small guys anymore, those days are gone. We've won European Cups, we've won Grand Slams, we've picked up a few scalps - South Africa, Australia etc. People's expectations are way higher than they should be and I think that's not a bad thing."