Toner: 'We don't go looking for choke tackles'

"I think it's kind of an organic thing, if it happens, it happens."

Toner: 'We don't go looking for choke tackles'

Devin Toner with Joe Schmidt during squad training today at Carton House, Maynooth, Co. Kildare. Picture: Brendan Moran/SPORTSFILE

By Grainne McGuinness and Shaun Cronin

Devin Toner doesn't believe the current emphasis on Ireland and choke tackles is an accurate reflection of the side's play and insists they don't go looking for situations where they will use that particular move.

Toner was speaking today at the team announcement at Carton House, where Joe Schmidt revealed the team to face England in the Aviva Stadium on Sunday.

Toner was asked if he worried about Ireland being over-reliant on that one move.

"No, I don't think so," he answered. "As a team we aren't focused on choke tackles at all.

"I think it's kind of an organic thing, if it happens, it happens."

The current fixation with choke tackles was triggered by comments from Wales assistant coach Shaun Edwards earlier in the week.

“I think the choke tackle is very dangerous,” Edwards had said. “To me it is a blight on the game that encourages high tackling."

Ireland are closely associated with the tackle, but Toner said they have no particular emphasis on it.

"If the opportunity is there you'll go for it, but we don't go looking for choke tackles."

He continued: "If it happens, it happens. Our main focus is just to get the player on the deck as quickly as we can. That's how you get the ball."

Listen to Devin Toner speaking today.

With both teams unbeaten in the Six Nations so far, Sunday's game is already being billed as a tournament decider. Toner was asked about dealing with nerves and whether he called on the help of sports psychologist Enda McNulty, the All-Ireland winning footballer who now works with the Ireland rugby squad.

"It's a very personal thing," Toner replied. "I personally don't really speak to him that often. I used to do a little bit in the team situation."

The 28-year-old lock said that with experience, he prefers to handle pre-match nerves in his own way.

Personally I find myself I'm quite laid back," he said. "I don't get as nervous as I used to.

"I'm good at blocking out nerves myself - I just kinda prepare myself going into it."

He added that a lot of teammates did find McNulty's advice beneficial.

"A lot of lads do talk to him and a lot of lads get a lot of positive stuff out of it," he said, and laughed when it was suggested this meant that he felt no anxiety in the run-up to the crucial game.

"I didn't say there was no nerves!" he insisted. "I said there was less nerves than there used to be.

"I'm a little older now, have a few more games under my belt. I'll still have a few butterflies going into the game, but sure that's all good I suppose."

Ireland play England in the RBS Six Nations on Sunday March 1 at the Aviva Stadium. Kick-off 3pm.

Breakingnews.ie sports reporter Shaun Cronin talks to Irish Examiner rugby correspondant about Sunday’s match.

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