Six Nations: Caelan Doris says Ireland must continue to improve as they chase a third successive league title | Rugby Union News

Captain Caelan Doris admits back-to-back champions Ireland must improve and develop to continue their recent dominance of the Guinness Six Nations.

Ireland are bidding to become the first country to lift the title three years in a row since the tournament was expanded in 2000.

Interim boss Simon Easterby will oversee this year’s championship challenge after head coach Andy Farrell stepped down temporarily to focus on this summer’s British and Irish Lions tour of Australia.

Leinster back-rower Doris has played down the importance of his side being installed as title favorites by the bookies and is wary of the threat posed by rival nations ahead of February 1’s curtain-raiser at home to England.

“I didn’t really look at the bookies,” the 26-year-old said during the launch of the Six Nations event in Rome on Tuesday.

“We are aware of how competitive it is and it is [about] improving and preparing as best as possible. I don’t think we accept that [betting odds] to count too much.

“It’s the awareness that if we don’t continue to improve then someone else will take the reins.

“Since the first meeting yesterday, it’s been about our evolution and improvement. You can’t take anything for granted in every game and that’s the great thing about this competition.

“England is at home first and for now it is difficult to look beyond that.

“In terms of our preparation and mindset in general, it’s a need to develop and a need to improve individually and collectively. It’s an exciting prospect.”

Doris replaced Peter O’Mahony as captain ahead of an inconsistent autumn series that began with a loss to New Zealand but ended with three wins from four after narrow successes over Argentina and Australia, either side of comfortable wins over Fiji.

Defense coach Easterby took over from Farrell at the end of that campaign.

The 49-year-old former Ireland and Lions forward, who joined his country’s squad in 2014, assembled his squad in Dublin on Monday and Doris backed him to excel in his new role.

Asked about the differences between Easterby and Farrell, Doris said: “It’s hard to say because it’s only been a matter of hours, but Si has been amazing for us over the last few years.

“He has a ton of respect among the players because of how he runs our defense and who he is as a person and as far as one-on-one time with players.

“A lot of what you’re looking for in a head coach, you’ve seen from him over the last few years.

“Phase [Farrell] he was obviously a huge figure for us, but we also had the likes of Johnny [Sexton] which we have also lost in the past.

“Rather than any one person trying to fill a void, it’s a shared responsibility. I’m sure the leadership group will take some of that as well. But there’s a ton of faith in there as well.”