Joe Schmidt speaks during a news conference ahead of the Heineken Cup match against Ulster at Twickenham in London May 18, 2012. REUTERS/Luke MacGregor
LONDON (Reuters) - Talk of Ireland being favourites to retain their Six Nations championship crown is a distraction head coach Joe Schmidt is doing his best to ignore.
The holders, who open their campaign against Italy in Rome on Feb. 7, have won seven matches in succession, including November victories over southern hemisphere big guns South Africa and Australia.
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