RUGBY:Simon Easterby, who had been considering retiring from international rugby after the World Cup, intends to carry on. The Ireland flanker believes that this season's Six Nations championship will be the most closely contested for years and that Ireland will redeem themselves after failing to reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup.

Following a review of that campaign Eddie O'Sullivan remains in charge, with a bolstered management team, a decision of which Easterby approves.

"Eddie has been successful in his six years in charge," said Easterby. "The review resolved a number of issues and ensures we will be stronger going forward. It was a better way of doing things than Wales, who simply sacked their coach in a knee-jerk reaction immediately after being knocked out of the World Cup.

"The bottom line is that we let ourselves down in France. The players have to take responsibility for the way we played, which was well below our potential.

"We were on a high after last year's Six Nations but failed to follow it through. We learned a lot about ourselves and I want to carry on.

"The only Six Nations country who lived up to their reputation in the World Cup was England. Like us, Wales and Italy failed to make the quarter-finals, while France are under new management. It is going to be very competitive and I feel we all have something to prove."

Easterby does not believe teams will be looking four years ahead to the next World Cup, unlike 2004 when the then France coach Bernard Laporte said he would be using the Six Nations as a stepping stone to the tournament his country hosted last year.

"There is everything to play for," said Easterby.

"The next World Cup is a long way in the future and does not bear thinking about now. A number of teams are under new management but I am pleased Ireland opted for continuity because we are far better than we showed in France."

Rory Best is now expected to be fit for the start of the Six Nations Championship after receiving positive news on his injured right ankle.

The Ulster captain underwent a scan on Monday morning, which confirmed he suffered sprained ligaments during his side's 29-0 St Stephen's Day defeat to Leinster.

Best, the Ireland hooker, will be sidelined for "three to four weeks" and Ulster are confident he will be fit for the Six Nations "as the scan showed no further bony or structural damage to his right ankle".

O'Sullivan will announce an extended Six Nations squad on January 14th ahead of Ireland's opening fixture, against Italy at Croke Park on February 2nd.