CHRISTMAS IS FINALLY over us, the geese got fat and eaten. Now the New Year is here and what a big year it is for Irish rugby.
Joe Schmidt probably won’t talk in terms of ‘defending’ the title, but it’s just over a month before Ireland open the defence of the Six Nations in Rome and they will do so without Jonathan Sexton to pull the strings.
As Ireland are unbeaten since February, we’d expect any non out-half bolters to be making their case in a big way in the coming Champions Cup fixtures.
Taking into account that we’ve lost by seven and won by two on our most recent visits, who would you like to start against Italy in Rome on 7 February?
