IN A TOURNAMENT as competitive as the Six Nations, beginning with a win is so important. These are some of the best starts Ireland have made to the competition since Italy joined in 2000. All five came in odd years, when England and France were played at home.
1. 2001
Ireland managed a similar WWLWW record in 2014 but 2001 will forever be remembered for the foot and mouth disease outbreak that forced Warren Gatland’s side to play their final three games in the autumn.
A Rob Henderson hat-trick in Rome inspired Ireland to a 44-21 victory before a gruelling 21-15 win at home to France.
As the other nations played out their remaining fixtures, Ireland were in good shape for a first Grand Slam since 1948, with many tipping their final Six Nations fixture against England as the Grand Slam-decider.
But Ian McGeechan’s Scotland derailed those thoughts as they stunned the Irish with a 32-10 home victory.
An impressive 36-6 away win against Wales followed three weeks later before England were denied a Grand Slam on Irish soil — in a 20-14 Lansdowne classic, making the visitors’ championship victory on points difference an incredibly hollow one.
Keith Wood scored Ireland’s only try from a lineout move that will long live in the memory.
2. 2003
Spirits across the island were high in 2003, a year when another final-day meeting with England was no hard sell.
After beginning the campaign with comfortable away wins against Scotland and Italy, a home win against France and a gripping 25-24 victory in Cardiff set up a thrilling end to the tournament in Lansdowne Road with both sides still chasing a Grand Slam.
But it turned out to be one of Ireland’s most crushing home defeats as a dominant England never gave Eddie O’Sullivan’s men a sniff and prevailed 42-6.
Fewer than eight months later, Clive Woodward’s side were crowned world champions.
3. 2005
Ireland’s ‘golden generation’ were progressing well under O’Sullivan. They finished the 2004 campaign with four consecutive victories and a Triple Crown, after an opening-day loss to France, and began the 2005 edition in similar fashion, registering away wins in Scotland and Italy and a home success against the English.
But it was the French, on this occasion, who derailed Ireland’s aspirations of a first Grand Slam since 1948.
On a day when inspirational France lock Fabien Pelous won his 100th cap, it was their debutant centre Benoit Baby who stole the puntastic headlines. Baby scored a first-half try and wing Christophe Dominici bagged a brace as Ireland went down 26-19.
Wales then rubbed salt into the wound with a final-day 32-20 win to end such a promising Ireland campaign with successive defeats.
4. 2009
After a number of years of near-misses, 2009, of course, was when it all finally came together for this promising group of players. Triple Crowns were no longer enough to satisfy Irish fans — the Grand Slam was the Holy Grail.
Declan Kidney’s Ireland, led by inspirational skipper Brian O’Driscoll, secured four wins on the trot to set up that famous night in Cardiff.
Ronan O’Gara was the hero with his late drop goal. Although Stephen Jones’ late penalty to win it made it a horribly nervy affair. As his long-range attempt fell short, Ireland had finally realised their Grand Slam dream and made it five victories from five.
Those final minutes sum up the agony and ecstasy of sport better than most.
*Goosebumps warning
5. 2015
The defending champions, once again under the guidance of Joe Schmidt, began the Six Nations in stunning style last year; a 23-point win in Rome was followed by home wins against France and England.
However, the Welsh had Ireland’s number this time — substitute Scott Williams’ second-half try proved the deciding score on a day when Paul O’Connell won his 100th cap.
Ireland, though, responded with vigour on the final day of action as a 40-10 win in Murrayfield saw them claim the title on points difference. That day of drama won’t be forgotten any time soon.
Paulie’s not around to ‘stare and intimidate’, but otherwise a familiar feeling in Ireland camp
How well do you remember the 2015 Six Nations?
