SO HERE WE go again.
Ireland’s rugby stars get their chance to get over their World Cup heart-ache as they get back to business against Wales at Lansdowne Rd on Sunday.
As always, there’s plenty to talk about in the pubs around Ballsbridge beforehand; is Deccie still the man? How will we manage without O’Driscoll? Sexton or O’Gara?
Earlier this week, we rounded up some of the men in the know to gauge their mood ahead of the big kick-off tomorrow.
Hugh Cahill, RTÉ Rugby commentator
Can Ireland deliver another title or Triple Crown without Brian O’Driscoll?
Even at this stage of his career Brian O’Driscoll is a massive loss to the Ireland squad.
It’s not just what he offers on the field of play - which is still phenomenal given the miles on the clock and what his body has been through over the years - but his presence on the training ground gives all the players around him a massive boost.
Tactically, O’Driscoll controls everything in the backline and I think it’s in defence where he will be missed the most. A triple crown is still very much there for the taking but I don’t see Ireland winning the title this year. France in Paris will be the sticking point.
Will Declan Kidney be under pressure if things start badly?
Kidney has to get a win in the opening game against Wales. No question about that. The World Cup quarter-final defeat is still a very bitter memory for the entire squad and were Wales to come to Dublin and end Ireland’s 6 Nations Championship hopes at the first hurdle, Kidney would be in for a long and difficult campaign.
One player from outside of Ireland to watch?
Wesley Fofana, France. Incredible hands, brilliant feet and reads the game very well. If he starts against Italy he could run riot.
What are your hopes generally for the tournament?
I really hope Declan Kidney gives some of the younger players a chance to show what they can do but I’m not going to hold my breath. If the IRFU are serious about developing Irish talent – and dictating to the provinces - then surely the national coach has to lead the way.
If you had a tenner, who would you stick it on to win the tournament and why?
A France Grand Slam; Phillipe Saint-Andre is a tough, uncompromising coach who will not tolerate the childish in-fighting that existed under Lievremont’s reign. And he will pick the best available players in their correct position.
Ralph Keyes, RTÉ Rugby Co-Commentator
Can Ireland deliver another title or Triple Crown without Brian O’Driscoll?
Yes, it’s a measure of Ireland’s development over the last 10 years that we could consider winning without Brian O’Driscoll but the standards and experience of this Irish team built over the years means we can cope without someone of his talent and experience. Of course he is a loss but the experience throughout the team should be good enough to cope.
Will Declan Kidney be under pressure if things start badly?
To some degree, given we have France away next but I think Ireland won’t be in that position. Playing at home and with Wales’ injury problems I expect Ireland to have too much for Wales on Sunday and that we will get off to a winning start.
One player from outside of Ireland to watch?
French centre Wesley Fofana…The Cleremont man is highly-regarded in France and a throwback to the style of some of the flair centres of the past like Didier Cordoniu and Denis Charvet. Could be the creative spark in the French midfield to unleash their well known devastating pace in the back three.
What are your hopes generally for the tournament?
That we get a consistent high standard of play throughout the tournament. It hasn’t always delivered that recently and while it’s difficult for players to click from the off when only coming together shortly beforehand it needs a good opening to capture the public imagination in the way the Heineken cup has done for the provinces.
If you had a tenner, who would you stick it on to win the tournament and why?
You could have got 5/1 on Ireland during the week and that’s the best value bet on offer…however I think France will win the 6 Nations without a Grand Slam with Ireland runners-up. They have a happier camp with Philippe Saint Andre at the helm but more importantly he has pretty much picked the best players in France available to him in his squad.
They have two home games to open with and if they get momentum they are the strongest and most talented squad on paper and will take some stopping.
Simon Hick, Newstalk 106
Can Ireland deliver another title or Triple Crown without Brian O’Driscoll?
Yes, there is nothing to fear in this year’s championship, including France, but if you look at this Irish team since 2009, there is no form graph. It fluctuates wildly, which is troubling, because with this group of players, five good performances in a row would probably have produced a championship in the last two years, and would do the same in 2012.
Will Declan Kidney be under pressure if things start badly?
The first game is always important in the 6N, but this year its extra special. In some ways, Kidney can’t afford to lose to Wales three times in a row. For talent, resources and club form, Ireland trumps Wales. He was out thought in the Rugby World Cup quarter-final, this is a test to see can he come up with something new, because the old plan won’t work.
One player from outside of Ireland to watch?
Wesley Fofana. France will finally pick their best team, for the first time since 1999 (when Bernard Laporte took over), so that should mean Fofana in the centre. He picks great lines, he is fast, and quick witted.
What are your hopes generally for the tournament?
That the European sides show they can play a brand of rugby that will continue to trouble the southern hemisphere trio. RWC2011 was the first world cup that Europeans consistently matched up to Australia, NZ and South Africa. Scotland or Italy beating one of the other four sides would help too, often only one good game per weekend because the other game is too predictable.
If you had a tenner, who would you stick it on to win the tournament?
France. The next best team, Ireland, are in Paris six days after playing a heated encounter against Wales. Don’t think Wales will hold the form shown in the RWC.
Philip Matthews, BBC Sport and former Irish international
Can Ireland deliver another title or Triple Crown without Brian O’Driscoll?
No reason why not; it will all depend on how they cope psychologically without him and that others step in to fill his boots as a leader and a ‘go to’ player when things get tight.
Will Declan Kidney be under pressure if things start badly?
A loss against Wales will put him on the back foot, especially as it’s a game he and the players will expect to win. He won’t want to be on the back foot going to Paris nor will he want to be pressured into making changes so yes, given that he’s starting with a game he expects to win, a bad start will put him under pressure.
One player from outside of Ireland to watch?
Richie Gray – Scotland.
What are your hopes generally for the tournament?
That creativity and enterprise are rewarded; teams who overly rely on bulk and power can never win a World Cup, it may be rewarded in 6 Nations but that’s short-sighted and not good for the game in the northern hemisphere.
If you had a tenner, who would you stick it on to win the tournament?
France.
Frankie Sheahan during 2007 summer tour of Argentina. Pic: INPHO Billy Stickland.
Frankie Sheahan, RTE pundit and former Ireland international
Can Ireland deliver a championship or triple crown without Brian O’Driscoll
There’s no doubt about it, Brian O’Driscoll is an absolutely enormous loss. Not just as a great player on the field, but he’s also brilliant a leader, so to lose a player of his calibre will be a blow without a doubt. However, I believe Irish rugby has probably never been stronger – if you look at three of the provinces have made the knock-out stages of the Heineken Cup. From that perspective Ireland are in a brilliant position and there seems to be good players coming through.
I think the Triple Crown is not like it used to be, Ireland are more interested in, first and foremost, the Grand Slam and secondly, winning the championship. So I don’t think the Triple crown will even be mentioned from their point of view, they’ll be looking to target the championhip and yes, I absolutely think they can go and win it.
There were times when Ireland could win four games and not win, maybe in one defeat we’d end up with a bad points differential. Times have changed though, we have a better team now, better able to execute and finish teams off.
Will Declan Kidney be under pressure if things start badly?
I think his selection has been very fair, it’s back to the players now. I don’t think there was scope to make sweeping changes. He sent a great signal by picking Peter O’Mahoney on the bench. Here’s a guy getting rewarded for man-of-the-match performances in the European Cup, it’s great to see that.
I don’t think he’ll be under pressure. It’s one game at a time, if Ireland win four matches I think it’ll be a sucessful campaign; three will be ok, two will be poor. He’ll be happy to judge himself off that scale.
One player from outside of Ireland to watch?
Wesley Fofana. France just seem to bring new guys in and they, all of a sudden, wreak havoc. There’s no doubt France will be there, or there-abouts, and they always have somebody in the squad that will put their hand up.
What are your hopes generally for the tournament?
Previously a lot of games have been over 15 minutes into the second half. I understand the opposition to a bonus point system, but I would absolutely love to see that introduced so you always give both teams something to chase. So my hope would be that more games go down to the final quarter, too many are decided after the third quarter.
If you had a tenner, who would you stick it on to win the tournament?
I’d certainly put it on Ireland, we’re third favourites. I don’t think the grand Slam will be won this year, so winning four games should be enough.
- additional reporting Sean Farrell
What do you think? Let us know in the comments below?
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