6th/7th October 2007
There's a long way to go till early October next year for Rugby fans. Presuming Ireland can get out of the Rugby World Cup 2007 "group of death" we'll either be playing most likely NZ in Cardiff on the 6th or Italy/Scotland in Stade de France on the 7th in a quarter final. There's a big gulf between those two choices and it hinges on finishing first or second in our group. Anything less than a semi-final performance of note would see us leaving something behind. With an opening group including Argentina and France, nothing more in the line of a fear factor is required for motivation.
This weekend marks the opening of hostilities in true anger for Ireland's international players following an IRFU-pampered "easing" into the 2006/2007 season. It's not an exageration to say this is a season which should be defining for some of Irish sport's few and far between truely world class products. I've no doubt O'Driscoll and O'Connell et al would not be as nauseated by my far sighted paragraph above as some readers are likely to be. The IRFU's planning and scheduling in terms of player managment for this WC season has already been put into execution. How much an edge they can wring from their often lauded structure and control of their players remains to be seen.
In the spring we have another bite at the "easy" Grand Slam, with France and England both due to visit Ireland. In this contest, anything less than the ultimate prize will also be rightly lamented. The Croke Park factor adds some icing to the top of what will be a pivotal psychological building block to September.
So then to the minor details. The Heineken Cup, devoid of live RTE coverage from Thomond Park for the first time, should see the silent Television plus RTE radio option exercised like never before. I'm sticking my head far out on the block, but I fancy Leinster to go a little further than last season this year. God knows they have the pristine talent to do it. Although the tight five (or those two locking it in particular) look vulnerable, Leinster if anyone are a team who can turn Rugby 101 on its head as they've proved in the past that backs can win games. Their ability to dispose of teams without a bountiful supply of quality possession speaks volumes for the truly scintilating talent they have from 10 out. It is worth remembering that last season was Cheika and Knox's first in charge, a fact that could easily be forgotten given some of their highlights from last season. With the addition (or traitorous defection?) of Keogh and the continued progress of Heaslip (What price the eight for that match in October next year?) coupled with the potential devestation Gleeson can wreak, they'll certainly fancy competing with many sides in the back row department also.
Munster, well I don't need to write too much there, I think Neil Francis put it best last Sunday "..I expect a close loss in Welford in a really friendly game and then five straight victories including a win in Bourgoin. Sure you know the rest yourselves . . . Thomond, frenzy, eaten whole etc. Born to be wild."
My hunch for the mouthwatering weekend ahead would be for Ulster to scalp Toulouse at Ravenhill, such a result would be a serious attempt at breaching the French destroyer below the water line early in the tournament.
Whatever way you dice it, there's not going to be too many quiet weeks for the next twelve months in the Irish Rugby fan's life.
tags: rugby
Published by Paul.
This weekend marks the opening of hostilities in true anger for Ireland's international players following an IRFU-pampered "easing" into the 2006/2007 season. It's not an exageration to say this is a season which should be defining for some of Irish sport's few and far between truely world class products. I've no doubt O'Driscoll and O'Connell et al would not be as nauseated by my far sighted paragraph above as some readers are likely to be. The IRFU's planning and scheduling in terms of player managment for this WC season has already been put into execution. How much an edge they can wring from their often lauded structure and control of their players remains to be seen.
In the spring we have another bite at the "easy" Grand Slam, with France and England both due to visit Ireland. In this contest, anything less than the ultimate prize will also be rightly lamented. The Croke Park factor adds some icing to the top of what will be a pivotal psychological building block to September.
So then to the minor details. The Heineken Cup, devoid of live RTE coverage from Thomond Park for the first time, should see the silent Television plus RTE radio option exercised like never before. I'm sticking my head far out on the block, but I fancy Leinster to go a little further than last season this year. God knows they have the pristine talent to do it. Although the tight five (or those two locking it in particular) look vulnerable, Leinster if anyone are a team who can turn Rugby 101 on its head as they've proved in the past that backs can win games. Their ability to dispose of teams without a bountiful supply of quality possession speaks volumes for the truly scintilating talent they have from 10 out. It is worth remembering that last season was Cheika and Knox's first in charge, a fact that could easily be forgotten given some of their highlights from last season. With the addition (or traitorous defection?) of Keogh and the continued progress of Heaslip (What price the eight for that match in October next year?) coupled with the potential devestation Gleeson can wreak, they'll certainly fancy competing with many sides in the back row department also.
Munster, well I don't need to write too much there, I think Neil Francis put it best last Sunday "..I expect a close loss in Welford in a really friendly game and then five straight victories including a win in Bourgoin. Sure you know the rest yourselves . . . Thomond, frenzy, eaten whole etc. Born to be wild."
My hunch for the mouthwatering weekend ahead would be for Ulster to scalp Toulouse at Ravenhill, such a result would be a serious attempt at breaching the French destroyer below the water line early in the tournament.
Whatever way you dice it, there's not going to be too many quiet weeks for the next twelve months in the Irish Rugby fan's life.
tags: rugby
Published by Paul.
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