Ireland skipper Brian O’Driscoll believes his team can make history by grabbing only the country’s second Grand Slam (beating all other teams in the Six Nations) and emulating their compatriots’ breakthrough triumph of 1948.
Four years ago Ireland hosted England in a Six Nations Grand Slam decider but, as was to happen again in 2005, the Irish imploded, running out distinctly second best to the English at Lansdowne Road.
O’Driscoll, whose burden of being the sole playmaker in the Irish backline has been alleviated by players such as Gordon D’Arcy and Geordan Murphy, believes that now is the time for the Irish to come good.
”I have never known as good a time as it is now with regard to Ireland finally achieving the Grand Slam,” said the 29-year-old centre.
”The favourites tag [they are generally 7/4 with the bookies)] is more of a burden probably for the fans than the players. I hope we can cope with it both mentally and physically.”
O’Driscoll believes that the team has now achieved the maturity it was lacking over the past few years — a claim that will be put to the test when they open next week in Cardiff against Wales, who clinched the Grand Slam by beating the Irish two years ago.
Despite the loss of Shane Horgan for a month, O’Driscoll believes the form of fly-half O’Gara will be crucial.
”He is to my mind the second best flyhalf in the world at the moment,” said O’Driscoll, who reserves the top spot for All Blacks star Dan Carter.
Meanwhile, Wales coach Gareth Jenkins is just as confident about his team’s hopes as O’Driscoll is about Ireland’s.
”I think we have a better chance of winning the World Cup this year than ever before,” declared the former Llanelli star. ”I feel as if we have more strength in depth than we have ever had.”
However, the Welsh, whose provinces performed admirably in the group stages of the European Cup, will go into the Irish clash next weekend missing several established stars, such as winger Shane Williams.
There is an air of unpredictability over world champions England and France after desperate performances in the autumn Tests.
England can hardly get worse after losing eight of their last nine Tests, but with the removal of coach Andy Robinson and with Martin Corry relieved of the stresses of captaincy, there is a fresh dose of optimism.
”I think we have several of our experienced players performing back to their best and a swathe of younger players coming through,” said director of rugby Rob Andrew.
France’s strategy, under the stewardship of Bernard Laporte, is a mystery to most observers as, for the first time in the tournament’s history, a 40-man squad has been selected.
”I already have 21 of the World Cup squad members noted down so the remainder of the players are scrapping it out for the final places,” said the 42-year-old.
”Of course there will be problems in managing such a big squad and there will be clashes on the training pitch but that is part of the competition for places.”
Laporte is in no doubt about the decisive match for his team — their second match away to the Irish on February 11 at Croke Park.
”If we beat the Irish we will defend our title,” he said.
For Scotland and Italy their most realistic prospects are to be the spoilers in the championship and with the improving Scots, boosted by victories over France and England last year, hosting the Irish on March 10 there is every chance of that happening.
”We want to continue to be more competitive,” said coach Frank Hadden.
”There was enough evidence during the November Tests to show we are continuing to make progress,” added Hadden, even though a 44-15 thrashing by a relatively poor Australia side didn’t really support that view. — AFP
