Wales v Ireland on Saturday from the Millenium Stadium. Of course, this tournament will be of interest to all of us as it sees the debut of Croke Park at the home of soccer and rugby.
Unfortunate slip there Cannae wait. It'll be interesting to see how we perform under the pressure of being favourites this time. I hope we manage to get some of our fringe/backup players comfortable in the team in competitive situations in advance of the World Cup.
How time flies, I was there for this fixture last year (only 3 days later and I could've seen the Sweden match ) though it was a month later. Its pretty cheap to go to Ireland right now as a matter of fact (as it was last year) about $300 round trip Ireland should win the match, hopefully Ireland can win it this year
I think Ireland definately have a chance to win it this season. France is the only real side standing in IRE way, maybe Wales. I can't wait to see the new Croke Park packed to the rafters!
WOW! Now that is cheap, maybe I should plan a family trip in the next few years. I figure drink plenty of Guinness and whisky, that should keep the chill off, lol.
Probably. We have the talent to win the Championship, but I'm dearly afraid our coach may have a cabbage for a brain as we've moved away from what works to what he thinks will work.
Where would one go to find pictures of this game after it has happened? I want to see pics of the stadium full.
Nervy. Very nervy. I hope that D'Arcy and O'Driscoll don't suffer a repeat of the 2005 season, my heart was in my mouth a few times when they kept going down (especially since Horgan's already missing). Croker next week - tá sceitimíní orm!
I was all set to watch this and then a meeting came up that I had to be at!!! WTF! 9:30 am on a Superbowl Sunday morning!??!? Who does that! http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/6321433.stm - Match Report and Comments: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/irish/6329961.stm
They say the mark of a great team is when you play poorly and win. We'll see how that works. Vital win, though. The team now have a week to train together and, hopefully, hopefully they will be able to settle down. A lot of the problems today came from O'Gara's poor kicking (in the first half anyway) and a general inability to find touch when under pressure. Still, we scored three tries to their none. But injuries to O'Driscoll and D'Arcy could prove crucial. Ireland v France next Sunday at Croke Park.
O'Driscoll could yet be fit for the French game, but Stringer has a hairline fracture in his right hand and must be a huge doubt.
O'Driscoll and Stringer are out, which is a shame. Horgan will play with D'Arcy in the midfield with Geordan Murphy on the wing. Isaac Boss comes in for Stringer.
Ireland 17-20 France I still can't believe we lost. Everything went to script... brilliant France in the first half, but we somehow stuck with them.... super try by O'Gara, brilliant second half by Ireland - and those crucial three points at the end looked to have sealed a famous victory. The French try was like being punched in the gut. Still, the atmosphere looked fantastic and Croke Park looked great. Historic occasion.
If England manage to continue their improvement with Wilkinson and defeat Ireland, this season will have a very different pallor than hoped for.