THE current report of Ireland results is hardly encouraging as Andy Farrell’s outfit prepare to host Italy in the Six Nations Championship at the Aviva Stadium this Saturday, kick-off 2.10pm.
Analyst Russ Petty informs us that in the last four games against top-five ranked teams, there were defeats by 17, 13, 11 and 22 points, respectively.
That tells its own story.
The latest setback, the 36-14 hammering by France in Paris, adds to the importance of the need for an impressive victory over our weekend visitors, who themselves had a surprise three-point win over Scotland in their opener.
Farrell is confident of a positive result.
“I am because I know the people that we have got,” he reasoned after the loss. I know the good people that we’ve got, the good players that are not just here but who are at home as well. There’s a determined group to make sure that we are constantly up there at the top of world rugby to be able to compete. That will always be the case.”
Already there are questions asked why there were 13 of the 14 forwards from Leinster in the matchday squad on Thursday last.
It has been a difficult few days for Irish rugby and those who attended the game in Thomond Park at the weekend where England demolished a weak Ireland A side will have learnt the reality of the slowdown of the current production line.
No longer are the Irish provinces feared and the view of the home teams is that tighter budgets have been the cause of less talent coming through.
A win for Ireland in a couple of days’ time will certainly lift the spirits and harden up the squad for the huge test against England in Twickenham a week later.
The Ireland setup continue their preparations at Clongowes Wood College (Kildare), and there were no fresh injury worries reported earlier in the weekend.