BY GRAHAM CLIFFORD
CAUTION and a sense of anxiety will undoubtedly fill Croke Park on Saturday as Ireland begin the defence of their Six Nations and Grand Slam titles.
While primed and ready to mount another assault on the Northern Hemisphere’s elite competition, the likes of Munster’s Paul O’Connell are talking down the prospect of back-to-back clean sweeps though Irish fans have flocked to bookmakers to put their money behind Declan Kidney’s men to do just that.
“'It’s a tough year for us this year with England and France away. Grand Slam expectations have probably been dampened by that fixture list. But we have a great chance in the Championship and we’ll give it a good run again,” said O’Connell.
While the trip to Paris on February 13 has been earmarked as Ireland’s toughest clash, the Grand Slam winners must first overcome the Italians in Dublin on Saturday to keep the dream alive.
Only England in 1991 and ’92 and France in 1997 and ’98 have managed to win back-to-back Grand Slams, highlighting the difficult task facing the Irish, but many pundits believe Ireland have what it takes to go down as one of the greatest sides in the history of the competition.
Former Scottish and Lions coach Ian McGeechan believes it’s Ireland’s to throw away, saying: “Ireland are in very good shape. They are unbeaten for the last 12 months and their sides have looked strong in Europe.
There is good mix of youth and experience and they have a coach who sets the right tone for them. I think it is always difficult to call in a tournament where you are not playing home and away. Ireland have three home games and that will make a difference.”
While many inside Croke Park, including some of the players,may feel anxious, one man who will be relaxed and confident ahead of the clash with Italy is captain Brian O’Driscoll.
“We aren’t carrying the same weight of history on our shoulders anymore.Winning after 61 years was something we were desperate to do, something that was an albatross round our necks,” he said, adding that the will to win and be the best is not just the Irish rugby side’s mantra but the mantra of the Irish people.
“Last year the Grand Slam was so special because I knew how hard it had been to win it. Not just how hard it was during last year’s actual Six Nations but also how hard it was leading up to it in all the campaigns where we have fallen short and the mental obstacles that have been placed in our way.
“Perhaps with that the pressure is actually less this year than in the past. You know people want you to win, the Irish expect you to win, but that’s just what Irish people are like. Now we have the chance to do something no team has done — win outright back-to-back Six Nations.”