Shorn of our talisman and lacking an injection of youth and freshness, do Ireland have what it takes to succeed? We size up their chances.
How’s the form?
It depends where you’re coming from really. Domestically, Irish rugby has never been better. Three teams in the Heineken Cup quarter-finals, including the two top seeds and the reigning Champions, all at various stages playing some of the best rugby seen in the competition this season to date.
From that perspective, it’s looking very, very healthy for Kidney and company.
Internationally, we’re coming off the back of a World Cup campaign that for all its highs, ended on a desperately low note. Last year’s Six Nations raised as many questions as it did answers and we’re going into this competition shorn of our talisman and with doubts over who exactly will fill in at 10 and 13. Hard to know exactly how Ireland will fare then, but it will sure be interesting to watch.
The Star:
Paul O’Connell. With his injuries now very much behind him (touch wood) O’Connell has been playing as well as he ever has and will relish the extra responsibility that comes with the captain’s armband. In a competition where Ireland have to travel to Twickenham and the Stade de France, his leadership will be more crucial than ever if Ireland are to stand a chance.
The Kit Kat Chunky Hard Yards Man:
As part of the Kit Kat Chunky Champion search for your favourite new Kit Kat Chunky favourite – you vote over here, by the way – we’re picking out a Chunky Hard Yards man from each of the Six Nations contenders. And Scotland.
In the World Cup, Wales seemed to have sussed that the key to stopping Sean O’Brien was cutting him off at his ankles, but it hasn’t worked for countless teams in the PRO12 or Heineken Cup so far. You get the feeling he’s a Peanut Butter kind of man, so maybe waving a few Kit Kats under his nose could be a secret weapon. Watch out Seanie, those French, they’d try anything…
The New Kid on the Block:
New faces? Have you not seen Declan Kidney’s squad? Given his magnificent form of late and Luke Fitzgerald’s absence for the time being, we can only hope that exciting Munster winger Simon Zebo gets a chance at some stage.
The WAG to Watch:
Susie Amy.
Rob Kearney’s squeeze knows a thing or two about being a WAG, having featured in Footballers’ Wives in the past. We can only hope that it’s not half as bitchy in the Kearney household as it was on the show.
The Dates:
Feb 5: v Wales (h)
Feb 11: v France (a)
Feb 25: v Italy (h)
Mar 10: v Scotland (h)
Mar 17: v England (a)
If they were a Rocky film, they would be: Rocky I. They have all the best bits but (spoiler alert) are ultimately set to fall short in the end.
The JOE/Kit Kat Chunky Verdict:
Second. We have a feeling Ireland’s campaign will live or die on whether or not they can get a result in Paris. Seeing as we’ve only managed to win there once in 39 years, we look destined to end up as heartbroken runners-up … again.
Got a favourite new Kit Kat Chunky? Well then, make your presence felt over on the Kit Kat Facebook page. The choices are Peanut Butter, White Choc, Orange and Double Choc. As if you didn’t know…
