So close, yet so far away.
This time next week and we’ll be right in the thick of the 2019 Guinness Six Nations.
Wales play France in the championship curtain-raiser before Scotland entertain Italy, on Saturday, and reigning champs Ireland welcome England to the Aviva Stadium.
Ireland go into the championship as favourites and they have the traditionally stronger nations of England and France coming to Dublin, with games away to Italy and Scotland. The toughest game of all Ireland’s fixtures could well be the final day visit to Cardiff to take on Wales, on March 16.
Injuries to Iain Henderson and Tadhg Beirne mean Ireland are light in the second row and they will be hoping James Ryan and Devin Toner can remain fit for the slate of upcoming fixtures. Still, there are much more reasons to be optimistic rather than apprehensive and all four Irish provinces making the knock-out stages in Europe is an indicator of the glut of good form this country’s players are in.
Following four November wins, against Italy and in the Guinness Series, Ireland are second in the world rankings, on 91.17 points. They are 1.37 points behind New Zealand, who rebounded from their 13-9 loss to Ireland, 11 weeks ago, with a comprehensive win over Italy.
That All Blacks began 2019 as world number one (92.54 points). Ireland, then, have their work cut out to leapfrog the reigning world champions.
The most points Ireland can make up, during the Six Nations, will not come until their final game of the championship – away to the Welsh at the Millennium Stadium. Given Wales’ clean sweep of their November internationals, that game could also serve as a title decider.
Sat, Feb 2: IRELAND vs. England (0.31 points)
Sat, Feb 9: Scotland vs. IRELAND (0.55 points)
Sun, Feb 24: Italy vs. IRELAND (0 points)
Sun, Mar 10: IRELAND vs. France (0 points)
Sat, Mar 16: Wales vs. IRELAND (1.36 points)
Given Wales’ decent ranking, the fact that the game is away from home and that Ireland lost the corresponding 2017 Six Nations fixture, there are a heft of rankings points on offer if Ireland can get the job done.
Interesting, as much as Ireland will be focusing on New Zealand, a heavy defeat in their Six Nations opener would be sobering for more reasons than one. Were Eddie Jones’ men to beat Ireland by more than 15 points, they would go second in the world and relegate Ireland to third.
Getting close to the All Blacks’ heels has required a supreme effort from Ireland. Getting past them could prove much, much tougher.
It will most likely take back-to-back Grand Slams to reach that summit.
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