OK, where do I start this week? Well for one, I am nervous. I bet you are too. Imagine then what the players must be like ahead of Irish rugby’s date with destiny?
For years now, we as a rugby nation have grown into a winning mentality. We, here in Munster anyway, have tasted success and we like it. We also have learned the art of winning at all costs. Some pundits call it winning ugly, but at the end of the day, in professional sport at this level it is all about winning.
Last season I was in Croke Park for the reverse fixture. Wales won the triple crown that day. Beating Ireland well in the end. You might remember the last five minutes of that game. Wales rucked and rucked and wound down the clock. Fast forward then to May in the Millennium Stadium. Munster held on to the ball in the final minutes to secure their second Heineken Cup. What have these teams got in common? Well, they are winners. Stay with me here, I am going somewhere with this.
You see, Ireland have had this so called “golden generation” for several years now. Yet they have never really fulfilled their true ability. For example, look at Brian O’Driscoll. This season has been his best yet. No argument. Why? Well, because the player seems more focused on what he wants. He has spoken about how each game was a final. Each game needed to be given it’s own respect and each game needed to be won. In previous season’s, Brian and his fellow team mates spoke of “Slams, Crowns and World Cups”. That has all ended now as one man and his back room team have changed all that.
Enter Mr Kidney. The Cork man and honorary God in Munster Rugby circles has added a dimension that Irish sport has been missing. Quiet, unassuming, hard working, belief. The Aussies have their “sense of entitlement”, the English their superiority complex”, the Irish for years had the, “inferiority” weight around their necks. Let me give you an example. In the past, Ireland might have entered this final showdown against the reigning champions on their turf, with a kind of, well if we win it we win it kind of mentality. I know that might sound stupid, but we as a nation were never clinical enough in any sport to be confident about anything. The difference this time? Well, we are still not going into games cocky about things, but now we look over the white wash at the Grand Slam champions and we think. “They are no better than us. We are as good as if not better”. That comes from belief and experience. Take the Heineken Cup medal count into consideration prior to kick off. Take into account also the last two times Munster went to Cardiff for a final. Take into account the sheer focus of the squad. Take into account the competition for places. (Stringer winning man of the match and being replaced).
When you factor all of this in you know that Saturday the 21st of March 2009 will go down in history.
Ireland awaits its first grand slam in 61 years. Yes we may have adapted to the professional game better than other nations our size, but this team will deliver on their talent for the very first time. Like Stephen Roche in 1987, like Italia 90 and like Munster 06, this Saturday is going to be long remembered in this nations sporting psyche.
Brian will lead Ireland out for the 5.30 kick off with the knowledge that if you were to hand pick 14 other men and a coach to be there with you, it would be this Irish team to a man.
If yon can concentrate on the game itself, then watch out for the Henson versus D’Arcy battle, the O Gara versus Jones battle and the Kearney versus Byrne battle and the six, seven and eight battles and scrum half battle and the front row battle and the second row battle. . . .
This is going to be monumental. We are going to win. Can someone book the open top bus? Come on Ireland!!!!!
