Two rounds played so far in the 2024 Six Nations, it is safe to say that Ireland are on the road to back-to-back Six Nations Grand Slams for the first time in their history.
Looking to shake off the cobwebs after a disastrous exit from the Rugby World Cup last October, attention was turned to how well they will recover, especially from the devastating retirement of Jonathan Sexton.
Now was the time to focus on the new crop of players being integrated into the first team, for example players like Munster`s Calvin Nash and Leinster`s Joe McCarthy got a chance to impress themselves in their victorious 38-17 win away to France in the opening round in Marseille on February 2.
Meanwhile back in Dublin a week later, Ireland recorded a cagey but rather dominant 36-0 victory over Italy, which Ireland have won ten consecutive Guinness Men’s Six Nations matches, becoming just the second nation to win more than ten straight matches in the Championship since Italy joined in 2000.
As well as Ireland preventing Italy from registering a score, it was also the first time they have held an opponent scoreless in the Five or Six Nations since 1987 with a 17-0 home win against England. Ireland recorded 12-line breaks against Italy as becoming the first team to reach more than six line breaks in this season’s Six Nations.
But from the two games played so far, it just seems that Ireland are head and shoulders ahead of the chasing pack with Wales, Scotland and England left to play. However, strange things can happen once complacency slips into this squad, so it is important to keep its big performers fit and available.
Next up for the boys in green is against the Welsh at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, February 24 at 2:15pm, a game which Ireland are looking forward to taking another step towards another Grand Slam. Wales, who have been on the bad end of narrowing defeats of Scotland and England, want to soak up the hurt inside them, by hoping to cause an upset against one of the dominant teams in the world right now, which Wales haven`t beaten Ireland away in the Six Nations since 2012.
Looking ahead to the following games after that, Ireland goes to Twickenham on Saturday March 9 to face England before returning home for the visit of Scotland on Saturday March 16 where Ireland hopes to provide another successful campaign wrapped up for their home fans on the eve of St. Patrick’s day.
From all the stats gathered so far, it might be argued that Ireland haven`t certainly being challenged and have been uncontested so far in this year’s Six Nations, where France had only 14 men to play against Ireland for large portions of that game and Italy`s horrible record away to Ireland but that doesn’t mean that they are the finished article just yet.
Opposition teams on their day can catch Ireland on their worst of days and the pressure of securing back-to-back Grand Slams for the first ever time can have a major impact for such a small country.
I am convinced by their character and resilience shown over the past year that they can get it over the line to further prove themselves as the major powerhouse to the whole of European rugby.
