Rough road head for ruggers in Six Nations

By Mark Jones

DUBLIN — Smarting after a disastrous rugby World Cup which culminated in failure to reach the quarterfinals for the first time, Ireland don’t have too many reasons to be cheerful as they prepare for the inaugural Six Nations championship, which kicks off this weekend.

With Italy now deservedly in the competition following several years of intense lobbying, the event has the feel of a European championship about it. Fourth out of five teams last season, Ireland will be lucky to do any better than that this time.

However, it’s not just the players and new captain, Keith Wood, who are under the microscope, coach Warren Gatland is also fighting for his job. Gatland might have been jettisoned at the end of the World Cup, but he has the opportunity to see out his contract which ends in May.

Should the Irish improve on previous dismal performances under the New Zealand coach, Gatland might just get a reprieve, but the reality is that he is already puffing on his last cigarette.

The IRFU has already appointed an assistant coach in Eddie O’Sullivan, who was previously assistant to Jack Clark with the U.S. Eagles, and however the Six Nations pans out, it seems that O’Sullivan will be offered the top job.

If not as defiant as before — Gatland had targeted two wins as a minimum requirement in the last championship and had talked of a semifinal place in the World Cup as feasible — the coach has already said he’s happy with the draw that sees Ireland take on Scotland, Italy and Wales at Lansdowne Road. But what about England at Twickenham on Saturday?

"It’s a good way to start off, there’s much more pressure on them to win and there’s no pressure on us," Gatland said. "Having said that, we want to put pressure on ourselves, to show some real pride and passion in our performances."

As for the World Cup, which saw Ireland lose to Argentina in a playoff for the quarterfinals, Gatland likened it to a death in the family.

"The only thing I can equate it to, and I realize how silly this is, is a death in the family," he said. "It was pretty gut wrenching. It was like a bad dream, you wake up the next day and wonder: ‘Did that really happen?’ "

Some have suggested that Munster’s impressive form in reaching the last eight of the European Cup will boost Ireland’s chances, but then Ulster actually won the European Cup last season, and still the national side flopped.

Wood will surely be a more inspirational captain than either Paddy Johns or Dion O’Cuinneagain. However, it’s a tall order to expect the team’s best player to carry so much responsibility on his shoulders. Wood is world class, but he’s surrounded by so many average performers.

In Ireland’s favor, it’s hard to predict the outcome of this tournament following Scotland’s surprise success in 1999. England will beat the Irish on Saturday. However, they look vulnerable at the moment. France, despite that stunning win over New Zealand in the World Cup semifinal, are enigmatic and the only certainty is that an aging Italian side will finish last on their debuts.

Ronan O’Gara is almost certain to miss out on a first cap this week because of a knee injury, so David Humphreys should regain his place.

Probable Ireland team

C. O’Shea; J. Bishop, B. O’Driscoll, M. Mullins, K. Maggs; D. Humphreys, P. Stringer; P. Clohessy, K. Wood (capt.), P. Wallace, B. Casey, M. O’Kelly, D. O’Cuinneagain, K. Dawson, A. Foley.