Murray Kinsella reports from Edinburgh
THE SUN WAS out yesterday at Carton House and Joe Schmidt was in no humour to have the light mood broken.
Why has Simon Zebo been left out? No, no, it’s just the wear and tear of Test rugby.
Will Schmidt’s intimate knowledge of Vern Cotter colour this clash with Scotland? No, no way, I owe VC a fair bit.
All positive, all looking forward, all building towards as clinical a performance as possible on Saturday afternoon.
One gets the sense that Schmidt looks forward to the conclusion of the Six Nations not only because it might mean a second title in two attempts, but also because his media duties will almost totally disappear for a few months.
Ready yourself for the World Cup onslaught, Joe.
After their own media obligations, Ireland’s players prepared themselves for the trip to Edinburgh out in the lobby, where little Luca Sexton was the star of the show. Schmidt will be hoping that Sexton senior is similarly warmly received after a standout performance in Murrayfield tomorrow.
Onwards to Scotland they and we went, though it seems the bulk of the travelling Irish take to the skies today.
All was calm around the Grassmarket yesterday evening, while Finnegan’s Wake up on Victoria Street lived up to its name for once, although these things are relative. That serenity certainly won’t be the case later this evening and into the wee hours of Saturday.
We dropped into a randomly-selected spot for sustenance and of course the waitress was a native of Kilkenny. A band of her fellow Cats are part of the wagon destined for ‘Auld Reekie’ tomorrow.
We’re told that strange nickname comes from Edinburgh’s smoky industrial history and the number of chimneys in the city, but Schmidt will be intent on ensuring his key men have utterly clear vision in their approach this weekend.
A repeat of the moribund opening 14 minutes in Cardiff simply cannot be afforded this time around, but if Ireland do start well they can do the business.
One has to think England are in the favourable position, given that they will know precisely what they need to do to claim their first title since 2011 later tomorrow, although does a degree of pressure come with that position too?
Ireland’s clarity must arrive in the form of accurate passing and catching skills, nailed lineout throws, intelligent calling at the set-piece, balanced drives at scrum time, perfectly-executed power plays, creative sparks in phase play and concise communication.
Not too much too ask; Schmidt’s demands are notorious.
There is something of a reduced feeling about the weekend, given that the Grand Slam dream slipped away in Cardiff, though anyone who was in Paris last year will tell you that a championship success is still sweet to witness and toast.
The oddness of a trophy presentation in the deserted cavern of Murrayfield tomorrow evening may await, even if such thoughts are dangerously getting ahead of the facts. Wales, Italy, France, Scotland and England all have starring roles to play in a day that’s not just about Ireland.
Schmidt’s men, as ever, will be concentrating on the things they can directly affect themselves.
Interesting how everyone writing shamrocks off, all Ireland champs 2 years ago and beaten semi finalists last year. In the year they won it, beat na piarsaigh in the semi so I think they will fancy their chances. Saying that, would love to see na piarsaigh win it
Two very evenly matched semi finals. I’d love to see a Na Piarsaigh v MLR final. Think Na Piarsaigh will win it. Anyone but Portumna. A team who doesn’t have to qualify from its province doesn’t deserve an All Ireland title. Na Piarsaigh and MLR would be more than deserving of winning it considering who they had to beat to get to the semi.
Yeah they only have to qualify out of most competitive county in the country where many of the All Ireland Club Champions have come last 10 years.
Doesn’t matter who they have to beat in the Galway championship. I’m talking about Galway clubs in general.
The exact reason why Galway clubs have a good track record in it is because they walk in to the All Ireland semi finals every year.
Same as minors getting straight through to quarter finals and U21′s getting straight through to All Ireland semi. They all pick up some handy titles and then wonder why the Galway senior team is not successful.
Simple, they have less teams to beat to win All Irelands at every level except senior and they win them at all levels except senior!!!
Sour grapes mike. Portumna one of the best club sides of all time. Going by your logic no team from Galway should be allowed enter the competition.
When portumna were at their best , they would give any of the top team’s in the country a game.
I have nothing to be sour about. Portumna mean nothing to me. I see and hear Galway people moan about their senior team not being able to win anything but they rub their hands with glee when they walk in to the latter stages of most other competitions. It’s more than a coincidence that Galway can win titles at all levels except senior. They have too easy a route in all bar the senior. Galway won’t win a senior All Ireland until they wake up to that fact. They want the senior team in Leinster but are more than happy to have every other grade team and club not as they are winning things. Why don’t they look at the possibility of moving all teams in to Leinster so they can actually see what they are worth and not just be handed byes the whole time while every other team and club have to get through several matches to get to the same stage.
The Galway clubs have to beat provincial and county champs to win an All Ireland Mike, same goes for their minors and U21s, nothing handy about that.
You sound pretty sour to me.
Portumna will win it
Portumna won their titles Mike Neil because they were the best team, to say otherwise is just bloody sour grapes.Same goes for all the clubs who won the All Ireland.
I will be shouting for Portumna but think Na Piarsigh will win out, they have more scoring forwards than anyone else.
It’s not portumna’s fault they go straight into semis. It’s theirs to lose now, should be a handy all-ireland for them now. Although this is a year full of surprises.
Only a fool would write off the Rangers. Have seen off 2 favourites already and didn’t even play well against Outlart.
I know they will still be the underdogs, but they will wear that badge with pride!!!!
Loughgiel shamrocks be very hard to beat they R a good team winning 4 county titles and 4 ustler titles and all Ireland in the last 4 years what more can I say
think you’ll find Eamon that Loughgiel have as good a six forwards as any of the teams left.will take a damned good performance to beat them much better than anything I’ve witnessed on TG4 to date..
I disagree Denis.I have seen Shamrocks 3 times in the last 2 years , they are a fine side but they don’t have forwards of the calibre of Canning, Hayes, Dowling, Hannon or Downes.
Hannon plays for Adare not Na Piarsaigh.
Fair bad support for loughgeil. A club that has been there and done it plus has one of the best hurlers in the country. Would love to see them prove a lot of people wrong again. From a tipp man
As a Birr man, having seen how these All-Ireland’s are won, it’s about getting the most from your forwards. One of the reasons KK did well last year was Slevin the free taker. Similarly Loughgiel have a great full forward, whose name escapes me. Na Piarsaigh have serious forwards and of course Portumna have Joe Canning & Damien Hayes, plus their experience. It’s hard to see past Portumna. Fair play to MLR though – inspirational stuff!