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Ireland’s Biggest Challenge Will Be the All Black
Published: March 4, 2010
Ireland’s 33-10 loss to France at Croke Park was a vicious reality check for the current champions, who had been undefeated for 12 matches before the slaughter in Paris.
The men from the Emerald Isle were always going to face a massive challenge taking on Les Bleus in Paris, a partisan rugby venue where few teams have any success.
The loss answered one of only two real questions that remained about this Ireland side.
The first question—was Ireland good enough to beat a side that had showed the traits of a burgeoning world superpower? France has become a terrific side in the last year, and their performance in their capital confirmed that they are one of the leading sides on the planet, and bar a surprising lack of form (alas what would be typically French!) they should win this Six Nations.
Ireland could not make a statement, and despite their success in the 2009, it confirmed something that we had seen throughout recent years.
As good as this Irish team is, they just don’t seem to quite have the overall class or swagger that the best test sides in the world have.
Before Declan Kidney came on board, they won plenty of Triple Crowns and were runners up more times than they would care to admit, but never could close out the final match—which as fate would have it, was more often than not against France.
And despite a Grand Slam last year, we didn’t quite see enough to indicate they were a colossus.
Sure they beat the Springb...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Rugby Union
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