A win on Saturday against the old enemy at Twickenham and the misery of Paris will seem like a mere blip

WELL IT’S certainly been a turbulent couple of weeks. Just when we had dusted ourselves down after the defeat in Paris, the verbal jousting began. We may be short of a bob or two in Ireland, but one thing we’ve never been short of is opinions. Indeed, if recent events are anything to go by, a player who has an off day at Twickenham is as likely to be scrutinised by a deranged celebrity academic as a rugby journalist.

It’s no wonder we’re in the state we’re in when a Green Sargent loses his job after a tangle with the boys in blue.

You’d have to feel a little sympathy for Willie O’Dea however. Who’d have thought you could bring your own political career to an end by having a face for a joke shop, but no nose for a knocking shop.

Thanks be to all that’s holy for sport.

Ah yes!

England versus Ireland.

A country with a population of about 50 million versus a country with a population of about five million, now that most of the eastern Europeans have skidaddled.

Of course, as a people we’ve matured and don’t need to continually remind our neighbours that they have only beaten us once in six years. It would be plain bad form to use the platform of a national newspaper to drone on and on about the drubbing we gave them in that unforgettable match on February 24th, 2007, when Ireland (a country of around five million) demolished England (a country of around 50 million) by 43 points to 13, running in four spectacular tries while O’Gara kicked eight goals from eight attempts in the process.

However, you get the feeling the showdown on Saturday is all about the coaches and, while they are very different personalities, one thing they have in common is their ability to treat good or bad news with equal suspicion.

When Martin Johnson presided over the defeat to the Wallabies last autumn, he looked like he wanted to murder someone (probably Danny Cipriani, even though he wasn’t involved), which was curiously the same expression he bore when receiving the 2003 Webb Ellis trophy, when it appeared like he wanted to eat it as much as lift it.

As we know, Declan Kidney’s public demeanour is so mellow you wouldn’t be too sure to look at him if he had just won the Lotto or stepped in something unpleasant.

But Johnson’s clearly old-school values like loyalty, hard work and no nonsense, (such as not appearing in magazines) are exemplified in the staunch defence of his captain, Steve Borthwick, a man who clearly was not chosen for the sharpness of his PR skills.

In fact his main attribute is that he’s one of the few players who manages to look brighter with his scrum-cap on. He really should wear it out and about more often.

Heading towards the next World Cup, the rumour is that Wales’ current sponsor have made the RFU an offer they can’t refuse, although England being led by Borthwick and sponsored by Brains would surely be too good to be true.

From an Irish perspective, despite the injuries and suspension sustained, it’s a measure of Kidney’s panel ethic that he can call on so many players to fill big boots, and the decision to play Sexton against South Africa in November now looks shrewder than ever.

On the other hand, you’d have to feel sorry for Paddy Wallace whose main contribution to the Irish set-up last year was to be forced off with a scary, eye-closing bang against France, and then give Wales the chance to blow Ireland’s Grand Slam hopes.

This year has been even tougher. Removing his 12st 7lb frame off the bench against France, he found himself marking 16.5st Yannick Jauzion or 18st Mathieu Bastareaud. Now I haven’t checked the stats for that game, but I’d say the ball-boy had more carries than he did. He certainly won’t create any stats against England. It’s tough at the top and it’s tough on the bench, but it’s even tougher if you’re not there.

A win on Saturday and the misery of Paris will seem like a mere blip. The recent memories of Shane Horgan’s match-winning try in 2006 and and the brilliant team try by Girvan Dempsey in 2004 have given us a lot to cheer about in London over the past decade. There’s also the prospect that if a certain number 10 from Dublin plays to his potential, it could be the dawning of a new era.

However something tells me a certain number 10 from Cork might well have something to say about that.

ON THE EVE OF HIS FIRST SIX NATIONS START, O’GARA RINGS SEXTON TO WISH HIM LUCK AGAINST ENGLAND

ROG – Just want to say good luck to you for Saturday.

JS – Thanks Rog, I appreciate that.

ROG – We’ve had our ups and downs, but that doesn’t matter. We’re team-mates now and that’s in the past.

JS – Okay Rog.

ROG – That’s only small stuff. Silly rivalry.

JS – Fair enough Rog.

ROG – This is bigger than that. This is your country you’re representing.

JS – I know.

ROG – This is the Six Nations. Against the old enemy. This is the one. This is the big time. The whole world will be watching you.

JS – Yeah!

ROG – It’s really, really, really, really important.

JS – Oh Jesus!

ROG – So don’t f*** it up.

JS – Ahhhhhhh!

ROG – Night night!