ST PATRICK, as a Welshman, is facing a dilemma. For when Ireland play Wales in Cardiff this afternoon his loyalties will be divided, torn between the land of his birth and the land of his adoption. He may choose to compromise: cheer for Ireland and pray for Wales.
Today’s international rugby encounter will not just decide who wins one game, but who may claim three titles: Grand Slam, Triple Crown and Six Nations championship. Only Ireland can win all three. Only Wales can frustrate Ireland’s Grand Slam ambitions. In 1948, Ireland last won that title. And ever since the annual pursuit of international rugby’s Holy Grail has proved a fruitless exercise. Expectations raised were always dashed. Today, for the fourth time, the glittering prize is again within reach. Hopefully, Brian O’Driscoll and his team will grasp it.
The battle of the wills on the pitch has been preceded by a psychological battle of minds off it. Where Wales has won the Grand Slam twice in the last decade, Ireland has done so once in the past 61 years. Efforts by the Wales coach, Warren Gatland, to raise the pre-match temperature by some regrettable and tactless remarks have been resisted.
His counterpart, Declan Kidney has, wisely, ignored a needless provocation. The Irish coach has done a remarkable job. Less than two years ago, much the same group of players returned from the World Cup in a demoralised state. They were deflated and dispirited by a collective failure to make promise match performance in that tournament. They have since recovered their pride and their passion and, currently, Ireland is rated the fourth best team in the world: a singular achievement, given the small pool of players from which to select a national side.
Sporting success this afternoon, hopefully, will be a harbinger of better times in other spheres. The country was never more in need of a boost to national self-confidence. And this team was never better placed to provide it. It is time to lift the burden of sporting history from the weary shoulders of another generation of great players, which includes Ireland’s greatest, Jack Kyle. They have waited six decades to pass on the Grand Slam baton.
This afternoon in the Millennium stadium – with luck and a little helpful intercession from St Patrick – Brian O’Driscoll’s team may feel the hand of history pressing on their shoulders, and finally collect the baton.