MAYBE IT'S those stupid jerseys that are the problem: the tight-fitting, air-filtered, streamlined, stretchy, shiny, dark-green fecky things whose introduction has coincided with the most depressing dip in the fortunes of Irish rugby for years. Having shelled out about €80 for the privilege, most supporters who have the courage to wear one look about as comfy as an expectant elephant in a Ford Fiesta (or Tony Buckley in an Audi A3)

They were introduced for the alarm-ringing World Cup warm-up matches against Italy and Scotland and in years to come the mere sight of one in an old photo will be sure to give us a dose of the wibbly-wobblies and remind us of this decaying regime. No, these jerseys are not designed for the rugby fan and neither was Croke Park last Saturday.

There was no evidence before this match that Wales were a better team than Ireland, so why Ireland adopted tactics like they were playing the All Blacks is yet another mystery.

As a response to some jiggery-pokery from Warren Gatland, Eddie O told us modern coaches have gone beyond the days of "ra-ra-ra" (anyone?) and that his opposite number's claim to have pinned Rory Best's comments on the dressingroom wall was a dated tactic. Maybe, but surely not as dated and predictable as Ireland's.

This time it feels like the people who sat through that dreary, stale nonsense may not come back. It would be understandable if the thinking was that in order to win you must minimise the risk of losing. But couldn't that be achieved by employing some imagination rather than by attempting to snuff it out?

But as Eddie O said the other day, "Criticism is criticism . . . Am I hurt? No . . . But if it happens, it happens."

Mmm, so true. The kind of comment that reminds one of Steve Staunton's unforgettable assertion, "A win is a win, if you win it."

What made matters worse was the Welsh supporters were so gracious and polite in victory. You wanted them to be brash and boisterous or at least irritating so that you could attach some illogical blame to them. But no, this one was all about Ireland.

Even Wayne "didn't see it" Barnes had his goggles on by affording us a quarter of the match against 14 men.

I haven't looked at the stats, but it must have been touch and go as to who had the greater number of ball-carries, Tommy Bowe on the wing or Paddy Wallace on the bench.

I wouldn't necessarily call Eddie O's tactics totally negative, but in soccer terms - instead of playing, say, a 4-4-2 formation - he played an 8-2-1 (eight in goal, two on the posts and one on the bar). Shh! I might be giving old Trapa some ideas.

So on to Twickenham and the battle of the desperates. The good news from an Irish perspective is that Iain Balshaw, who is always prone to have a "Frank Spencer" moment at some stage of proceedings, is playing.

The big one is, of course, the recalled Danny Cipriani, this time at the expense of Golden Boy himself.

The night before the Scotland match Cipriani was perhaps unlucky to be photographed outside a nightclub, which resulted in his demotion. But probably his biggest mistake was leaving the nightclub, because judging by how England played, the rest of the team must have stayed on.

As Ireland's best defender and poacher supreme, Brian O'Driscoll is a massive loss and will be sorely missed against England, but giving the captaincy to Ronan O'Gara is a smart move, which possibly should have been made at the start of this Six Nations. Yet another enforced change, but how good it would be to see O'Driscoll released from the shackles of captaincy in New Zealand.

Eddie O did state on Tuesday he would have more latitude to experiment with selection when his team face New Zealand and Australia in the summer (yeah, right!). How they must all be rubbing their hands at that prospect. An All Blacks team in development is arguably more daunting than the one you know.

I'd hazard a guess most players would prefer to be blooded against any Six Nations team than against the latest crop of hot young Kiwis chomping at the bit.

Eddie O spoke before the Wales match of how relations with Warren G were "fine" and how, regardless of the past or last Saturday's result, they'd have a beer afterwards - having not seen each other for over six years. One can only imagine sparks flew.

CROKE PARK BAR, March 8th, 2008

3.38pm

EOS walks over to WG to offer congratulations:

EOS: Well played, Warren! To be fair, you just about edged us out, in fairness!

WG: Oh cheez! Yu dodn't mike it easy for us, Uddie!

EOS: We did our best, but I suppose you can't inflate a balloon with a pigeon.

WG (looking at Eddie): Yee, I suppose not.

(PAUSE)

EOS: So, you're playing France in the last round, isn't it?

WG: Yee! You played 'em in Paris, any tups?

EOS: Yeah. Don't concede three tries by half-time, don't let them get the football and when you have the football try not to drop it.

WG: Was that the advice ye gave your boys before today?

EOS: No, I told them not to try anything.

WG: Well, they're certainly prutty obedient, Uddie.

EOS: Yeah, well I just told them sometimes you open a drawer and you find a missing sock, but the next time you look it's not going to be there 'cause you're wearing it. That's Six Nations rugby, you know?

WG (looks at Eddie again): Yee.

(VERY LONG PAUSE)

EOS: Well, nice talking to you, Warren.

(HE GOES).

WG: Cheez, Uddie! (under his breath)Wish me luck with the Lions job, ye drongo!