New boys tackle the old bogey

Once more with hope, eh? Irish supporters have little else tangible to cling to after the last few days out for the boys in green, but with a remodelled team - one-third of which are brand spanking new - at least the Lansdowne Road crowd have some cause to banish the past and start afresh come 4.0 this afternoon.

It might look a bit like a last, desperate throw of the dice by the Irish management, but it's difficult to see what choice they had given Irish teams have been carrying so much mental baggage.

Both at Twickenham two Saturdays ago and at Murrayfield last season there were discernible "oh no, here we go again" vibes coming from the pitch long before the end. Now, at least, eight of this team are unencumbered with the Twickenham baggage, only four survive from Lens and three from Murrayfield last year.

Of course, none of the Scots know what it's like to lose to Ireland, which makes the bookmakers' move to make Ireland favourites quite incredible. Apparently, it's on the basis that Ireland have home advantage. Home disadvantage more like?

The Lansdowne Road factor should long since have been exposed as a myth: no home wins in the championship since 1997 and only three to crow about in the inglorious 90s (out of 20 matches) ought to have seen to that.

The inherent goodwill that accompanies a newish, young team (plus the extended pre-match socialising associated with a late kick-off) ought to make the crowd more proactive than reactive, particularly if Ireland get in amongst the Scots early on and obtain the first score or two.

That would seem imperative in such a high-pressure dogfight. It would also give this Irish team some badly needed confidence and real belief.

However, after the wretched, sluggish Twickenham performance, this team needed not only a sea change in personnel but approach. They simply have to inject a bit of pace and tempo to their game, and show some innovation and variation - such as punching the blind side. While they're at it, they might apply some good old fashioned aggression. For Ireland to stamp themselves on this game they have to make the Scots turn, get them on the back foot and keep them there. Get back to the old, front-up, in yer face tackling on or beyond the gain line.

It helps that so many combinations come intact from their provinces, even if you'd like to see a bit more of the Ulster work ethic mixed in with the Leinster class and the big investment in the Munster spirit. You'd also wonder whether the latter will last the 80 or blow itself out.

The Munster maul could be a weapon too, while there's also been a big investment in John Hayes in recent years. Although Paul Wallace hasn't delivered in recent times, and Hayes's ball carrying, mauling and lifting will bring more to the party, there's still a big question mark about his scrummaging at the top level.

Galwey may not last the 80, but he is an inspirational figure to many of today's team and can lighten the load of captaincy for Keith Wood - no bad thing on the evidence of Twickenham.

Simon Easterby's close-in grafting may well bring a better balance to the back row, although I'd still like to see Dion O'Cuinneagain on the bench. And there remains a question mark not only about that unit but also the midfield defence and the defence out wide.

But, with the ball, there's real potential to go with Ronan O'Gara's polished kicking game. The Cork kid is a class act, and you'd hope he's ready to go out and prove it.

The Scots, by comparison, seem far more settled. Ian McGeechan didn't overreact to the Rome reversal, and with so many on a last warning they're bound to put that performance behind them after some stinging media criticism.

John Leslie is a big loss, an irreplaceable midfield playmaker, but Gregor Townsend is still a genius on his day.

Most of all though, the whole unit has added up to more than the sum of the individual parts. If they are allowed to hit a quick-rucking groove then it could be a case of goodnight and thanks for the dance.

There are a few other straws to cling to though, not least that Gatland twice had the better of McGeechan in Connacht-Northampton games. A win would be a boon both for this outfit and for the manager, and would take them on to the next step with real belief. But, failing that, then a good performance is critical. Another shoddy show and it's difficult to see where Ireland can go this season.

Once more with hope then, though the history of this fixture indicates that the bookmakers may, for once, be wrong.