Six Nations 2002 - Ireland

Big things are expected of Ireland this season since their enviable mix of battle-hardened veterans and talented young players have proved they can perform to the highest level against the best teams in the world.

The task for new coach Eddie O?Sullivan is to stop them falling on their faces at the wrong time just as they did last season. Having spent the summer dreaming of a rare Grand Slam over several pints of Guinness, they suffered a real hangover by losing to the Scots. True to their maddening form, they re-focused to beat England and give the All Blacks a mighty scare.

Never short of surprises, the Irish RFU then dispensed with coach Warren Gatland, the New Zealander who had led them to second in the championship, and promoted his assistant and backs coach Eddie O?Sullivan. Obviously a clash of personalities somewhere.

O?Sullivan certainly masterminded some exhilirating back play and he has some real talents to call upon ? two excellent fly halves in Ronan O?Gara and David Humphries to partner feisty scrum half Peter Stringer, fit-again Rob Henderson will resume his Lions centre partnership with Brian O?Driscoll and Denis Hickie is a real flyer.

If the pack can rediscover the form and intensity they showed in mastering England, they can beat anyone. Injuries cast a shadow over their opener against Wales, a team they have only beaten twice in Dublin since 1984. But even if inspirational skipper Keith Wood, the powerful Shane Horgan and back row man Keiron Dawson are out, they should get a winning start.

But if they do become champions, they really will deserve it since they have to play England at Twickenham and France in Paris.