Scrum of the Earth /

At least Ireland haven’t been earmarked as Six Nations champions and potential world domination like in 2007.

It remains to be seen whether or not the IRFU have missed an opportunity to freshen up things by keeping Eddie O’Sullivan, whose faith will be severely tested after keeping most of the same personnel that flopped in France.

Ronan O’Gara looks to have shaken off his World Cup nightmare with a string of impressive outings in the red of Munster but will the burning media spotlights on his green jersey cause another dramatic downturn.

This was supposed to be a golden generation of Irish rugby player with O’Driscoll, D’Arcy, O’Connell, O’Callaghan, Murphy, and the fly-half but there has been nothing but a few Triple Crowns to shout about.

The front-row is the biggest worry with Marcus Horan and John Hayes both doing fine for Munster but neither has an internationally renowned reputation. All the other squads have big front-rows - Castrogiovanni, Sheridan, Murray, Faure, and brothers Jones - and if there’s one thing that O’Sullivan should’ve learned from France is the importance of the scrum.

Paul O’Connell and Jerry Flannery are massive absentees but Leinster trio, Malcolm O’Kelly, Bernard Jackman and James Heaslip, have been superb this season and if they can reproduce their club form, it may not be such a huge void to fill.

But there has been the problem for Ireland - regurgitating the form of the provinces, and it is hard to imagine Ireland satisfying their unhappy supporters with England and France away from Croke Park.

One to watch: Donncha O'Callaghan

Prediction: 5th