Much more robust in the second half than the first, Ireland will need to allay the nerves before next week’s historic match against France in Croke Park and start playing their game from the beginning (a long term feature of O’Sullivan’s teams). Still starting as a favourite has to be got over sooner rather than later. His new additions of the last few seasons now playing their way into the team (not least Ulster’s Andy Trimble!!), and sterling performances from some of the ‘oul wans’. Good to see what is, in parts, becoming an ageing scrum holding up well into the dying seconds of the game, though they will no doubt face tougher tests. Let’s not fold against Laporte’ Bleus like last time, and that we are still in the hunt by the time a rejuvenated England come to Dublin.
Mick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty