Almost single-handedly, they salvaged the wreckage that was the 2007 World Cup in France.

A. Paddy Jackson

AT least we were spared the usual platitudes that opposing international coaches have heaped on successive Irish teams over the years, praising our passion and commitment in defeat.

England tried it before imploding spectacularly at the 2011 World Cup and now Ireland have followed suit.

The three key battles that will decide the Guinness Series opener

It’s hard to believe that four years have passed since Declan Kidney was handed the poisoned chalice of having to beat Argentina to retain a top-eight IRB seeding a few weeks prior to the 2011 World Cup pool draw.

IT was difficult leaving Cork last Saturday afternoon given the magnificent autumnal sunshine and the twin attractions of a good old fashioned dogfight between Cork Con and Young Munster in the AIL followed by the seasonal offering of jazz. At least the alternative had its attractions.

The quality of rugby in the opening rounds of the Heineken Cup hasn’t been superb but that will be corrected with December’s pivotal back-to-back contests.

You know the landscape is changing when Munster have to employ every marketing strategy in the book to fill Thomond Park for a Heineken Cup pool game.

It’s amazing how much you can learn from just one round of Heineken Cup action in respect of the aspirations and approaches of the various teams. Leinster and Munster between them may have accounted for five of the last seven tournament victories but it is already abundantly clear that a serious challenge to that Irish superiority is about to manifest itself over the weeks and months to come.