Sobering times for Johnson and McGeechan

I WONDER if by this time next week we will be questioning what all the fuss was about.

Declan Kidney’s first three games in the job have been haunted by the prospect of finishing outside the top eight seeding position for the world cup draw which takes place next Monday. The resultant pressure had a definite impact on the performance of the team. In the end, it doesn’t guarantee a whole lot except to ensure that there will not be two teams in our pool ranked higher than us at present.

With Argentina still clinging on to fourth spot despite defeat in Croke Park, and looking likely to stay there after next weekend’s games (England v New Zealand and Wales v Australia), there remains a 25% possibility that Ireland could be in their group. Despite the furore that would accompany such an outcome — especially with the level of animosity that still clearly exists between the sides — in my opinion it would represent a better prospect than drawing one of the other tier one seeds New Zealand, Australia or South Africa.