Feelgood factor has deserted Irish for Munster

IT was a depressingly familiar routine. Throughout the 1990s, Irish rugby’s grimmest decade, there was a Groundhog Day element to international Saturdays.

You’d brew the tea, fix the soup and sangers and plonk yourself in front of the box full of foolish optimism.

Two hours later, after another soulless defeat, you were left hoarse and hollow trying to erase the painful memories by watching the other Five Nations match featuring teams whose fate would not affect your physical well-being. Thankfully, Ireland’s fortunes turned with the century and delighted bellows became more commonplace than shouts of fury. Win or lose, following Ireland was always a noisy experience. That is no longer the case. I watched both Six Nations games this season in a sports bar surrounded by knowledgeable rugby followers and while the loss to France was greeted with a predictable, resigned silence it was quite a surprise to see a similarly muted reaction to the comprehensive win over Wales.