Irish are ready for party-pooping finale

EVEN in the professional era, with international players well remunerated for their efforts, the driving force for anyone worth his salt is the quest for trophies.

It is only in the long nights of retirement that one appreciates the collective satisfaction of success in team sports. That is why the pain associated with last Saturday’s defeat at Lansdowne Road will have left such an empty feeling for the Irish players last Sunday morning.

With the elusive Grand Slam gone for at least another season, it is imperative that the Irish squad forget their disappointment and look forward with relish to the prospect of lifting the Six Nations trophy this Saturday. The fact that this achievement would also secure a second consecutive Triple Crown is something worth fighting for. With each day since the French defeat, I have no doubt that the Irish players will come to appreciate this.