Deep impact

WITH all the focus in recent times on our provinces, be it the successes of Munster and Leinster, or the financial plight of Connacht, the focus has moved away from the international side.

But in a couple of weeks the new condensed Six Nations swings into action and provincial loyalties will be (hopefully) forgotten as Ireland go in search of their first title since 1985.

However, this Northern Hemisphere competition always a has a strange feel to it in World Cup year.