Managing the opposition ...

IF IRELAND’S opening Six Nations clash with Wales had the feel of a potential banana skin, then Sunday’s historic duel with the French is even more fraught with danger.

For me, the prospect of seeing an Irish rugby team perform in Croke Park for the first time was brought firmly into focus last week when the postman delivered that cherished brown envelope confirming receipt of my two ex-international tickets.

Your first reaction always is to check seat location, East or West Stand, the mind trained automatically on Lansdowne Road. Then, in black in white, Cusack Stand — Lower Level: ironically, the same area from which I watched Cork win back-to-back All-Ireland hurling titles in 2004 and 2005. Reality dawned and the enormity of what is about to unfold was brought home.