Stepping out

BOXING is one of the few sporting activities in which the protagonists talk themselves up and promise to hammer the opposition into submission in the lead-up to a contest.

Otherwise, it’s invariably a case of building up the opposition and downplaying your own prospects.

The latter strategy is alive and well within the Irish international rugby camp ahead of this afternoon’s RBS Six Nations clash with Italy at Croke Park. However, no matter how much they try to spin things, nothing other than a comprehensive victory coupled with an impressive performance will satisfy Irish fans as the Grand Slam champions of 2009 face the perennial wooden spoon winners on home turf.