In search of less tangible rewards

THERE may not be any silverware on offer for Ireland at the Aviva Stadium but there is an awful lot besides resting on the outcome of their RBS 6 Nations finale with England this evening.

Never mind about the visitors’ hopes of securing a first Grand Slam since the one achieved on the same pitch eight years ago, unpredictable Ireland are desperately in need of a great leap forwards to send them to the Rugby World Cup this autumn with ambitions of more than just getting out of their group in New Zealand.

The Ireland players and management may well have cause to bemoan the try that should never have been against Wales last week in Cardiff and a near miss against France in match two that prevents them from going head to head with England in a Grand Slam decider. But the fact that the home side’s role will be simply one of party pooper is a position entirely of their own making.