Heaslip hoping Aviva factor can ensure a positive Irish start

ANOTHER little snippet of history will be written on Sunday week when Ireland kick off a Six Nations campaign for the very first time at their gleaming new home on Lansdowne Road against Warren Gatland’s Wales.

It hasn’t been the happiest of hunting grounds for Declan Kidney’s side with the win/loss ratio standing at 3:5 since the ribbon was cut for the first big encounter, a 23-21 loss to South Africa, back in November of 2010.

New Zealand, France (twice) and England have all found the Aviva to their liking with the 24-8 rout of Martin Johnson’s side last March standing alone as the one day of unrestrained celebration for the side on its return to Ballsbridge.