TV View: ‘You can’t question these players’ courage’

You’ll remember the bottle of gin from Friday. The hipsterish Brooklyn Gin with the hand-cracked juniper berries and freshly cut citrus peels. The seal remains unbroken.

Ireland haven’t even taken the field, never mind begun to huff and puff their way through the task of trying to open up the Welsh defence, and already we have a taker. It’s Richie Sadlier. He’s seen the Irish XV and he needs a stiff drink. Either that or a Valium to control his fury, which is — as is invariably the case with furies — barely concealed.

Yes, you’ve guessed it. The Irish XV is Wes-less. Wes-less and therefore inevitably artless, soulless and imagination-less. Richie is “staggered”. Richie is so staggered, indeed, that in his barely concealed fury he is moved to invoke the name of the Almighty. “Christ!”