Gordon D’Arcy Says Irish Fans Need A Reality Check

Are Irish expectations too high?

Ireland came into this year’s Six Nations on the back of some excellent performances in November. They defeated the All Blacks for the very first time in Chicago and put a beating on Michael Cheika’s Wallabies in Dublin.

As a result of this, expectations were extremely high coming into the opening round. It was all set-up, Ireland vs England at the Aviva for the Grand Slam. Everyone seemed get ahead of themselves, forgetting that Scotland, France, Wales and even Italy stood in Ireland’s way.

Scotland came into the tournament with Glasgow reaching the knockout stages of the Champions Cup for the first time. It was never going to be an easy game, especially at Murrayfield. Ireland’s Grand Slam hopes are over, but the championship is still within their grasp, and people need to realise that.

Writing in his Irish Times column, Gordon D’Arcy believes Irish fans bemoaning the lost Grand Slam need a reality check. Ireland will be fighting for the Championship, but as always- it won’t come easy.

Also, people bemoaning the dream of a lost Grand Slam need a reality check.

Ireland have only achieved this twice so really that’s all it is, a dream. In my entire career, only once did we get ourselves into the position to win the slam. Every other season, like 2007, we came agonisingly close to capturing the championship.

That goal remains well within this squad’s reach. It’s business as usual. Ireland need to win four out of five matches for the title. We know it doesn’t come easy, it never does for us.