The occasion obviously didn’t fill me with wonder and excitement because I never really had a great urge to rush back to see a Six Nations match in the flesh.

That changed somewhat last year when Ireland’s home games were transferred to Croke Park and I did get a ticket for the French match, that famous one that got away, but was unable to make it as I also received a late chance to go to see the Arsenal at home, and of course the Gunners won.

Anyway, having missed out on the wonderful occasion that was the England game in Croker around this time last year, I was more determined than ever this term to get to Croke Park to see how different the place is on Six Nations day as compared to an All-Ireland hurling semi-final or final. I finally got my chance last weekend when I got a ticket for the Wales game.

With both teams still in contention for the Grand Slam and the Triple Crown (this would be a clincher of that accolade for Wales should they win) and both teams appearing to be in top form, I must say I really looked forward to the day, the occasion and the match itself.

Alas my friends it was a case of be careful of what you wish for as last Saturday’s match was nothing short of a massive letdown.

It was a brutal game of rugby, Ireland were awful and lost (deservedly) and the atmosphere was amazingly poor. In fact it was the hugely outnumbered Welsh fans that far outshone their host fans in terms of singing and noise.

I know the Irish team didn’t give the fans too much to get excited about but surely that is when the crowd is needed even more, to lift their drooping spirits and all that. Even when Ireland somehow managed to get into the tie in the second half and got within a point of Wales and into a real position from where they could have robbed the game, the response from the Irish support was quite pitiful.

I know this is a common comment that often causes great offence amongst Leinster and Ulster fans in particular but I can’t help but feel that why us Munster people are so let down by the atmosphere when we go to support our country is because we are so spoilt from supporting the men in red. I know strict-ly speaking I’m not comparing like with like but there not poles apart either.

Once again Croke Park looked resplendent and many Wales fans I met were very quick to pay tribute to the ‘magnificent stadium.’ That is exactly what it is but it deserves better than what it got on Saturday last both from the players and the fans. Give me a Cork and Waterford game instead any day.

To the match itself, all week the build up to this game seemed to be concentrating more on the ‘grudge’ match between Eddie O’Sullivan and Warren Gatland than on the match itself and Gatty’s Chesire cat like grin in the post match interviews said all you needed to know about who came out on top in the battle of the coaches. In truth Gatland destroyed his Irish counterpart. His gameplan worked like a dream, while Ireland’s (if they actually had one) misfired spectacularly. Actually Ireland looked like they were caught in the headlights and unsure what to do and that whatever anyone says is almost totally down to the coach. There were of course a couple of notable exemptions….mainly Rob Kearney who was excellent at full-back.

It’s also ironic Kearney wasn’t taken to the World Cup last year or start the opening game of the Six Nations but instead only got in through injuries and grabbing limited chances with both hands. Not through the foresight of the coach. Therefore my friends it’s time for the man from Youghal to finally step aside, maybe go out on a high by leading Ireland to victory in Twickenham at the weekend and then stand aside for the future good of Irish rugby.

Will it happen? Not in a million years. Eddie O’Sullivan will never walk away from this job. Therefore the IRFU need to act and remove him from his position.

We’re going nowhere fast otherwise. Simple as that.

Last year’s World Cup was an unmitigated disaster and now this Six Nations has been too. Two wins over poor Scotland and Italy sides. The players are obviously no longer playing for the coach. Just look at Wales. They had a disastrous World Cup (worse than Ireland) but they acted by sacking the coach and bringing in a new man with fresh ideas and a different approach. Next weekend they host France in Cardiff where a Welsh victory will give them the Grand Slam…..if we can’t or don’t take a leaf out of their book then we’re doomed.

MAGNIFICENT DE LA SALLE

De La Salle continued to rewrite the history books at the weekend when they became the first Waterford school to retain the Dr Harty Cup (Munster colleges senior hurling) and also in the process they became the first Waterford team to win the title twice.

They did this with a convincing win over Thurles CBS. They now go in search of retaining their All-Ireland crown and who would bet against them. Well done to all involved and best of luck with the rest of the campaign.

FA CUP - BUT NOT AS WE KNOW IT

What a weekend it was for shocks in the FA Cup. Portsmouth beating Man United in Old Trafford, Barnsley beating Chelsea, Boro losing to Cardiff. Unreal. Which means that the semi-finals will be played out between Portsmouth, Cardiff, Barnsley and West Brom. Personally I think it’s great that one of the lesser lights of English football will win the old cup and maybe bring it back to what it was always meant to be for once and for all. I’m going for West Brom to win it.

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