Six Nations Launch:The great and the good of the RBS Six Nations came together for the annual launch of the tournament in Fulham amid security and largesse more suited to a political summit meeting, writes Gerry Thornley in London
Amid the customary heady optimism, it was salient to think that only three of the head coaches remain in situ from last year, underlining how increasingly precarious their jobs are, albeit in a post-World Cup year.
Among the newcomers, Marc Lièvremont spoke through an interpreter, Nick Mallett played the humble underdog in charge of Italy in typically articulate style while Warren Gatland, still enjoying his honeymoon period as the new Welsh coach, blew in like a breath of fresh air.
He has been here before, of course, as one of two former Ireland coaches (now in opposing corners), and spoke of how beneficial it is to have experienced the manifold external pressures of what he believes is the premier tournament in world rugby, and thereby remaining "a bit calmer in your preparation".
There will be added intrigue in his return to Ireland with Wales at Croke Park in the penultimate round of games on March 8th. Asked if he would take any satisfaction from winning that game, Gatland smiled and said: "I took a lot of satisfaction from winning the semi-final of the European Cup at Lansdowne Road, so I suppose I'd get some satisfaction if we were to win at Croke Park."
Although Gatland last coached Ireland seven years ago, he gave debuts to 10 of the current Irish squad, 14 of whom played under the Kiwi, including 11 of what was considered Ireland's first-choice team at the recent World Cup.
"I'm really proud of what I achieved in Ireland. In my last (Six Nations) game we beat England at home. I think we won something like nine of our last 11 internationals (it was actually seven of their last 10 under him).
"In the last year we finished second in the Six Nations with the same points having beaten the team that finished top.
"I'm really proud of being involved in putting things and structures in place in Irish rugby that I think was very much a part of that success and those Triple Crowns, and it's great to see those players go on and be successful and play so many Test matches. And for me personally, from a neutral point of view - well, a slight bias - I was personally very disappointed with Ireland's performances in the World Cup. I think potentially they had the ability to do so much better than they did. I think that's what makes them dangerous in this tournament coming up."
Scotland's Frank Hadden spoke bullishly of them being in contention on the final weekend and Gatland also spoke enthusiastically of the many "variables" that make this year's Six Nations hugely unpredictable.
While Brian Ashton yesterday ruled out Peter Richards from the tournament, Gatland said Dwayne Peel was unlikely to play unless 100 per cent fit for what he believes will be an ultra-physical opener away to England.
Already engaging in psychological warfare, Gatland maintained he was still struggling to "get a handle on England" but mischievously suggested, "If I was England I'd try and bully us, try and take us on up front."
The former Galwegians, Connacht, Ireland, Wasps and Waikato coach was equally forthright on the decision by the RFU's director of rugby, Rob Andrew, to award Ashton - the other former Ireland coach in this season's field - only what in effect is a rolling one-year contract.
"I think that must be very disappointing for Brian. Can you pick the players you really want to play or do you have to get a balance because you're worried about your future, thinking I've got to pick the (Mark) Regans and the Simon Shaws and so on 'because I need to get results'?
"It must be hard for Brian getting to the final of a World Cup and your union only gives you a one-year contract, rather than have the balls to give him a bit longer or get rid of him if that's what you really believe."
As the day's guest presenter Ieuan Evans put it, there was "quite a bit of bling on display" in the exclusive Hurlingham Club, a picturesque, private members' club with tennis courts, bowling lawns and a five-year waiting list.
Rather incongruously, save for the Six Nations Trophy itself (France) and the women's championship trophy (England), Ireland were the current holders of the remaining three trophies, namely the Triple Crown, the Under-21 Championship and the 2007 player-of-the-tournament gong (Brian O'Driscoll), which was decided by fans online.
Rivers of water have passed under the bridge since then, and it showed in Eddie O'Sullivan's downbeat demeanour.
"Basically we accept that the World Cup was a huge disappointment," he said. "We've talked at length about it as a team and taken the lessons from it. The most important thing now is to focus on the here and now, and try and recreate or replicate the form that we brought into last year's Six Nations."
O'Sullivan denied it was the biggest challenge of his career, comparing it to the fallout from the November 2005 series, and said he resisted making further changes in personnel partly because it was IRFU policy to treat the Six Nations as an important tournament and end in itself.
Given substance to Gatland's theory that Ireland's need for redemption might make them more dangerous, O'Driscoll admitted the World Cup was a huge disappointment and said, "I couldn't imagine leaving it like that. I crave success and I crave winning, and I guess what comes with that is craving an upbeat public opinion. It's not nice people not thinking highly of the Irish rugby team, so all of those things point to having an ambition to be a big success again".