Sir, – I had a bad feeling watching the Irish team singing Ireland's Call before last Sunday's game against Italy. The Italians had sung with pride, passion and gusto. By contrast we sang Ireland's Call without any pride or passion. The match unfolded in a similar fashion and we were fortunate to win. Was it deliberate on Joe Schmidt's part to keep us undercooked, not wanting to go to the emotional well too early in the competition? Joe might have a look at the anthem-singing before we played England in Croke Park. He will see passion and pride and Hayes in floods of tears.
We are an emotional people and last Sunday we played with too much head and not enough heart.
I hope we will get the balance right on Sunday, starting with a proper rendering of Ireland's Call, whether we like the song or not. – Yours, etc,
MARK HURLEY,
Rochestown,
Cork.