RUGBY:If ever a rugby match cannot come quickly enough, this is it. Not only a nation awaits today's update on Jonny Wilkinson's tight hamstring, and no less than the return of Brian O'Driscoll, today's stage - assuredly the sports occasion of the year in Ireland - demands the presence of the best.
And the fewer excuses for England the better. Three years ago, it was a disallowed English try. Two years ago it was Jonathan Kaplan. Last year it was a supposedly dodgy Irish try. Yeah, right.
Undoubtedly, Wilkinson has been the central figure in the new feel-good factor among the Red Rose fraternity, and were he absent, with Toby Flood pitched in for his third cap, it would diminish England's chances.
That said, Eddie O'Sullivan and Brian O'Driscoll were having none of it yesterday after Wilkinson had been spotted practising his famed goal-kicking in Croke Park.
"I think England are playing silly buggers," said a palpably good-humoured O'Sullivan. "I'd be amazed if he doesn't play. I think it's quite funny actually. If you think about it, if I had an outhalf like Jonny Wilkinson, and I do, and he had a tight hamstring, and he doesn't, the last people I'd tell is the media. So think about it."
O'Sullivan maintained he wouldn't indulge in such silly buggers. Hmm. O'Driscoll's and Gordon D'Arcy's damaged hamstrings circa Murrayfield two seasons ago, and Polish ice chambers. Moving on . . .
O'Sullivan also reiterated Irish supporters' proven record in adorning sports occasions and the hope persists that, no less than the haka post-Speargate, England's anthem will be afforded the respect Ireland's anthems of choice have been granted abroad. For sure Croke Park revives memories of the two countries' at-times-bitter, often compatible, history, but this is just a rugby match, albeit one hell of a rugby match.
There are plenty of riders to the popular theory Ireland will win. If Wilkinson plays, his mere presence is a massive psychological boost to his team-mates and fans, never mind sowing doubt in Irish minds if he gets the scoreboard ticking, though O'Sullivan reminded us of Ireland's generally strong discipline under his stewardship, notably when conceding just four penalties last time out.
Yet Joël Jutge has not been exactly a good-luck charm for Irish teams latterly. There is also the continuing absence of Malcolm O'Kelly's aerial athleticism at restarts and lineouts, especially on the opposition throw - think back to this fixture three years ago.
As O'Sullivan is wont to remind us, even in England's bad times over the last three years there's never been more than a score between the teams, and Ireland's winning run over England cannot last for ever.
Perhaps most of all, there is the memory of Leicester doing a number on Munster at Thomond Park, slightly pertinent in that there are three Tigers and half-a-dozen Munster forwards renewing acquaintances today, with Julian White hovering on the bench.
That was then, and this is now, and arguably some club packs (with recourse to cheque books national entities don't have) are stronger than their Test brethren. With the forecast predicting scattered showers and a 30 per cent risk of rain, albeit with no wind, the number of scrums will rise. Either way, it highlights the importance of Ireland not giving an inch at put-in time.
England arrive relatively buoyant, but the feeling always lurked that Scotland made them look better than they are, and after their pedantic effort against Italy, their true level probably lies somewhere in between.
The debutant David Strettle will bring a youthful and pacy confidence to their wing but the reborn Jason Robinson, ruled out yesterday, has undoubtedly been their sharpest cutting edge. Alongside Olly Morgan, making his first Test start away from home, it gives their back three a callow look.
The perming of Wilkinson and Andy Farrell's distribution has undoubtedly given England more width. Even so, the quicker the tempo, the better Ireland's chances. For sure they have to start proactively and crank up the physical intensity - as they did in the second-half against France - from the very kick-off. Rugby is a simple yet brutal game.
First and foremost it's a fight. Ireland didn't seem quite attuned to that the last day until after the fight had commenced, but against England, under the Saturday-night lights at Croke Park, such relative passivity will surely not be repeated.
As pertinent as Wilkinson's dodgy hamstring is O'Driscoll's healed hamstring. It was eye-opening that his absence was so manifest against France, as much in defence as attack, but the boon of his return may also be felt in D'Arcy and Shane Horgan returning to their natural positions.
O'Driscoll's defending in the outside centre channel and his potency may well free up his fellow Leinster gamebreakers and even the likes of David Wallace and Denis Leamy. Peter Stringer's service should also offer the kind of tempo Ireland need.
Ireland's defeat against France, wounding as it was, probably increases the chances of a win today, for these Irish players will not want to be saddled with two losses from two at Croke Park, much less be out of title and Triple Crown consideration by round three.
It might not be especially pretty. One has visions of England recycling through endless longeurs, demanding patient defending from Ireland. There might only be a try or two in it, but looking at the respective gamebreakers, Ireland seem the more likely to score them.
Recent formguide: 2006 - England 24 Ireland 28 (Twickenham). 2005 - Ireland 19 England 13 (Lansdowne Road). 2004 - England 13 Ireland 19 (Twickenham).
Betting (Paddy Power): 4/11 Ireland, 22/1 Draw, 2/1 England. Handicap odds (= England + 7pts) 10/11 Ireland, 20/1 Draw, 10/11 England.
Forecast: Ireland to win.
