It is the start of the 6 nations this weekend that will see Ireland open there campaign at home to England. Both sides have been revealed and it is almost time for battle to commence. It will be the first senior international rugby game between Ireland and England that yours truly will attend. I have had the pleasure to be at numerous under 20 fixtures and women’s games between both sides but as I mention this one is the first senior international I will attend.

23 years after my first international in Lansdowne Road which was Scotland back in 2002, I was born 5 years after Ciaran Fitzgerald famously uttered that now famed phrase “Where’s your fucking pride” before Michael Kiernan banged over the winning drop goal to see Ireland home by a slender 3 point margin winning 13-10.

This one means something that I can’t really describe, I don’t know what it is but maybe it is that feeling in the pit of the stomach that something special is happening !! This fixture above every other one in the now 6 Nations is still as special as it ever was.

For once this author will go to an international with a different feeling. Having waited a long time to get to see this game live, I will certainly be in flying form come 4.45pm on Saturday. I have spent the week doing my usual via YouTube, stocking up on old clashes between the sides like 1982, 1985, 1993, 1994, 2004, 2007 you get the jist..

I will complete the set of the 6 Nations this weekend, the tournament is the one time over the course of the year where everyone will tune in to see what happens, not often that rugby takes the full focus other than 6 Nations time. It is the tradition attached to it that also sees it on free to air TV, note to those in power in broadcasting, take note of my last sentence and the contents of it…

I have the feeling, I’ll be like that 11 year old that went to see Ireland for the first time back in 2002. It still happens, you get that warm fuzzy feeling that only happens through childhood, that nervous excitement.

I have been fortunate to see New Zealand, Australia, South Africa live in Dublin over the years but I have a feeling this one will come close to topping the lot and that is saying something as I was there in 2021 when Ireland beat the All Blacks which was a truly special atmosphere…

Here’s hoping the game on Saturday lives up to the expectation of the now 34 year old author of this piece who will be like that 11 year old of 2002 more than the 34 year old of 2025, well in terms of excitement levels anyway….

Ireland begin there 2025 6 Nations campaign with a game against England in Dublin on Saturday at 4.45pm. They will wrap up their week long training camp that has taken place in Portugal in the coming days. Tadgh Furlong has already returned to Dublin for treatment on a calf injury with Connacht tight head Jack Aungier travelling out to take his place.

Furlong is rated doubtful for Saturday’s opener vs England, the smart money will be on Finlay Bealham to take the no.3 shirt with Thomas Clarkson to come off the bench. Simon Easterby has taken the reins from Andy Farrell who will be on British and Irish Lions duty for the duration of the 6 Nations this year.

Ireland will face a different type of challenge as well as being defending champions they will be without their head coach which will be new territory for all in the Irish camp. Simon Easterby was best placed to take on the role once it was confirmed that Farrell would be the 2025 Lions head coach.

Ireland were three from four last November winning two games in extremely tight contests against Australia and Argentina. Losing on the opening night to New Zealand by 10 points stung but over the following few weeks, Ireland began to repair the damage from that New Zealand game.

Andrew Goodman has had more time with the Irish coaching set up and one hopes that the week in Portugal has been used well and we will see improvements and steps forward in attack and that the discipline in defence will be as resolute as previously. I know you can give away certain penalties but I am sure that has been a focus for the coaches while away over the past week.

They will be a large target on Irish backs as champions and with England and France to travel to Dublin with tricky away games against Scotland, Wales and Italy on the final day. Ireland will know that it was a late Marcus Smith drop goal that stole the win in Twickenham last March while they were under penalty advantage after Tadgh Beirne had infringed.

England will come to Dublin looking to kick start things under Steve Borthwick who has seen two members of his original coaching set up leave with Aled Walters now working with the IRFU and Felix Jones still looking for his next opportunity.

Jones may yet be involved with Andy Farrell’s British and Irish Lions coaching team but nothing has been confirmed either way so it is one to keep an eye on.

Ireland will be on home soil in week 1 against England with the Under 20s playing down in Irish Independent Park on Thursday night against their English counterparts.

So the fun of the 6 Nations are about to kick off and for the next 7 or so weeks the 6 Nations will take centre stage and will get people watching the oval ball that don’t normally watch.

The 6 Nations is a flagship tournament for rugby union and will have large audiences watching over the next couple of weeks. Let’s hope the rugby served up will keep people interested….

15 Hugo Keenan

14 Calvin Nash

13 Garry Ringrose

12 Bundee Aki

11 Jamie Osbourne

10 Jack Crowley

9 Jamison Gibson Park

8 Caelan Doris

7 Josh Van Der Flier

6 Tadgh Beirne

5 James Ryan

4 Joe Mc Carthy

3 Thomas Clarkson

2 Ronan Kelleher

1 Andrew Porter

–

16 Dan Sheehan

17 Cian Healy

18 Finlay Bealham

19 Iain Henderson

20 Cormac Izuchukwu

21 Conor Murray

22 Sam Prendergast

23 Robbie Henshaw

Here is my attempt at picking a 23 to face England in just under 2 weeks time in Dublin on the opening weekend of the 6 Nations. They will slowly build towards that opening game under Simon Easterby who will be in charge as Andy Farrell is on British and Irish Lions duty….

We have our last 16 in both the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup with all 4 Irish sides involved in the last 16 of both competitions. Leinster will play Harlequins in most likely Croke Park in the last 16 as the Aviva Stadium won’t be available that weekend.

 Leinster took second seeding with Bordeaux Begles taking top billing. Leinster were unbeaten in there 4 group games and finished their pool with a big win over Bath.

Munster will have a reunion with Ronan O Gara as they take on La Rochelle in France. There will be plenty written and spoken of in the build up to the game so thankfully there is the small matter of the 6 Nations in between now and the first weekend of April when the last 16 ties will take place.

Ulster will face top seeds Bordeaux Begles in an extremely tough pairing for Richie Murphy’s men, they managed to sneak into the last 16 and with that they were rewarded with the so called toughest test of the last 16 ties.

Connacht took top billing in the last 16 of the Challenge Cup and will be on home turf for a game against familiar opposition with Cardiff Rugby coming to Galway in the last 16. If Connacht get through they will face either Racing 92 or Perpignan. It is great to see all 4 Irish sides involved in the latter phase of the Champions and Challenge Cup.

Yes, there are issues with the qualification for the last 16, take Ulster as a prime case, win one game and get through. It should not be the case in any sport that you win one game from 4 in this instance and get through but that is the way the competition is currently set up and all teams can do is play within those constraints and see how they go.

Irish rugby chiefs will pat themselves on the back as they see there 4 professional sides into the latter part of the flagship european competitions. It will be interesting to see will all four make it beyond the last 16, the smart money would suggest that 2 from 4 on current form stand a better chance than the other two.

 Both Leinster and Connacht will fancy their chances on home turf in April with Munster going to France and Ulster making a similar journey when they face Bordeaux Begles.

Munster and Ulster will relish the chance to take on two French heavyweights away from home with most people giving them little or no chance of victory and the evidence of the past few seasons since the last 16 was introduced would back up that assertion that the home side is strongly favoured to win the day and progress.

Leinster will have home comforts all the way from last 16 until the semi-final stages if they can get passed Harlequins as will Connacht who will feel they will be able for one of Racing 92 or Perpignan if they get beyond the challenge of Cardiff Rugby in the last 16.

We have 1 round of the URC to go before all eyes will turn to the 6 Nations action with Ireland opening up on home soil against England in two weeks time.

Munster are still in the market for a head coach with Ian Costelloe still in interim charge along with Mike Prendergast, Denis Leamy and Mossie Lawlor with the latter trio all signing contract extensions in the weeks following Graham Rowntree’s departure.

Munster will look to the break after the next two rounds in the Champions Cup against Saracens in Limerick and then another trip to face Northampton Saints in Franklins Gardens. Munster have one win and one loss in Europe and will look put the defeat against Leinster to one side. No better than the visit of two of England’s best club sides currently to focus the mind of players, coaches and supporters.

The last few months have felt like Munster have just drifted along picking up the odd win and being happy with their lot. Injury again has had a part to play with a full team of 15 players still out injured. Some of them will be on the comeback trail while we wait to see when men like Roman Salanoa will be cleared to return to action.

Clarity is needed for the Munster supporters, they have been down this route far too often in the last 8 years. Munster are back looking for stability after a solid period under Graham Rowntree that saw them win the URC in 2023.

Ian Flanagan who is the Munster CEO does need to provide real clarity around the coaching situation asap. Not the odd quote after a Q&A session that will be quickly forgotten. Yes a few wins in the URC will get Munster back climbing up the table and back into the top half.

Given how the first half of the year went for Munster it is crucial they find consistency in the second half of the campaign. They will know they will get certain players back from injury but others need to step up.

In the short term, Saracens and Northampton will be the main focus on the field but for those behind the scenes, it is time to put the shoulder to the wheel and help bring in the head coach they feel will help steady things.

 I realise it may not be as easy as I make it out to be for various reasons but one statement and not sound bites would solve all the questions as well as help end the speculation surrounding the job. Those in the IRFU alongside those at branch level have plenty of plates in the air at the moment but Munster in particular have been here far too often in recent years.

The season hasn’t gone to waste and certainly isn’t over as I say, two big games in the Champions Cup against familiar opponents will get the juices flowing over the next 2 weeks. Munster will again need to circle the wagons and steel themselves for two tough battles with two sides who have been free scoring domestically.

Northampton went to South Africa and beat the Bulls and that victory put them in pole position to secure last 16 qualification this weekend after beating Castres comfortably in week 1.

Saracens will fancy their chances this weekend of coming to Limerick and picking up maximum points and that is the type of situation where Munster would previously have licked their lips and fired every shot they possibly could to gain victory. No better time then than now to remind everyone in Europe that they haven’t gone away…. I have a feeling that Saturday evening, 5.30pm kick off in Thomond Park could be very much like the old days. A cocky English side coming to Limerick looking for a win and here’s hoping the reaction they get on the pitch as well as in the Stands mirrors those old days….

My Ireland Squad for the 2025 6 Nations

Forwards – Andrew Porter, Eric O Sullivan, Cian Healy – LH

Tadgh Furlong, Thomas Clarkson, Oli Jager – TH

Ronan Kelleher, Dave Heffernan, Tom Stewart – Hooker

James Ryan, Tadgh Beirne, Cormac Izuchukwu, Joe Mc Carthy – SR

Josh Van Der Flier, Tom Ahern, Nick Timoney, Caelan Doris, Dave Mc Cann, John Hodnett, Cian Prendergast, Jack Conan BR/No8

Backs –

Jamison Gibson Park, Ben Murphy, Caelan Blade – SH

Jack Crowley, Sam Prendergast, Ciaran Frawley – No 10

Garry Ringrose, Tom Farrell, Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki – Centre

Calvin Nash, Mack Hansan, Shane Daly, Hugo Keenan, Jacob Stockdale, Jamie Osbourne, Jordan Larmour. Wing/Back Three…

Here is the squad I would select for the 6 Nations. I know certain players could be ruled out through suspension and or injury could intervene in the next few weeks. Simon Easterby is in charge for the season with Andy Farrell away on British and Irish Lions duty.