6 Nations, RUGBY RUGBY RUGBY....

In the middle of the Rugby season, proper. Last weeks HEC action was great of us Irish, provinces winning games that we were expected to struggle in. Goes to show how much Sky can make the Guinness Premiership seem overrrated as two Celtic League sides brushed a side two of their best teams. Anyway it all looks good for another thrilling season with Munster, Home quarter final in Dublin with Toulose or Leinster in the semi if we beat USAP.

6 Nations kick off on saturday, Ireland to face Italy in Dublin. Here is the team.

15. Geordan Murphy (Leicester) 34

14. Shane Horgan (Lansdowne / Leinster) 40

13. Brian O'Driscoll (C) (Blackrock College / Leinster) 59

12. Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne / Leinster) 15

11. Tommy Bowe (Belfast Harlequins / Ulster) 6

10. Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution / Munster) 55

9. Peter Stringer (Shannon / Munster) 61

1. Marcus Horan (Shannon / Munster) 33

2. Jerry Flannery (Shannon / Munster) 1

3. John Hayes (Bruff/ Munster) 57

4. Malcolm O'Kelly (St. Mary's College / Leinster) 75

5. Paul O'Connell (Young Munster / Munster) 29

6. Simon Easterby (Llanelli Scarlets) 44

7. David Wallace (Garryowen / Munster) 22

8. Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution / Munster) 6

Replacements:

16. Rory Best (Belfast Harlequins / Ulster) 2

17. Simon Best (Belfast Harlequins / Ulster) 10

18. Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution / Munster) 19

19. Johnny O'Connor (Wasps) 10

20. Eoin Reddan (Wasps) 0

21. David Humphreys (Dungannon / Ulster) 72

22. Andrew Trimble (Ballymena / Ulster) 2

Good strong team, we currently have massive strength in depth in all positions with the exception of frontrow, note the all munster frontrow. I don't think the Ulster lads are up to international standard yet and of course Flannery has to prove himself at this level.

Here is the thing though, Ireland can win the Grand Slam this year, we have the players and all the other countries with the exception of france are not at full strength. Its actually sad to think that this is the only way we could win a grand slam, I doubt our coach is good enough to get 100% from our players so we could never win against the other nations being at full strength. Just look back to the mauling england have given us when their in peak.