The editor tolerated my longevity and published the article as was, but put a more provocative headline on it, just to stir up the Crowd a bit more – (that’s why he’s the editor, of course – bow, bow, scrape, scrape.)

My alcohol-free life is going to be seriously tested this week. Having blagged my ticket for the World Cup qualifier soccer match against France on Saturday, I’ve just got my hands on my long-promised ticket for the rugby match on Sunday in the Cusack Stand in premium seats with a few mates.

Looks like I may have to break the alcohol curfew just a little bit before the weekend….. Am meeting up with a few heads, including some good Aussie and French blokes on Friday night for a few orangeades and pineapple juice…. should be a good night. Then it’s basically living in Croker for the weekend and the bars around it, and a friend’s 40th party on Saturday evening in between.

If by a stroke of amazing luck, Ireland win on Saturday and Sunday, this town is going to go berserk…..

It’s a tough life, but someone’s got to do it….

These nay sayers are just gutless losers.

This could be one of the great games, can’t wait, may even get up in the middle of the night, but as a gutless loser myself I will most probably snooze on and watch the recording at 7am.

Anyone know what the weather forecast is?

Can’t wait to read your tome!

It encompasses some of the views/issues expressed above.

One thing I should clarify. Due to the recession, there’s no more drink or drinking in Ireland. As part of a new calvinist approach, it’s been decided that references to Ireland and drinking, and little men in green should be removed from general discussions about the country.

The idea is to remove references to dr***ing whereever they occur, so that gradually it will appear as if it never happened. Four legs good, two legs bad, if you will.

This kind of revisionism is already taking place in rugby. As people may be aware, the new Lansdowne Road stadium, that will still occupy the oldest rugby stadium site in the world, has been sold off to the commercial sponsors, and the new stadium will henceforth be known as Av**a Stadium – a name which shall never pass from my lips as long as I’m breathing.
One would assume that this naming rights would apply to the new building and to any events that took place in the new stadium once it is complete.

Not so. In the course of researching my article on the Irl v Aus game, I had to visit the IRFU website to get some match facts. I discovered that history has now been re-written, and found that the famous victory of 21-6 by Ireland over Australia was played at the Av**a Stadium. Lansdowne is no more. with one stroke of a sponsor’s pen, the famous ground gets wiped from Irish and international rugby history.

I’d be writing to my MP immediately. If I had an MP.

This kind of thing has to stop.

Yours in disgruntled high dudgeon

Pothale, Dublin (now alcohol-free)

Time for Rocky to tell the boys that Vicks won’t be back anytime soon, so let’s not hang around waiting for him to help with the lineout. Instead let’s get the calls right, compete, compete, always compete and surprise ourselves. Who knows, we may even steal one of their throws. Wouldn’t that be nice? Well stuff being nice. Be nasty, be competitive, give ya all and improve.

Then after the match go out with the lads in green and enjoy a few drinks together.

Ireland are the team that could bring this GS tour undone. If by some trickery, guts or skill (I dont care which) we can get away with this one, we can do this GS.

O’Driscoll will be hanging out for a long Quade Cooper pass to intercept.

I have Ireland by 8 points in my mind. Would love the boys to have a huge win but dont think they are at that point in their development. If they do get home I will be over the moon.

Hopefully, by Sunday, he won’t be the best player he’s ever played against.