Despite Ireland coach Declan Kidney naming an extended 39-man squad for the 6 Nations Championship, including seven new caps, the likelihood is that they could sink without trace in this year’s campaign.
Ireland are due to take on France at Croke Park on Feb 7.
Even though Lievremont is likely to field some experimental players, the stalwarts he has will keep with tradition and history to overcome the men in green.
The 6 Nations premier also-rans will have three new Ulster players added to their ranks: Tom Court, Ryan Caldwell, and Darren Cave. Tighthead prop Mike Ross, who earns his crust across the water in England wearing the multi-coloured shirt of Harlequins, has also been included.
Leinster’s Gordon D’Arcy has had more than a helping of leprechaun luck in getting back into the squad so soon after breaking his arm a year ago. He’ll be hoping to get his pot o’ gold rather than Luke Fitzgerald by partnering with the aging King of the Elves in the backline, Brian O’Driscoll.
The northern province of the Celtic Isle will have to make do with only five players making the cut for the team. But at least they can take some comfort that they did better than development side Connacht, who managed to get zero.
Another Ulsterite, the promising Ian Humphreys, brother of now elder lemon, David, will have to settle for a spot on the A-team, despite some recent stand-out performances at 10 for his native province against Munster and Harlequins in the Heineken Cup.
He’s been ousted by the lacklustre, Jonathan Sexton, whose membership of the Leinster side is sufficient enough to make the case for him, although Isa Nacewa has taken over the 10 spot in recent H Cup matches.
Make sense? Only to the Irish management.
All the other teams have moved on, and despite England being so abysmal in the Autumn, they are still likely to get one over the Celtic warriors on their home turf.
With even Italy coming along nicely, what bet the Wooden Spoon is already hovering over the green fields of Athenry?
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