Ireland’s challenge for a second successive Grand Slam has sound foundations, but history is against them, while opponents will raise their game, writes Gerry Thornley in the Irish Times.
"History shows that while it was hard enough for Ireland to finally win one Grand Slam, it’s even harder winning them back to back.
In only five years out of 29 have the reigning Slammers backed that up with another clean sweep the following season. England did it three times, in 1913 and 1914, 1923 and 1924 and, most recently, 1991 and 1992. Wales managed the feat once, 1908 and 1909, and likewise France, in 1997 and 1998.
Despite having three of their five games in the latest campaign at Croke Park, Ireland have supposedly the more difficult itinerary, ie France and England away. The last time Ireland managed to beat the big two of latter generations on their own patches was in 1972, and the only other times before that were in 1948 and 1929."
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