Ireland are supposed to be genuine title contenders. Indeed, they are most pundits' dark horses for the Rugby World Cup.

In the last few years Brian O'Driscoll's men have realistically been as strong as they have ever been. This close to the tournament, teams are looking to lay down markers.  The All Blacks have been laying down the marker for four years, while the Wallabies laid theirs with the Melbourne victory over New Zealand. 

However, Ireland have had their marker whited out by three of the world's second-tier teams - Argentina, Scotland and now Italy.

'At the close of 2006, Ireland took the scalps of the Wallabies and the Springboks, and did so comfortably. This confirmed their status not only as dark horses, but also a real title hope'


First, however, credit where credit is due to the Irish. They have a excellent recent record in the Six Nations.  Runners up in 2004, 2006 and 2007 - with defeats to France being their only blemish in the Northern Hemisphere's premier competition.

They toured New Zealand and lost to the All Blacks, who were in their prime, by only 10 and 11 points. They have a four-game winning streak against world champions England, having never lost to the white jerseys since 2003.

At the close of 2006, Ireland took the scalps of both the Wallabies and the Springboks, and did so comfortably.  This confirmed their status not only as dark horses, but also as a real title hope.

This year began well enough, with only a three-point loss to the French derailing a possible Six Nations Grand Slam. But then it went slightly wrong.  Ireland sent an under-strength team to Argentina for two Tests, and the Pumas dealt a scrummaging lesson to the weakened side. Indeed, with Ireland's strength in the last few years, it's not acceptable to call a genuine world rugby power's second XV 'weak'.

A muscled-up Scottish outfit then delivered a powerful message when they took the game to Ireland's pack, and despite a comeback later in the game, the Scots flexed their muscles and overpowered the Irish.  Then the Italians, upbeat after their victory against Japan - came to the Irish backyard, and save for a contentious Ronan O'Gara last-minute try, again nearly came up with an upset. In both games the Irish were cruelly exposed in the tight, and their scrummaging was ordinary.

Scotland and Italy?  Hardly two teams on the list of top world scrummagers.

True, the talismanic O'Driscoll was missing.  True, the Ireland backline still showed a glimpse of class.  True, the Irish, as they have been prone to, seemed to switch their game plan back and forth when they probably should have played with more calculation.  And again, Paul O'Connell showed that he is one of the world's premier locks - even though he seems to outplay his own flankers in the loose.

But unlike any other current top team (with the exception of England who have been limping through the rugby ranks for four years) Ireland have had their forward power cruelly exposed.  They can be out-muscled, can have their scrum pushed backwards, and seem almost incapable of forming a maul.  If this was there before, never has it seemed more apparent.

Every team now knows exactly how to nullify Ireland.  And their glittering backline will count for nothing without quality possession.

The luck of the Irish will count for nothing - especially in a World Cup pool with Argentina, a genuine scrummaging team - and the French, whom the Irish haven't beaten since early 2003.