Have to say the guy is about as charasmatic as yesterdays tofu dinner, but we don't have the team we think we do, especially if you believe that forwards win matches and backs decide by how much. How many of our players would make any of the top 4 sides (NZ, SA, Aus, Fra).

Front Row - not a chance (Horan isn't even showing up much in the loose any more) . . .and they probably wouldn't make England, Argentina or Italy either
Paul O'Connell - not on current form
Donnacha O'Callaghan - would compete but no shoe in

Simon Easterby/Best/Quinlan - can't explain Easterby's continued presence, but the others wouldn't either
David Wallace - 2nd best openside in the world ? don't think so - ask Mr. Burger, Betsen, White . . . . still a big fan though
Denis Leamy - Hasn't quite lived up to Irish expectations - like Donnacha would compete but no shoe in

Stringer, O'Gara - the only non-breaking half back partnership in rugby ? Amazing what they've achieved considering. O'Gara was probably about the second most effective out half in the world last autumn (no really . . honest !) but if his kicking game goes . . . . . . and so far it seems to be a distant memory. Will Reddan completely change the dynamic ? - watch this space !

D'Arcy and O'Driscoll - Aaaah, finally ! These two would make most teams - even NZ - difficult for them when they are the only point of attack though ! Suspect this as much as form has been their problem to date.

Hickey - on form, pure class . . . . . but so are the wingers of the top 4 and he's no Habana/Sivivatu . . . . and he's not necessarily on form. Trimble is hugely talented but not nearly finished enough and defensively a little suspect.

Horgan - probably the only underrated member of the Irish team, he has neither the pace nor step to be a top class winger . . . but he is ! Uses his size effectively, isn't caught out defensively nearly as much as you'd expect, and is probably a little quicker than he looks.

Dempsey - rated as solid and that's just about it. Good positioning, defends well, but creates little. would be ok if there was more creation going on up front, but at the moment there's not and he's never going to add options. Still, I do think Murphy would be a liability for a match like France.

So how do we explain last Autumn and our recent Six Nations form ? Key players were certainly more on form, but also the team was clearly playing better than the sum of its parts . . . . and for the latter you'd have to credit the coach !

So there you go, Eddie O'sullivan is an excellent coach, but with the loss of form of some key players (and the lack of adequate replacements) he has become the victim of his own success...

The case for the defense rests m'lud !