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2024 Guinness Six Nations
[2024 Six Nations] Ireland v Wales - 14:15, Lansdowne Road
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<blockquote data-quote="dirty harry" data-source="post: 1176423" data-attributes="member: 86934"><p>I dont think they're close now, but I'm hopeful that theyll have a crack 2026, before attacking the RWC with a squad average age of 26/27...</p><p>However, you never know, France really did turn it around in 12 months after Edward's was appointed.</p><p></p><p>I get the NZ series win that was big, but Aus, Boston and undefeated run, I think it really is teams with small trophy cabinets who treasure those things. </p><p></p><p>Wales have been blessed with championships and grand slams over the years, 3 times as many as Ireland has, and even in 2019 after what 15 undefeated losing the streak in a RWC warm up game didnt mean much to us.</p><p></p><p>Ultimately irelands grand slams have mostly come when Wales have been in turmoil, 2009 Wales were trying new things, and probably should have won that final game, 2018 Wales had a crazy injury list, and were missing 10+ starters, rectified after that tournament, and 2023 well Wales, and England didnt compete choosing to build instead.</p><p></p><p>I've told Irish friends previously, noone has ever gone from never making a semi, to winning the RWC, teams generally go deep the tournament before and win the next, none of the Irish players have ever gone to the last weekend, that's massive for experience to win it. More often than not the RWC winner made the semis in the previous tournament.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="dirty harry, post: 1176423, member: 86934"] I dont think they're close now, but I'm hopeful that theyll have a crack 2026, before attacking the RWC with a squad average age of 26/27... However, you never know, France really did turn it around in 12 months after Edward's was appointed. I get the NZ series win that was big, but Aus, Boston and undefeated run, I think it really is teams with small trophy cabinets who treasure those things. Wales have been blessed with championships and grand slams over the years, 3 times as many as Ireland has, and even in 2019 after what 15 undefeated losing the streak in a RWC warm up game didnt mean much to us. Ultimately irelands grand slams have mostly come when Wales have been in turmoil, 2009 Wales were trying new things, and probably should have won that final game, 2018 Wales had a crazy injury list, and were missing 10+ starters, rectified after that tournament, and 2023 well Wales, and England didnt compete choosing to build instead. I've told Irish friends previously, noone has ever gone from never making a semi, to winning the RWC, teams generally go deep the tournament before and win the next, none of the Irish players have ever gone to the last weekend, that's massive for experience to win it. More often than not the RWC winner made the semis in the previous tournament. [/QUOTE]
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2024 Guinness Six Nations
[2024 Six Nations] Ireland v Wales - 14:15, Lansdowne Road
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