We have big competition here too when it comes to sport. Rugby Union here, I would say, is third behind GAA and football. Football is so badly run and is shown up by how well rugby is organised.
Rugby was always considered the posh school sport over here when I was growing up and I often think, what the hell could we produce if we had half the numbers that play Gaelic football, being involved in rugby. Really robust, fabulous, athletes.
If we do really well here in this tournament, who knows what it will do for the sport in this country.
Eddie Jones is at the top of the tree in the coaching of the national team as is but the coaching throughout the whole country is being firmly blamed in the studio here. Matt saying that the setup in Australia and Ireland is exactly the same, schools leading into the provinces into the national team but the big difference is the standard of education throughout.
What do I know? I never went to a posh school. I went to a Christian Bros. School that wouldn’t entertain anything other than Gaelic games and athletics. And we were banned from playing hurling until our year had passed through due to the violence involved while playing a near neighbouring school.
But the rugby schools are doing something right.
Another great asset Rugby has in uniting people here behind it is the fact that truly is an all of Ireland international event.
I tell you if Ireland did go all the way, Andy Farrell would be beatified like Jack was for just getting us to a quarter final.
