Football isn't a professional sport in Ireland.  There is a semi-pro league but it is a pretty bad standard.  Also, there are two national teams The Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland so quality is diluted.

The main sports in Ireland are the indigenous Irish sports of Gaelic Football and Hurling.

The Irish Rugby team represents the entire island, North and South.  Given the realtively small playing pool we are consistently far better than we should have a right to expect.

As to Ireland V England I think it will be very close.  England have the largest playing population in world rugby and have a coach that is making them gel very well.  Ireland have, as somebody else opined, the best coach in world rugby just now.  The loss of Heaslip is a big blow to Ireland.  I think England will shade it.

The 6 Nations thus far has been a big disappointment.  Perhaps teams are keeping some powder dry for the World Cup.

The thing about SA as of late though is that they have been bad on the road, they're a team that does awesome at home and average on tour. They used to be far better and actually test the All Blacks for first place, now it seems as though the AB's are far ahead of them. Australia is even worse off, they have just fallen off the grid.

Australia in rugby are going backwards. I used to like rugby union myself but I am sick of tired of all these 3 point penalty kicks people take when hey are in the opposing half. I rather see tries then 3-4 minutes of juts a boring kick. That's why I watch NRL lol.

Anyway, Australia should just put on Willl Skelton on earlier not the last 10 minutes as he is a BEAST. Also the f** Kurtly beale needs to go away.

yeah i agree AB's are definitely far ahead. Nevermind the wins, just the brand of rugby that they play is far ahead of everyone else.

Still though i wouldnt put England ahead of SA...they havent been playing great either. And they have no wins over the AB's or Springboks in recent times. Atleast Ireland has a win over us and are playing exciting rugby.

England are very good I expect them to be there or there abouts for the world cup.

I'm just not seeing it. But anything can happen at the world cup! :D

Oh ya they have a serious pack with so many options

Ka-pi96 said: Kerotan said: think-man said: All Blacks would beat them both we are gona have the world cup again this year. Go New Zealand! Best team in the world You don't play other sports ahead of rugby like England and Ireland do. So its too be expected.  I don't think Ireland play other sports ahead of rugby either...

Hurling,  soccer,  gaelic football,  athletics all have way more players than rugby.  It's a minority sport in terms of participation.  Only 25k adult players. Hurling and gaelic football also by a mile the most attended sports by spectators overall. 

Rugby is widely supported on tv and has a good hardcore fanbase but Ireland massively punch above their weight on the world stage in rugby.  

We as in ireland have played extremely boring rugby in our 2 matches this year. I'm actually enjoying provincial rugby 10 times more atm because they actually score tries in their matches. 

Was talking more about general form over the last year. Ireland has been playing some of the best rugby they've ever played.