With three rounds of fixtures still to come in the 2024 Six Nations, many onlookers are already viewing the championship as a foregone conclusion. Ireland have been absolutely imperious in the competition to date, with it being expected that Andy Farrell’s side will go on to claim a second consecutive Grand Slam over the coming weeks.
Many people were curious whether Ireland would suffer from a World Cup hangover coming into the new year. After all, their sad tournament elimination was bound to have some long-term consequences.
If that’s the case, the pitch hasn’t revealed it. The Irish players appear to have bounced back from that defeat faster than France, and they are just as good on both sides of the ball.
In fact, some believe that their current performance portends bad things for the other Six Nations sides..
Sam Waburton explains why Ireland could dominate Six Nations
Sam Warburton, a former captain of Wales and the Lions, is well-versed in what it takes to succeed at the greatest level. He has been greatly impressed by Ireland’s performance in the current Six Nations.
He noted in a piece for The Times that the Irish team’s growing strength would allow them to continue to rule the competition for the “next few years.”
How successful are they thus far in this Six Nations? Very impressive.
And the next question I would ask is not whether anyone can cope with them in this tournament, but whether anyone can cope with them for the next few years…
There is something noticeably different about Ireland now, compared even with the World Cup last autumn. I have watched their two matches and one thought has consumed me throughout: they look so much more powerful than before.
In the past it has been a criticism thrown at them, and indeed Leinster, that they could be overpowered, but not now…
All players have become more physical, and although Joe McCarthy is a great acquisition as a lock, players like Bundee Aki, Robbie Henshaw, Tadhg Beirne, and Dan Sheehan have been much more effective in contact.
They are going to a new level that I doubt any Six Nations squad will be able to match.
In the Six Nations this year, Ireland has undoubtedly been able to establish a mix between strength and a more sophisticated attacking strategy, which has not always been the case in the past.
That is undoubtedly terrible news for the other championship teams, as Warburton notes.
