The Six Nations - Ireland

The Six Nations - Ireland

In 52 completed Five Nations tournaments between the competition's resumption in 1947 and Italy's introduction in the year 2000, Ireland won six outright titles, four Triple Crowns and a lone Grand Slam in 1948. In the 26 seasons of the Six Nations they have won six outright titles, eight Triple Crowns and three Grand Slams, in 2009, 2018 and 2023. They beat New Zealand home, away and in the USA, topped the world rankings, and have become a genuine force in world rugby, despite their inability to get beyond World Cup quarter finals.

How they managed this, and in doing so produced some of the greatest players on the planet across multiple generations, is a testament to the impressive development of Irish rugby, domestically and internationally, since the turn of professionalism. They are consistently fun to watch, hard to play and able to pull magic from the hat under pressure - from magic feet in Paris, to all or nothing drop goals and demolition jobs at Croke Park and much more besides, It's been an incredible quarter century of Irish rugby.

We talk highs and bigger highs, ask how long this generation can sustain their levels and most importantly, whether they can actually win a knockout game at the World Cup next year.