IRELAND

Captain: Star centre Brian O'Driscoll was appointed to lead Ireland after the retirement of legendary hooker Keith Wood following the 2003 RWC. Probably the best backline player in world rugby, 'BOD' has shown before that captaincy brings out the best in his play, which could only be a good thing for Irish rugby. He was also British and Irish Lions captain on the 2005 tour to New Zealand, and the serious shoulder injury he suffered there in an alleged spear tackle by Tana Umaga and Keven Mealamu has not hampered his form since.

Player(s) to watch: While inside centre Gordon D'Arcy's rise in the world game has been well-documented with the Leinster player winning the player of the tournament award in the 2004 and 2007 Six Nations, Ireland also have one of the most under-rated players in the world in Paul O'Connell. While Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha of South Africa have stolen all the plaudits of late as far as second rowers go, O'Connell has been at the top of the game for years now and was among five shortlisted for the 2006 IRB player of the year as the only northern hemisphere nominee.

Profile: Despite having relatively low playing numbers, Irish rugby has a long and proud rugby tradition and, interestingly, is one of the few sports which unites northern and southern Ireland with the national team selected from players on both sides of the border.

But Ireland have earned the tag of perennial underachievers, with pre-season optimism frequently ending in disappointment - as happened during 1999 World Cup when the team failed to make it to the quarter-finals after losing to Argentina.

In subsequent years Ireland's strength in depth improved markedly and the presence of Brian O'Driscoll ensured that interest amongst the young escalated. The traditional forward-based game employed by the team gave way to a far more exciting, 15-man approach, a style mirrored by Ireland's leading provinces, Munster, Leinster and Ulster, ensuring that the national team slowly climbed their way up the world rankings.

The progress reaped dividends in 2004 when the greens secured the Triple Crown - their first since 1949 - puncuating England's 22-match winning streak at Twickenham in the process. Despite a disappointing November series, they entered the 2005 Six Nations as favourites and duly won their first three matches, including a 19-13 win over England in Dublin. However a home defeat to France killed their dreams of a Grand Slam, a feat which was accomplished by Wales a week later when they beat the Irish 32-20 at the Millenium Stadium.

The following year proved equally inconsistent, though they did finish second to France in the Six Nations when uncertain victories over England, Scotland and Italy were balanced by a rout of Wales and a heavy loss to France. Their efforts did, however, bring them their second Triple Crown in three years, and they were awarded the first ever trophy for that particular feat. A tough tour of Australasia ensued on which they twice lost narrowly to New Zealand and were hammered by Australia, after which they returned home to beat the Springboks and Australia comfortably.

2007 dawned bright for Irish rugby supporters, their souls fed by years of consistent improvement, and the announcement in March that the IRU was setting up a "High Performance Select Group" to nurture the best young talent enforced the belief that that trend is set to continue.

Again the national side were favourites for the Six Nations, but those hopes seemed over after a loss to France at Croke Park in what was widely regarded as one of the best rugby matches of recent years. However when France subsequently lost to England, the competition was thrown open and England, Ireland and France all went into the final weekend with a chance of lifting the trophy. Ireland thrashed Italy to give themselves an excellent chance, but a last-minute try by France in their win over Scotland ensured that France took the silverware due to a superior points difference.

However Ireland's defeat of England did secure their second consecutive Triple Crown, which was their third in four years, giving Irish fans the belief that they have the potential for a semi-final berth in the 2007 World Cup. Unfortunately they have been drawn in the 'Group of death' with hosts and near-nemesis France, Argentina, Namibia and Georgia.

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