The news on the international front from Greece and elsewhere may be daunting but the Irish rugby team’s exploits lifted the nation’s spirits last weekend.
Many of us may have had to forego our Sunday morning lie-in to see Ireland cruise past Italy in the Rugby World Cup (we’ll be up even earlier next Saturday!) but it was truly worth getting out of the scratcher for.
Ireland’s steely focus, dogged determination and no little style prevailed against a tough and occasionally cynical Italian outfit.
Declan Kidney’s side always had a nose in front, thanks to the reliable penalty kicking of Ronan O’Gara, who punished successive Italian indiscretions. While only three points to the good, one always felt Ireland had the offensive class to take things up a gear and send the Azzurri packing. And that they duly did.
