At the time of writing Steve Staunton was still manager of the Irish soccer team. There has been a constant call from many for him to be ousted from the post. But I believe a similar furore did not erupt after Ireland’s rugby team failed so dismally in the World Cup. The results were equally as disappointing in both codes yet the manager of one team seems certain to lose his position while the other soldiers on after the ‘blip’ that blighted our lives in France.

Saturday’s World Cup Final was an unique event in so far as it seemed that the whole of Ireland was hoping for an England win. This would not have been the case a few years ago and indicates how far, and fruitful, has the relationship between Ireland and England matured in the last decade. Long may it continue.

Ten years ago if England played against the worst dictatorship in the world we would have hoped that England were beaten… no matter what the sport!

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