Fans Views: Supporters Club Members Give Their Predictions

…Drew Davis with David Humphreys – Drew is a junior member of the Irish Rugby Supporters Club and won a competition to be Ireland team mascot for the Test match against Romania last November…

Members of the Irish Rugby Supporters Club give their views ahead of Saturday’s Triple Crown clash with England (Twickenham, kick-off 5.30pm).

Drew Davis – aged 9 (Lurgan RFC) – Supporters Club Member and one time mascot to the Ireland team

“I think Ireland will be looking forward to this game more than England. Despite having home advantage, England are a much weaker side. They have left a lot of experienced players out and this will weaken them on Saturday.

Brian O’Driscoll and Paul O’Connell will be key for Ireland. They will lead from the front and hopefully, if the conditions are good, our wingers will see a lot of ball. I think Shane Horgan and Andrew Trimble will have big games and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them on the scoresheet. For England their danger man could be (Mark) Cueto and our defence will have to be strong again, to keep him out.

“I think France will win in Wales but we will win the Triple Crown. If the Welsh team are at their best and France have a bad day then we could win the championship.”

…Happy Ireland fans during last weekend’s win over Scotland…

Barry Murphy – Kildare – Supporters Club Member

“It has not been a vintage championship this year. Defence seems to have dominated the focus of a lot of the teams – perhaps this is just part of the build up to the Rugby World Cup. Italy have impressed and I would love to see them get a win. Our win against them has really been put in context by their performances in every other game.

“Ireland’s forwards have been solid in every game with Jerry Flannery really making the hooker spot his own. Ireland’s own defence has been pretty solid apart from the first half against France and this has meant that we have been able to concentrate on improving our attacking game where teams like England seem to be just casting around for a settled team and plan.

“I was lucky enough to be at the Scotland game – thanks to the Supporters Club for the chance to get a ticket! It was pretty cold on the North Terrace and it wasn’t until I saw the game again on TV that I realised just how intense it was.

“As for Saturday, a win in Twickenham is always going to be hard earned but I think we can do it. We seem to have been getting better with each game. England have a lot of power up front but we have the better ball players all round.

“Some people might say it is only a Triple Crown but I think that is still an achievement and to be honest I would rather see us developing now and delivering in the World Cup.”

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