Not since the days of Jack Charlton has there been such excitement over a national team. The ball shape is oval in this case, and after successive Six Nations Championships for the Ireland Rugby team, focus now turns to the World Cup in the Autumn.
Ireland have never delivered at a World Cup. Never. In a sport that has a limited number of top tier nations, Ireland have never made it beyond the quarter final stage. In 1991, when the country's stock was not high in the Five Nations, Ciaran Fitzgerald's team scared the life out of eventual winners Australia. Relive the closing moments here:
And while your mother may bake a nice cake, a lot of us will never want to hear the words 'Cake Tin' again following the 2011 last eight defeat to Wales in Wellington. An emotional pool stage win over Australia put Ireland in a magnificent position, but the team failed to show up against the Welsh.
With Joe Schmidt reaching 'God' like status already and Irish Government probably moving to cut the phone lines from New Zealand, in case the All Blacks come calling, anticipation has never been higher.
Ireland's Rugby World Cup campaign
Pool D
Saturday 19th September
Ireland v Canada, Millennium Stadium, Cardiff - 14.30
Sunday 27th September
Ireland v Romania, Wembley Stadium, London - 16.45
Sunday 4th October
Ireland v Italy, Olympic Stadium, London - 16.45
Sunday 11th October
Ireland v France, Millennium Stadium, Cardiff - 16.45
If Ireland overcome France and manage to top the Pool, the likely quarter final opponents are Argentina. If Ireland finish second in the Pool, the likely quarter final opponents are New Zealand. It makes Sunday October 11th, the day Ireland meet France and the Republic of Ireland also play Poland in the final Euro 2016 qualifier, one for the TV, the provisions in house and the mobile on silent!
