RBS 6 Nations: Conor O'Shea's Expert Analysis

by Conor O'Shea

With three games down and two games to go, it is a good time to reflect on where we stand. Theoretically, Ireland have two home games to come against teams we should put away. That will allow us to end our stint in Croke Park in style with yet another Triple Crown to put in the trophy cabinet.

Declan Kidney and Ireland will not dismiss the challenges to come as easily as I have but there is no doubt that it should happen that way. It typifies where Ireland now stand in world rugby that we would almost dismiss the achievement of winning four from five and focus on the one game that went horribly wrong.

But that is because Ireland now dine at the top table in world rugby. But how exactly do things stand between Ireland and the best sides in the world?

I have no doubt that this team can and would on another day win against France. The issue I have is that in the back of my mind is that I think that France - along with Australia, New Zealand and South Africa - have a level of performance in one off games that we cannot match. Looking ahead, that is what World Cup rugby will be all about.

Ireland need away wins to cement status

So, this Irish team crave a spot at that top table and they are almost there. But they need to win some big games away to France or in the Southern Hemisphere if they are to really believe they can do it.

I suspect we are not the only people thinking these thoughts and that the team itself is thinking it too. The current Irish squad lack for nothing. The coaching ticket is as strong a management team as any in world rugby and we are marrying the pool of old stagers like Brian O'Driscoll, Paul O' Connell, Ronan O'Gara, John Hayes and Gordon D'Arcy to a new and exciting breed of talents that includes Jamie Heaslip, Cian Healey, Stephen Ferris and Rob Kearney, along with several others.

It is a heady mix and one that you hope will maximise its talent but the margins are so narrow. Given the possession they enjoyed, England could and should have won the game at Twickenham comfortably. That is the nagging doubt about this current Irish squad: they give too much possession and opportunity and the big four teams will kill them for it, as England should have. Bravery and courage will not always be enough.

And if they are to be judged on World Cups, they need to go one step further than the last four, they must make the final. Scotland and Wales have been to semi finals, England to three finals and France to two finals. Top table nations don't just make semis and that is why the reflection on the Championship may well focus on the French game and never letting that happen again. It is an Achilles heel that this team psychologically need to take care of.

Wales and Scotland both remain dangers

But enough of crystal ball gazing: let's focus on the job in hand because if Ireland do take their eye off the task at hand, either Wales this week or Scotland the next could do a number on them. For the players, the fact is that losing teams make changes and players who spend too much time dreaming of a World Cup will never make it there.

Wales have started their matches in this championship abysmally and given teams leads they have been unable to pull back but they have also played some outstanding rugby. With Mike Phillips returning and the back row - minus the buggy bound Andy Powell - more balanced, they can do damage. Injuries have not helped and losing the likes of Alun-Wyn Jones and Gethin Jenkins to injury have been big blows to their pack.

And while the Welsh backline has speed to burn, they have yet to be able to unleash Jamie Roberts and he has not shown his Lions form: how much of that was down to Brian O'Driscoll's presence we can only guess.

The Welsh coaching ticket may be under some pressure too because Warren Gatland knows a Championship without a victory against France, England or Ireland will be a real failure. This is his last chance to demonstrate that Wales are not going backwards by claiming the scalp of a Six Nations power.

It will be interesting to see what sort of verbal warfare he will enter into this week as is his won't leading into games but he should know that this Irish camp will not rise to the bait.

England reacted to pressure from outside

If we look back to Ireland's game against England, the English team or management team reacted to the criticism they received by sending their team out in awful conditions to keep the ball alive through multiple phases on the one day they should have kicked the leather off it.

They reacted to external sources instead of sticking to their guns.

Warren tries to get opposition teams to react but this Irish team won't listen to a word from him. They know him too well for that so maybe for once he'll keep his powder dry and wind up his own team for one big Six Nations performance.

In fact, the more I write the more I worry about this weekend. It is the beauty of the Six Nations: you never know what is coming. So I started talking about the World Cup in 18 months time and finish with the greatest cliché in sport, you are only as good as your next game!!

For now, Ireland need to focus on that before looking at anything that comes after.