Ireland’s formidable start to the 2024 Six Nations has given fans a reason to believe that they will be the first nation to win back-to-back Six Grand Slams in the modern era.
Before the creation of the Six Nations in 2000, only England and France were ever able to claim back-to-back Grand Slams in the tournament’s predecessor, the Five Nations.
So, can Ireland go back-to-back? Let’s take a look at their chances.
How have Ireland performed so far?
Looking to claw back some pride after an early exit in what was meant to be their year in the 2023 Rugby World Cup, Ireland have entered the 2024 Six Nations with a point to prove and a score to settle.
The men in green set a strong foundation with a solid 38-17 victory against the favourites, France, in the tournament’s opening game. The following weekend, they continued their campaign with a commanding 36-0 victory over Italy.
Their crucial opening victory against their biggest threat, France, and a comfortable win against the Azzurri, not only laid down a marker for their intentions in the tournament, but also demonstrated their depth and quality across the board.
These performances underscore Ireland’s potential to achieve consecutive Grand Slams, a feat that would secure their place in the hallowed halls of rugby history. The odds have been strongly in favour of Ireland, reflecting their dominant displays and the challenges that lie ahead for their competitors.
Can Ireland go all the way?
With fixtures against Wales, England, and Scotland remaining, Ireland’s path to glory is laden with hurdles yet to be overcome.
England are the only other team that have not lost a game this far. However, they still trail behind Ireland and their performances against Wales and Italy were far from convincing. Whether they will be able to reclaim the Calcutta Cup from Scotland and beat France is another story, but their form in the competition suggests Ireland cannot take them lightly.
While Wales have surprised fans with their rejuvenated squad, pitting them against the experience and depth of Ireland will be a big feat. Finally, Scotland, as the only other team to have not played Ireland, will face the monumental task of trying to beat Ireland at home in Dublin on the closing weekend – the odds of this happening will be long, particularly if Ireland defeat both England and Wales and have the Grand Slam in their sights.
The verdict: can Ireland do it?
The early successes against France and Italy has fuelled optimism among fans and analysts, and now Ireland are firm favourites for the competition.
Rugby fans from across the world will need to watch closely as Ireland navigate the remainder of their fixtures, understanding that the Six Nations is a test of consistency as much as it is of skill.
Yes, they may have defeated France away from home in what was billed as a ‘title decider’, but every match counts and everyone will be looking to spring an upset against Andy Farrell’s men. That said, Ireland’s chances at getting the first back-to-back Grand Slam in Six Nations history are still looking incredibly bright.
