It’s zero degrees in London.
Johnny Sexton’s veins might well need to be cooler if Ireland are going to clinch a third ever Grand Slam but Joe Schmidt’s scummy Irish (credit: Eddie Jones) will have to overcome the elements as well as well as history as well as a good England side if they are going to succeed.
It’s one of those days when, whether you take it thick or not when someone asks if rugby is now the people’s game, the country is united.
I once replied to an older fella about a game he was talking in great depth about – ‘I wouldn’t be too much of a rugby man, now’. He looked at me and replied, ‘neither am I… but I’m an Irish man.’
And, so, on days like today – on Grand Slam day – you have man, woman and child all gripped on a nation’s hopes.
Was on the same flight over to London as Max Deegan. Watching Ireland vs. England with his mates today. Could well be involved next year
— Pat McCarry (@patmccarry) March 17, 2018
But, whilst there will be a white heat of battle exploding around 2.45pm on the pitch of Twickenham, temperatures are plummeting all around good old London Town where snow is dropping from the sky and, as a consequence, the pitches are now being marked with blue lines instead of white.
We should have kept our hats on @AlanQuinlan1. @stringer9 was right. pic.twitter.com/I42VcOg0lp
— Sinéad Kissane (@sineadkissane) March 17, 2018
It's the big one today… @EnglandRugby vs @IrishRugby with a Grand Slam on the line for Ireland too, where will you be tuning in from? #StPatricksDay #TeamOfUs pic.twitter.com/a72FAiPFOe
— Inpho Photography (@Inphosports) March 17, 2018
Ahead of the game, Ireland made just one change to the side which saw off Scotland to leave them in this position where they could win a second Grand Slam in just nine years.
And they could do it in the lion’s den.
The Making of Tadhg Furlong pic.twitter.com/eCl97QVdB5
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) March 17, 2018
