As 2007 draws to a close, it’s time to reflect on the year that has passed and assess the prospects for 2008. It’s been a trying and extremely disappointing year from both a national and provincial perspective.

Twelve months ago, Eddie O’Sullivan’s Ireland were being touted as potential Grand Slam champions and even possible World Cup winners. As it is, a culmination of stage fright and an injury-time try by the French shattered the hopes of a first Grand Slam in over fifty years.

World Cup disaster

As far as the World Cup is concerned, then the less said the better. The events from last October still linger as the unresolved topic in many conversations. No one quite knows what really happened in France and perhaps we never well.

The recently published independent enquiry undertaken on behalf of the IRFU appears to have identified little or nothing of note. It’s safe to say the whole event was a fiasco from start to finish.

Heineken Cup

On a provincial level, Munster’s proud home record came to a disappointing end. After twelve years and some very memorable occasions, Leicester became the very first side to win a Heineken Cup game at Thomond Park.

What made the occurrence all the more disappointing was the fact that it was the very final game at the old stadium, prior to its redevelopment.

With Leinster also losing out at the quarter-final stages to the eventual winners Wasps and Ulster on a collision course with disaster, Irish rugby was facing into an extremely bleak winter.

Mixed fortunes

Since the revival of the European Cup in November the game in this country has enjoyed some mixed fortunes. Ulster appear to be spiralling out of control and they currently sit bottom of pool two, winless from their opening four games.