The Boys of '48 Are Evergreen but Class of 2005 Are Ever Keen

Summary

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WITH each passing season, the legend of Jack Kyle and his history- making brothers of 1948 weighs ever more heavily on the shoulders of Brian O'Driscoll's team. The current generation are as ambitious a crew as any band of men who ever pulled on a green jersey but they know only too well that for all their giant-killing acts in recent seasons the talk of them being, arguably, the finest Irish side ever is wholly premature. Despite coming close in 2001 and 2003 and being spoken about on the eve of the new championship as potential winners, they still haven't done what the old boys did. They still haven't claimed a Grand Slam.

Fifty-seven years it has been since Ireland won their only clean sweep. In 2003, when they won their opening four games in the championship, a wave of nostalgia crashed in as they prepared to face England in a winner-takes-all meeting at Lansdowne Road. Of all the fond recollections from the great survivors of '48 the few words spoken by Jimmy Nelson, the second-row from the North who was pushing 80 in 2003, were the most poignant by far. "We've enjoyed our place in history for over half a century," he said, with a hint of sadness. "But it's time to bring that to an end. All of us feel the same. It's time."

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The Boys of '48 Are Evergreen but Class of 2005 Are Ever Keen

It wasn't, of course. England's victory ensured that the 1948 side remained on their pedestal, whether they liked it or not. In truth, they are worthy of their place in ...

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