If you have quality players in these positions then you have a chance of winning anywhere. Look through the list of hookers who have won World Cups and major Championships - it is not a coincidence that they are all outstanding players and some outstanding leaders. Hooker is such a specialised and key position that if you have an average or bad one, then you are going nowhere. Ireland took the field last Saturday with Rob Herring - an honest trier and a hard worker - at hooker. If you keep picking him through the Nations Cup and the Six Nations you are going to get a guy who will try hard but doesn't have the ability to make a difference for his team.
People talk about players having X-factor and they normally mean centres, wingers or full-backs. Because of the way hookers sometimes have a roving role in loose play, if you have a hooker with X-factor it is a huge fillip. Consider the energy that someone like a year-old Keith Wood would have brought to the exchanges last week in Paris. It is not Herring's fault that he doesn't have the X-factor.
While Ireland wait for some of their star players to return, they must make a huge decision in a key position. Sean Fitzpatrick was their hooker and captain that day.
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He was robust, abrasive, mouthy and really dynamic on the ball - as good as I have seen. He had real presence.
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I have packed down against some heavyweight England and France packs but that All Black scrum was really powerful. He led their scrum with authority. But Fitzpatrick's darts were special. Five months later, I played for the Barbarians against Australia in Melbourne. The first lineout session was a treat - at last somebody who could throw the ball in.
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Fitzpatrick had empathy with his jumpers. You didn't have to tell him to make it flatter, faster or higher, he just knew where to put it. Fitzpatrick's technique was exceptional. You can practice 1, throws a day but if your technique is not good it will fail you at the crucial moment. When he had the ball in the launch position, the only part of his body that moved was his elbows. It is a real skill and Fitzpatrick was a master of the art. Christy Ring Cup, Round 2B.
There will be a lot of goodwill for Offaly as they finally make their championship bow following their Covid situation. They should progress to the next round with ease. Verdict: Offaly. Nickey Rackard Cup, Round 2B. A heavy loss for Monaghan to Mayo last week but not as heavy as that suffered by Tyrone. Verdict: Monaghan. A narrow loss for Longford against Donegal last time out but they can recover here. Verdict: Longford. Group 1, Round 2. In the decisive game of the group, a comprehensive opening win for Kerry over Cavan has them in good fettle and not too taxed for the visit of Cork.
Not having a game behind them should mean the visitors are slow to start and Kerry will walk that bit taller on home soil. Group 3, Round 2. Waterford v Dublin, Baltinglass 1pm B Redmond. Group 4, Round 2. But Mayo must be all business in Carrick-on-Shannon. Verdict: Mayo. Neither team is in a position to advance to the knockout stages after both failed to win either of their two previous group matches. Wexford did provide competitive matches to both Cork and Galway but were ultimately beaten by a stronger outfit on both occasions.
Verdict: Wexford. Yes, based on their league divided by the pandemic, they have. Have Kerry?
More so than Cork? Yes but the addition of Mark Keane, likely as a midfield option, will have given Kerry something to consider. Show Cork the respect they would those Division 1 teams and they have a greater chance of seeing off the hosts with plenty to spare. Verdict: Kerry. Connacht SFC semi-final. Roscommon v Mayo, Dr Hyde Park 1. A rousing finish to the league by Roscommon will at least ensure their morale is high for this one. On home soil, they will be more comfortable too and yet they are being dismissed by too many people.
Leinster SFC quarter-finals. Longford were possibly taken aback by how difficult they had it on occasions against Louth last weekend. Verdict: Kerry. Connacht SFC semi-final.
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Roscommon v Mayo, Dr Hyde Park 1. A rousing finish to the league by Roscommon will at least ensure their morale is high for this one. On home soil, they will be more comfortable too and yet they are being dismissed by too many people. Leinster SFC quarter-finals. Longford were possibly taken aback by how difficult they had it on occasions against Louth last weekend. Yes, they are down some key players but Louth were coming into that clash with only a win over a Down B team for comfort. Laois have been anything but consistent but that relegation-defying win over Fermanagh has to set them up well and they have the forwards to win this.
Verdict: Laois. Wicklow v Meath, County Grounds, Aughrim 1.
Verdict: Meath. A fit Daniel Flynn would thrive on Sunday.
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Either way, Kildare have enough of an edge in most areas. Verdict: Kildare. Fermanagh v Down, Brewster Park 1. Ryan McMenamin is happy with how Fermanagh have trained since their Covid-affected end to the league and Down travel without a true test.