By Gary Watton
April 16 2013

This was a World Cup year in which the Oirish had the small matter of confronting Jonah Lomu in his terrifying prime. One consolation was that Ireland did defeat Wales en route to the quarter-finals where they were hopelessly outclassed by the French. The Five Nations was no longer a source of joy. Between 1995 and the end of the decade, the only team that the Irish were able to cope with was Wales. One significant addition to the playing personnel was a chap called Keith Wood.

IRELAND 8 ENGLAND 20; 21st January; at Lansdowne Road

15 O'Shea

14 Geoghegan

13 Mullin (c)

12 Danaher

11 Woods

10 Burke [penalty]

9 Hogan

8 Johns

7 Corkery

6 Foley [TRY]

5 Francis

4 Galwey

3 Clohessy

2 Wood

1 Popplewell

Munster's Anthony Foley managed a try on his debut, but a superior England had already scored two first half tries.

SCOTLAND 26 IRELAND 13; 4th February; at Murrayfield

15 O'Shea

14 Geoghegan

13 Mullin [TRY]

12 Danaher

11 Bell [TRY]

10 Burke [penalty]

9 Bradley (c)

8 Cronin

7 McBride

6 Foley

5 Fulcher

4 Johns

3 Clohessy

2 Wood

1 Popplewell

Whilst Ben Cronin won his first cap, Damian Cronin scored one of two second-half Scottish tries to ensure a home win.

IRELAND 7 FRANCE 25; 4th March; at Lansdowne Road

15 Staples

14 Geoghegan [TRY]

13 Mullin

12 Danaher

11 Woods

10 Elwood [conversion]

9 Bradley (c)

8 Foley

7 McBride

6 Halvey

5 Fulcher

4 Tweed

3 Clohessy

2 Kingston

1 Popplewell

The visitors ran riot in the second half with four tries, while Simon Geoghegan's effort was a mere consolation.

WALES 12 IRELAND 16; 18th March; at Cardiff Arms Park

15 Staples

14 Wallace

13 Mullin [TRY]

12 Danaher

11 Geoghegan

10 Elwood

9 Hogan

8 Johns

7 Halvey

6 Foley

5 Fulcher

4 Tweed

3 Clohessy

2 Kingston (c)

1 Popplewell

Neil Jenkins kicked four penalties, but replacement Paul Burke himself kicked eleven points to ensure a narrow victory.