Anthem:Ireland's Call

6N History (2000-04): Always in the top three, three times runners-up. Triple Crown last year.

Coach: Eddie O'Sullivan. The fast-talking tactician behind fast-improving Ireland has created a line in entertainment on the pitch - and off it with his post-match analysis.

Age: 26 Caps: 51 Tries: 24

Captain: Brian O'Driscoll has taken over the captaincy and talismanic role from Keith Wood with success. Favourite to go on and lead the Lions.

Big man: John Hayes is known as the Bull and for good reason - he is a brute of a man. The prop stands 6ft 4in and tips the scales at 20 stone, giving the scrum plenty of grunt and the line-out plenty of lift.

You're on the wrong side y'eejit

Enforcer: On the other side of the front-row, Reggie Corrigan is prone to piling in at the first sign of trouble and often packs a punch - quite literally.

Brains and brawn: His authority of kicking angles mark him out as a geometrical genius, but it is law that David Humphreys specialises in after graduating from Queen's University.

Byrne's straight from the Hoddle and Waddle school of hair care Six Nations hair-raisers

Bad hair day: O'Driscoll's highlights and lengthy locks are gone, thankfully, but the mullett, Shane Byrne, is still in his pomp.

Southern intruders: Former coach, Kiwi Warren Gatland, helped to start the present Ireland team's run of success, while a broken leg has sidelined Australian flanker Keith Gleeson.

Bogey fixture: Ireland won on their last visit to Murrayfield, but prior to that 36-6 win had not tasted success in Edinburgh since 1985. One swallow does not make a spring.

Prospects: The Grand Slam is now or never. With the big games against France and England at home it could be a first clean sweep since Karl Mullen's side claimed the honour in 1948.

Odds to win title: 7-2.