TRYING TIMES: Ireland in the Six Nations, 2000-13

I have compiled a small list which records how many tries Ireland have scored, followed by how many that they have conceded in each year of the Six Nations. Statistics rarely lie, and the following figures are indeed most revealing. Ireland's tries actually numerically outweigh those that they have conceded by a staggering total of fifty-seven, which by itself is compelling proof that the men in green have had a golden era in the Six Nations SO FAR. [It ain't over yet children. Trust me!] Okay, it is time to inspect the assembled figures for your unbounded pleasure.

2000:17-13
2001:11-10
2002:16-15
2003:10-9
2004:17-8 [a triple crown season]
2005:12-9
2006:12-10 [another triple crown tournament]
2007:17-5 [yet another triple crown year]
2008:9-10
2009:12-3 [the grand slam campaign]
2010:11-6
2011:10-4
2012:13-8
2013:5-5

Only in one of the fourteen years did Ireland narrowly concede more tries in a tournament than they scored. Even in the horrendous camapign of 2013, the Oirish still only conceded five tries, three of which were recorded by Wales in the first match. Of course, Ireland themselves scored a trio of tries on that day, and thereafter the tries dried up almost completely in Ireland's subsequent four contests. For the record, 2000, 2004, and 2007 were Ireland's most productive seasons in terms of tries recorded, while 2009 was when the men in green were at their meanest. The fact that this was also their grand slam tournament might suggest that Ireland need to take a leaf out of the defensive heroics of the class of 2009 if we are to repeat such an all-conquering campaign. Food for thought, eh?