As in 2007, this Rugby World Cup will proceed with George Hook deprived of his megaphone, by virtue of TV3's bold and successful bid for the competition's TV rights.
He did appear on the Sunday Show on Newstalk this morning.
His capacity for looking on the downside remains undimmed and he had ample opportunity to ruminate on the dark side after yesterday's loss. While the response to the loss has been broadly sanguine, Hook is more alarmed.
He took another shot at Ireland's centre pairing, which he has long regarded as a flair-free zone. Henshaw and Payne are inadequate successors to D'arcy and O'Driscoll.
We cannot, we literally cannot, score tries against teams with good defences.
He disputes that Ireland have great strength in depth, believing they are short in the full-back department and reliant on versatile wings who can do a number of jobs. And obviously, we need Johnny Sexton to stay fit. 'We could all tear our tickets up if Johnny Sexton doesn't go' is his take.
Furthermore, he is worried about France. He believes France will beat Ireland and tradition and history will count in the end.
France have had a staggering record (in the World Cup). And the reason is as follows - when they're in the Six Nations championship, and a rest day comes along and all the Irish fellas are down in Carton, sipping in Pina Coladas, lying on their bed, the French fellas go back to their clubs and are getting beaten up in the Top 14. They have phone calls from their owners every day of the week, asking them are okay and are they coming home and everything else. They've now been together for the best part of two months. They'll be together for the next six weeks. No phone calls from the boss at home. They've always been outstanding in the Rugby World Cup... I think they look smashing. I'd be terrified of what they might do to us.
He says it would be an 'astonishing performance' if Ireland reached the World Cup semi-final. The idea that Ireland could win the World is, to him, a ludicrous proposition that couldn't be taken seriously.
Ireland win the World Cup?... You mean, in the 21st century?
