8 essential tips for bluffing your way through the national anthem

Ireland go into the November internationals with five players who qualify due to playing here for at least three years. This month, many of those players will face a challenge that has managed to flummox most of the country for almost a century - learning and reciting Amhrán na bhFiann.

Richardt Strauss did a sterling job of learning 'The Soldier's Song' in 2012 so he may be the first port of call for the likes of Jared Payne and Rodney Ah You. Here are some other tips that should get them from A to B with a few fada's in between. 1. Don't let Gaillimh catch you coasting [caption id="attachment_207" align="alignnone" width="634"] Mick Galwey and Peter Stringer and Ronan O'Gara ahead of Ireland's match with Scotland in 2000.[/caption] 2. Let your emotions run free, as free as The Bull https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6_UsZtHiXU 3. Flag-facing is optional [caption id="attachment_224" align="alignnone" width="634"] Damien Duff in Estonia in 2011.[/caption] 4. Stand near this... 5. If in doubt, holler your head off https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pbx-ldTozQQ 6. Whatever you do, avoid advice from Argentine tenor Marcelo Zelada https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHZ17anodtY 7. Have whatever these chaps ordered for breakfast [caption id="attachment_227" align="alignnone" width="634"] Andrea Masi, Martin Castrogiovanni and Sergio Parisse sing the Italian national anthem.[/caption] 8. Like Christina Aguilera, don't let the lyrics get in the way of a good yelp https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZcN04U-gM4