| You French types are ever so kinky......reminds me of a definition
proported by a female friend of ours in Galway, that the ideal lover
was a frenchman with a nine inch tongue (moustache optional).
Of course I never understood any of this. We who were brought up
in a very sheltered catholic environment, thought only of prayer
lolipops and soccer.
We should never have joined the EEC, it opened the floodgates to all
sorts of strange ideas and practices. keVin the Scotsman has a
moustache but I haven't seen his tongue. Maybe he's only half Scottish
and half French. I must ask my source about his great-great grandfather.
Probably escaped the guillotine during the revolution and fled to the
highlands disguised as a postman or a shepard. I tell you, nine inch
tongues may not run in the family but they're cute as foxes.
Yours whose fragility is ever so perturbed by this french talk and
is on his knees praying for the salvation of the lost souls and
the return to the path of righteousness AMEN,
Murphy (the omnipotent one).
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| Well it is 14.30 here in France and the athmosphere is zero but
I can almost hear the chatter and noise of Landstown Road, the pubs
full of Irish and French supporters trying to communicate with another,
no one really understanding the other but having a beer together
anyway, what the hell, on a day like today, who needs to understand
the spoken language, the hands and feet work wonders when you are
trying to explain something to a foreigner.
I have the old Ireland football jersey on and am off now to any
corner of the place I find a bit of athmosphere, they might get
confused with my name, some of the Irish I meet, but they won't
be confused by my jersey, or maybe today with a name like mine the
French will get confused with my jersey, oh, so what.
Here we go Here we go.
I..R..E..L..A..N..D, Ireland.
El Gringo (With the good Irish name)
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Leaprechauns forgot to post this here.
(following extract from the best net paper in the world - "Irish
Emigrant").
> > > > > > > > R U G B Y < < < < < < < <
IRELAND v FRANCE
LANDSDOWNE ROAD - SATURDAY, JANUARY 21st, 1989
Reporter: Mike Hughes
The opening game of the championship for both protagonists and
all the uncertainty that this brings with it was not a matter for
discussion in advance of this game. No way, France were total
favourites for this game which was being incorrectly billed as a
match. The smoked salmon was being devoured by the hungry hordes
from the Loire valley who made the bi-annual pilgrimage to Dublin
to support the roosters, "Allez les petits". The only Irish
comfort to be drawn from all this pre-match speculation was the
sometimes amazing ability of the Frenchmen to assimilate the wine
and travel badly.
It was a cold blustery afternoon in Landsdowne Road with the
threat of showers lingering throughout. A day for hot toddies
and other liquid anti-freeze precautionary measures, and rugby
fans in general are particular about the size of their measures.
The Irish preparations for this event were the main source of the
outsiders tag on their heads. Two victories over Western Samoa
and Italy were fashioned in very inauspicious circumstances.
France's last outing against the Irish was at Parc de Princes
last year where they annihilated the Irish, scoring five tries
and missing all the conversions but still victorious by a score
of 26 - 6. Jim Davidson the Irish coach has not had a happy time
in charge of the Irish team and for him this game was a
tempre-test of his policies.
Landsdowne Road is always packed to the gunwales for the
championship games and this was to be no exception. The blustery
wind would play a vital role in the proceedings, but it would not
interfere with the sun despite the threats to do so. Digital
continues to sponsor all the home games of the Irish team at
Landsdowne Road, but I have yet to sample the atmosphere despite
my efforts in dabbling at the oval ball game.
Ireland won the toss and elected to play with the breeze in the
first-half.
From the French kick off, there was early Irish fire. There was
clear intent by the pack to carry the war to the French and
outsmart the pundits - again! In the first four lineouts the
Irish won clean possession and Dean kicked for touch each time,
using the wind. Blanco was on hand to prevent a couple of
efforts from making the sanctuary of the sideline area, however
nothing came of the counter-attacks. The French were beginning
to look distinctly uncomfortable under the high dropping balls
and the Irish fire ensured that there would be plenty of those.
In those opening minutes the forwards won everything and the
second phase of possession was of the highest quality. On the
five minute mark Dean hoisted the Garryowen deep into the French
22 metre zone, and two French backs cocked it up. The ball
bounced off their shoulders to the left and directly into the
path of Brendan Mullin who had the easiest of tasks to snatch up
the offering and scamper unattended over the line about 10 metres
to the left of the post. There was a magnificent outburst in the
stands and terraces. Kiernan popped over the conversion attempt
and the score stood at 6-0.
The early pattern was emerging and the omens were very positive
for the underdogs. They were cleaning up in the set pieces and
the scrummaging was much improved with a solid platform being set
up on the home side's ball. Also at this point the Irish back
row was rampant. Noel Mannion and Pat O'Hara were prominent in
the loose and the attitude being displayed was one of
belligerence and defiance. For France, only Rodriguez was
preserving French honour.
On the ninth minute Berbizier was miles offside in a short Irish
lineout and Kiernan stepped up and again added the punishment and
the score was 9-0. From the kick off the Irish pack won
possession and forged downfield in what was one of the best Irish
mauls that I've ever seen. Rolling, peeling and driving, the
French were in tatters. Then the tempers flew and Bruno - Tyson
preliminaries were indulged in. From the scrummage the Irish won
cleanly and at the breakdown of the ball on the French 38 metre
line Andrieu got into an offside position. Kiernan stepped up
and repeated the dose, 12 - 0 to Ireland and 15 minutes gone. A
better start couldn't have been asked for.
France tried to counter, and for the first time in this game we
saw the magic as the white tide descended on the Irish 22 metre
area. The handling and the support play was only magnifique and
the renowned French elan is the finest sight in the game.
Ireland won a scrum from the breakdown of the movement and Noel
Mannion went on a blind side charge up the wing under the new
East Stand. He made a full 20 metres before handing off to the
support. It too was a sight for sore eyes and typified the
determination of the Irish. Fergus Ahearn was enjoying himself
and why wouldn't he, for only "all black" scrum-halves enjoy such
possession.
A ruck developed and Ireland were driven right back onto their
own line by a French assault that was called back to the middle
of the park because the touch judge saw a French player rake an
Irish player on the ground in a ruck. This led to a terrific
Irish attack that should have yielded an Irish try had Dean
passed to his last man outside in the last 5 yards before the
line. France conceded a 5 metre scrum and Ireland spoiled their
possession and for a fleeting moment another try was imminent.
The play got a little scrappy and Dean tried a dropped goal but
failed. 23 minutes had now elapsed and it was 99% of everything
for Ireland except the scoreline, they had 100% of that.
Five minutes later, when Dean hadn't quite got hold of another
Garryowen, Carmanati was penalised for blocking the attackers and
Kiernan missed his first set piece. The French 22 metre drop out
was sliced so Ireland got a scrum back on the 22 metre line.
Cecillion the French flanker got offside in the scrum. It was
the simplest of kicks and Michael Kiernan tapped it squarely over
the black spot in the middle of the crossbar. There were 33
minutes on the clock and the score was 15 - 0.
The pundits were looking uncomfortable; their heads were
swimming, this was not the Ireland they had been talking about.
From the kick-off a maul developed into a unbridled free for all
that died down again without any casualties. From a lineout
shortly afterwards on the French 10 metre line France won clean
possession and set up a wide sweeping assault that strung
together the most electrifying passes and with Serge Blanco in
the line the Irish line was breached. Jean Lafonde going in at
the corner flag. Lafonde was also entrusted with the kicking
duties but the conversion attempt was beyond him.
That was in the 38 minute. In the 39th minutes Ireland got
another penalty for French barging in the lineout, and Kiernan
did the business once more. The French got a penalty on the
Irish 10 metre line on the stroke of half time and though he
slipped as he struck the ball the attempt was good and the
half-time score was 18-7.
It had been a rip-roaring half of exciting rugby. The French had
been subdued. The Irish had played the game of their lives and
they were worth everything they had on the scoreline. The pack
in particular had been the butt of some major criticisms and
their performance gave the most satisfaction. Jim McCoy, Pat
O'Hara, and Mannion in particular were playing their finest.
Only Rodriguez and Blanco were consistent on the French side
although the two times they got their attack going they looked
spectacularly dangerous. For the second half the breeze would
favour the Frenchmen but Ireland had an 11 point cushion, would
it be enough? My own feelings were that it would but only if
Ireland could engineer one or two more scores first.
From the kick off Ireland won the ball and got the attack going
with Jim McCoy prominent in the drive. Ireland won a penalty from
a difficult angle given the wind, but Kiernan once again slotted it
over. There were only two minutes gone and the score was 21-7.
French fat was beginning to sizzle.
At this time the French were making many technical errors and
from one such error, a crooked-in, the Irish set up a terrific
drive for the French line. It was the pack driving to the line
in fiery Irish fashion, but the last pass broke down when Tom
Clancy knocked on with the line at his mercy. France drove back
downfield and were awarded a penalty that Lafond missed when it
came back off the upright. After 12 minutes David Irwin was
caught offside and this time Lafond scored from the easier
position and the score was 21-10.
Fergus Ahearn was fly kicking with great effectiveness and much
territory was being regained. The Irish pack got going once
again in the loose and carried the ball right up the French line
only to have Tom Clancy knock on for the second time with the
line at his mercy. Those two fumbles were very fortunate events
for the French. There was 17 minutes gone and the score of 21 -
10 was slightly flattering to the French.
The French repeated the first half dose by running the ball wide
from a lineout on the Irish 10 metre line and with Blanco making
the vital pass despite a terrific tackle from Irwin he sent
Lagisquet over in the corner. Lafond passed the kicking duties
over to Blanco but he too failed the conversion attempt. 19
minutes were gone and the score was 21-14. France were back in
the game but they still needed two scores to win. France piled
on the pressure and the intensity of the game reached its
pinnacle. Ireland drove down deep into the French 22 metre zone
from a blockdown by Smith, Franck Mesnel collected the ball under
pressure and turned to counter attack from almost on his own
line. He wove his way past three tackles and the French tide was
flowing again. In the most spectacular movement of the game the
French drove downfield and at every breakdown of the ball there
were three Frenchmen on hand for the pickup. Desperate Irish
defence broke down the play on at least four occasions during the
movement but Mesnel following up kept the movement going and with
a final flourish the ball was swept out to Blanco who went in
unopposed under the posts. He couldn't miss the conversion from
that position. Irish fat was beginning to sizzle. They now held
the grimmest of one point leads, and everything was happening for
a rampant French team. There were still 16 minutes left of play.
France piled on the pressure but the Irish held out despite
conceding a 5 metre scrum. They not only survived but they
counter attacked as well. With 10 minutes remaining Ireland were
back up to the French 22 metre line.
France kept booting for territorial advantage and were soon back
in the Irish half. Ireland won a lineout on their own 10 metre
line, but the pass back was very awkward and bounced off the
shins of Ahearn. France regained possession and started another
spectacular movement crossfield that sent Lagisquet over in the
corner once more. Blanco added the conversion points and it was
21-26 with 6 minutes of time left. The French had pulled it out
of the jaws of the glaring defeat. The hardest part to
understand is how it had all happened in the space of 16 minutes.
After that Bourguignon was injured and replaced by Erbani.
Despite this the Irish threw everything into the last few minutes
and were back on the French 22 metre line before full time.
France withstood the siege and the referee did not add any injury
time.
Final score was Ireland 21 France 26.
It was French rugby at its finest that won this day, and it was
Irish rugby at its finest that lost it. I feel that France were
fortunate to have won and the turning point was in the two Irish
knock-ons right on the French line. However handling the ball is
an art in the game and it was thia that cost the Irish victory, and
gained victory for the French.
The Irish defence must come in for some criticism although it was
difficult to fault Sexton, Irwin, or Ahearn. If you let the
French run at you when they have the football they will always
score. The Irish defence did not put enough men on the turf when
they hit their opponents.
The Irish pack was magnificent to a man. They proved themselves
worthy and they were the most positive item on display. The much
vaunted French pack and their "three prop" front row
configuration got a lesson in fire and discipline from their
Irish counterparts. In fact the Irish display made me happy at
any rate and I find it hard to recall any incidents where the
Irish pack gave away penalties for misdemeanours.
France hauled their ass when it counted most and they must be
complimented on their renaissance. When the French move it there
is no finer sight and they treated us to the exhibition often on
Saturday.
It was a most exciting game of rugby and it will be difficult to
surpass this contest this season for openness and excitement.
Irish hearts are not too discouraged by this one, there was no
honour lost in this defeat.
So much for the pundits - again!!
International Results:
Ireland 21 France 26
Scotland 23 Wales 7
P W D L F A Pts
Scotland 1 1 0 0 23 7 2
France 1 1 0 0 26 21 2
Ireland 1 0 0 1 21 26 0
Wales 1 0 0 1 7 23 0
England 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Snake tells the story again this weekend.
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