The scenes at the European Cup final in Lansdowne Road last Saturday will live for ever in the memories of all those fortunate to have been present.
From the moment one entered the ground the atmosphere was gripping. The huge support for Ulster and the array of red and white in the stands and on the terraces was uplifting. There is no doubt that it proved to be inspirational for the Ulster team and that was readily acknowledged by the Ulster captain David Humphreys and coach Harry Williams. Last Saturday was a very special day in the history of Irish rugby.
Tomorrow Ireland will open their campaign in the Five Nations Championship and how splendid it would be and uplifting for the Ireland side when they play France if the crowd gave Ireland similar support and make tomorrow another very special day in the history of Irish rugby.
Last Saturday at Lansdowne Road was a great occasion but let us not forget what happened at Donnybrook on Saturday morning. University College Cork, one of the oldest clubs in the game with a great history and contribution to Irish rugby, won the Students European Cup. They too beat French opponents in Grenoble.
A crowd of about 2,000 attended that match, it was a pity the crowd was not greater. It was a splendid and very entertaining match as UCC came back from an early 10 points deficit. The manner in which they played in the second half and their tactical appreciation of their own and their opponents strengths reflected very well on the team and on their coach Peter Melia.
The win and the manner of its attainment were proof that that the universities still have a very important part to play in the development of Irish rugby.
The win by UCC is very welcome on every possible front and it will be especially welcomed by all the Irish Universities and has given the game in them a welcome and timely boost.
Let us not forget either that the Irish Universities won the Triple Crown last season. That win by UCC made for a great start to the day and things got even better as events unfolded at Lansdowne Road. The Irish universities have a huge part to play in the development of the young talent.
Following the European Cup final a colleague from one of the British newspapers who had also been at Donnybrook in the morning said to me: "These are great days for Irish rugby, Ulster win the European Cup and UCC win the European Students Cup. We have been fed on a diet of negativity about Irish rugby, but looking at those results and what was achieved at under age levels last season, Irish rugby looks to me to be in a very healthy state."
Of course they have been fed on a diet of negativity about the game here by a few people in England in Press and television, who know little about Irish rugby and care less.
It was interesting to read the comments of one of their television pundits on Monday extolling Ireland's chances in the Five Nations Championship. I refer to former England international Stuart Barnes. Just a few months ago he was telling his television audience, limited though it was, that Irish rugby was a shambles.
It is not perfect by any means but it is incomparably better than the chaos and shambles that exist in England at the moment. That is infinitely more a pity than a mystery. The English Rugby Union (RFU) is in chronic need of some men of stature, vision and realism. Their latest attempt to form an Anglo-Welsh League has again fallen on barren ground, scarcely surprising bearing in mind the proposed make up of the league the Welsh were asked to accept.
We have another great few days of rugby this weekend with the match at Lansdowne Road tomorrow the centrepiece. The Under-21 international between Ireland and France goes ahead at Musgrave Park today, the A international at Donnybrook this evening and the Universities international in Galway today. If we get the kind of results attained against the French last weekend, then the celebrations can start again.
Ulster's win was triumph for application, courage and tactical awareness. The Ulster coach Harry Williams had done his homework and his players carried out the tactical plan to tremendous effect. Williams knew the strengths of his own team and those of the opposition and had the players carry out the game plan which they did with telling effect.
Ireland must keep putting pressure on the French and tackle as Ulster tackled last week. David Humphreys must play essentially as he did last Saturday. One thing for sure is, if the French are given any time and space, then they will exploit them.
The last time an Ireland side beat the French was in Auch on a memorable May evening in 1988. That was a full strength French side and that evening Ireland played as Ulster played last Saturday and indeed as Ireland played for much of the match in Paris last season. Caps were not given for that match in Auch and, to this day, I consider that decision to have been totally wrong and an injustice to the Irish players who performed so well that evening in a match that was an international in all but name.
In conclusion I think the Ireland management has made a bad mistake in selecting young Gordon D'Arcy at full back on the A side today instead of leaving him play for the Ireland under-21 team. D'Arcy celebrated his 19th birthday this week. He is in his first season of senior rugby. Shane Horgan is also eligible for the under-21 team but has also been chosen on the A team. He at least has a season in the under-21 team behind. Bearing in mind that Simon Mason is available for the A team, D'Arcy's selection is even less logical. Ciaran Scally is also an under-21 but he has played at senior international level and therefore his place on the bench on the senior team is more understandable.
