Here's a question for Brian Ashton! "Apart from the result, Brian, what did you think of the match?" He is a very nice man and nobody would wish to embarrass him or cause him unnecessary pain but, after an almighty hammering, it felt very strange to come away from Lansdowne Road last Saturday in a fairly positive mood, regardless of the result but reflecting on what the future holds for Irish rugby. The man on the gateway to the car park remarked: "Well, lads! That was a nail-biting finish, wasn't it?" and we all laughed.
Ireland had conceded more scores than ever before in a match in Lansdowne Road and yet, everybody was smiling and looking forward to the future. Everybody, apparently, was content to accept that we can no longer regard ourselves as other than a secondary or even tertiary nation in world rugby. We had put up significant resistance to New Zealand for half an hour and scored two tries against them and that seemed to satisfy us. When the floodgates opened in the second half as the relentless All Blacks pummelled and pushed one could only marvel at the sight.
But, as in the question to Brian Ashton, perhaps we should look at the surroundings to Saturday's match. There was a much different approach to the presentation of the game than ever before and the Irish Rugby Football Union clearly has adopted a more modern approach and deserves some credit for that.
There was a big screen showing replays of the events which had just happened on the pitch, there were sky-divers parachuting out of the air with the match ball, dancers, banners, pop music and all sorts of other razzamatazz. Thankfully, they retained the Garda Band but there was a genuine and successful attempt to drag the IRFU into the 20th century.
One has a couple of reservations about the presentation, however. The playing of the National Anthem was diminished by the broadcasting of the public singing over the public address system. This writer has always felt that the singing of
???ain Amhran na bhFiann at Lansdowne Road has always been splendid, matched only by Thomond Park. Last Saturday there was a distinct split-second delay between the Garda Band version and the sound system and it spoiled the overall effect.
As well as that I have grave reservations about Ireland's Call, the anthem which the IRFU has attempted to impose on the rugby-going public. As far as I can gather nobody knows either the words or the music and, with due reverence to the musical skill of Phil Coulter, who is a lovely and talented man, it should be forgotten about.
Why can't the IRFU accept the fact that There Is an Isle holds a hallowed place in the hearts of all rugby people on this island. On tours abroad, Lions players from Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales have accepted it as part of the team's repertoire. If the musically-gifted Welsh accept it I can see no logical reason why we as Irish people can't give this hymn, for that is what it is, as a present to international rugby just as Bread of Heaven or Land of My Fathers or Fleur O' Scotland or Swing Low Sweet Chariot are accepted internationally as part of rugby's heritage. But, to get away from that, I am told that other innovations are in train in regard to future matches at Lansdowne Road. For the Canadian match tomorrow week it is hoped that more and more children are being encouraged to attend and a special offer of tickets for 20 school children and two adults will be available for a give-away price of £60.
For those of us somewhat older there will be the added attraction for the Scottish match (Feb 7th) and Welsh match (Mar 21st) the catering will include licensed marquees around the ground where beer, spirits and soft drinks as well as tea, coffee and snacks will be available.
