One for the Rugby Fans

[harryleech]

Well, I've been away in a one horse town an hour outside Warsaw (Poland) for the last week, with crappy WiFi in the hotel of possibly the worst hotel I've stayed in since my student days. The town had no bars (I kid you not) and as I was there coaching I had time for only one cigar my whole time there. Tough times.

However, I was back on Saturday morning in time to watch Ireland's historic Grand Slam vicory over Wales, our first in 61 years. At times we looked like we might throw it away (the team looked very nervous) but with two fantastc tries, Irish fans always thought that it was going to go our way for a change. We were right.

I don't know if you get coverage of the Six Nations in Oz, but you can see the highlights here, along with what I think has to be the winner for the 'opportunistic try of the year' from our Captain Fantstic (in BOD we trust):

Anyway, the main reason I'm posting this is for the pictures that are my braggging rights for the next year. I'm not going to elaborate on how I managed to get into the post match celebration after the civic reception in Dublin's city centre, but I've been to a few memorable events over the years. Here's me (on the right) and my mate Will with the Triple Crown trophy:

And a little later in the evening, we managed to get the 6 Nations trophy into the picture along our buddies Graham and Walter. I'm the one lowering the tone by wearing part of the 6 Nations trophy on my head:

If only we could smoke indoors over here these two things would make great ashtrays! A long time coming, but worth the wait! Roll on the Lions Tour...

[asmith]

Ireland would be going off and I wish I was there to join in the festivities. Well done Ireland you guys have been playing some great rugby if only Australia could do that I would be a lot happier. As for the British Lions Tour is going back a bit but I followed the Lions when they were here in Oz and had a fantastic time with my British mates drinking hard and talking nothing but rugby, it was heaven.

[brian1]

Great post Harry. I was watching the game on my laptop here in Connecticut. Played rugby all the way through school (Pres Cork 89') Kidney trained us at Junior and Senior level back then. Finally broke the Grand Slam drought after all those years. Fantastic stuff. Delighted for everyone at home.

Seeing as we are posting rugby related pics. Here is me (on the right) with the Heineken Cup in Hartford, Connecticut last summer when Munster were on tour over here.

[ndtoronto]

What a game

We watched it in a Pub here In Halifax with about 25 or so

Our hearts stopped in the 75th minute but Stringer and O'Gara kicked started them back up again 3 minutes later

The last kick of the ball was nerve wracking to say the least. Earlier he didnt even come close to one of his long kcks but this was shorter and more direct. I am still not sure if it was wide or it just didnt have the distance and dropped under the bar

[El Presidente]

Anyone....... but England

[Ken Gargett]

Anyone....... but England

and you blame me for losing you markets.!

that said, indeed, no truer words...

i remember when we won the world cup in 1991, one of the players worked for the same law firm as i did. he just brought the cup in for an arvo or two. no security or anything. think it might be different these days.

[harryleech]

and you blame me for losing you markets.!

that said, indeed, no truer words...

i remember when we won the world cup in 1991, one of the players worked for the same law firm as i did. he just brought the cup in for an arvo or two. no security or anything. think it might be different these days.

Well, Kiwi Warren Gatland was trying to stir things up last week by saying that the Welsh hate the Irish players above all others home nations because our clubs keep beating them in the European Cup. The Welsh public were pretty pissed with that as they held similar views to El Prez. Should make his job on the coaching team for the British & Irish Lions pretty interesting this summer!

I don't think things have changed all that much Ken, if shenanigans involving the Triple Crown and 6 Nations Trophy are anything to go by. I have a few stories that I won't be putting on a public forum, but after all they did to win the damn thing...

[brian1]

There was a time in the 90's when A succesfull season for Ireland was beating England ...as long as we won that one we could stomach lossing all the other games..LOL..

Anyone....... but England

[brian1]

Ken

That 91 World cup Quarter Final in Dublin was a heartbreaker for Ireland. A game Ireland had won before Australia just, just snuck in a score at the whistle to beat us 19-18 at Landstowne Road. One of those thrilling games you never forget. That was a great Wallaby team, Lynagh, Campese, Eals et al!

and you blame me for losing you markets.!

that said, indeed, no truer words...

i remember when we won the world cup in 1991, one of the players worked for the same law firm as i did. he just brought the cup in for an arvo or two. no security or anything. think it might be different these days.

[harryleech]

Ken

That 91 World cup Quarter Final in Dublin was a heartbreaker for Ireland. A game Ireland had won before Australia just, just snuck in a score at the whistle to beat us 19-18 at Landstowne Road. One of those thrilling games you never forget. That was a great Wallaby team, Lynagh, Campese, Eals et al!

Hi Brian,

Good to see another Irishman on the board!

I remember that match well, watching it with my three brothers in the kitchen on an old B&W TV! The feeling when Australia scored was like getting punched in the stomach, or being told that your pet dog had been run over and I had a creeping suspicion of the same feeling when Jones kicked the ball on target on Saturday, but it just fell short thankfully. Talk about palpitations.

That was a great Aussie side, Campese was both entertaining on the pitch and briliant off, Horan a genius (an early 90's O'Driscoll) but 'Nobody' Eales has to be my favourite Aussie player of all time. That a player can do everything on the pitch (even stuff that a lock isn't supposed to be able to do, like kick penalty's from all over the pitch) and still be a nice bloke is just unfair to us mere mortals. Anyone have any idea what he's doing now?

Harry

[El Presidente]

Harry.

I went to school with John Eales (Marist brothers Ashgrove). I was also taught at school by his father Jack (now passed away) who was one of the greatest human beings and teachers I have ever met. The Acorn doesn't fall far from the tree.

John has numerous business interests these days. His sports marketing and management company has merged with International Quarterback. He writes for the Financial Review and half a dozen other newspapers + a professional Directer of a half dozen other public companies.

"Nobody" is nick name (although he denies it).

Reason is "Nobody's Perfect"

[Ken Gargett]

Ken

That 91 World cup Quarter Final in Dublin was a heartbreaker for Ireland. A game Ireland had won before Australia just, just snuck in a score at the whistle to beat us 19-18 at Landstowne Road. One of those thrilling games you never forget. That was a great Wallaby team, Lynagh, Campese, Eals et al!

yes, don't forget horan.

he told me about that game. he mentioned there were a few unhappy wallabies when you scored (flanker matthews or a similar name?) as it was about the 50th tackle campo had missed - peerless with the ball, campo was not always the studiest brick in defence.

jason little was standing behind the sticks as you took the conversion very upset as his dry cleaning was in and if we lost and went home early, there would be no one to collect it. lynagh was trying to rally the troops and little was terribly upset about his clothes.

lynagh put together the plan that the kickoff would be deep forcing the irish to kick out, we'd win the line out on our throw and score on the other side. lynagh kicks deep, the irish go for the side line and campo sticks out a mitt and knocks it into touch, from memory. so much for the plan.

then comes the irish line out calls - dublin, 8, 4, potato, guinness (or whatever) and the irish lock (donal lenihan??) who is standing next to eales (in the days before lifting), says, and forgive the language, 'oh ****, not me again'. eales could not believe it. won the lineout and we scored in the corner.

i was frantic at that stage and living down at hastings point, northern nsw - a tiny seaside village of about 12 people. one petrol station and a caravan park. some bloke from the caravan park has gone beserk, murdered three people, exploded the petrol station by driving into the bowsers (all this was only 60 yards from my place) and there were police cars/sirens/ fire trucks etc etc all night long - i was so focused on the game, never heard a thing.

then that brilliant game against the all blacks for the semi. and if anyone ever doubted what campo could do, two of the most brilliant pieces of rugby ever conjured in that first half. a true genius.

[ARRV]

Congratulations to Ireland - truly worthy winners.

As for the quarter final in '91 - what really sticks with me is the utter madness and joy of the crowd following the Irish try in the corner followed by the absolute, and I mean absolute, silence following the Lynagh try [in the corner]. It was quite astounding. I think everyone watching the game - from both countries - were in a state of shock. Classic game.

[Ken Gargett]

<br />Congratulations to Ireland - truly worthy winners.<br /><br />As for the quarter final in '91 - what really sticks with me is the utter madness and joy of the crowd following the Irish try in the corner followed by the absolute, and I mean absolute, silence following the Lynagh try [in the corner]. It was quite astounding. I think everyone watching the game - from both countries - were in a state of shock. Classic game.<br />

<br /><br /><br />

i'm surprised that lansdowne road couldn't here me first wailing in agony and then screaming with joy all the way from oz. a great tournament all round.

[brian1]

Ah yes, Timmy Horan...what a player! I dont know where to start with the flowing prose below. Great stuff. It was Gordon Hamilton who got that famous Irish try(phil matthews was the other flanker)...and if it wasnt for our never to be heard from again Irish scrum half Rob Saunders who missed his kick to touch that started the move that ended in lynaghs try..we would have won..dammit it still hurts!

One of the truly legendary trys in Irish Rugby History

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPKCNhLZM0Q

yes, don't forget horan.

he told me about that game. he mentioned there were a few unhappy wallabies when you scored (flanker matthews or a similar name?) as it was about the 50th tackle campo had missed - peerless with the ball, campo was not always the studiest brick in defence.

jason little was standing behind the sticks as you took the conversion very upset as his dry cleaning was in and if we lost and went home early, there would be no one to collect it. lynagh was trying to rally the troops and little was terribly upset about his clothes.

lynagh put together the plan that the kickoff would be deep forcing the irish to kick out, we'd win the line out on our throw and score on the other side. lynagh kicks deep, the irish go for the side line and campo sticks out a mitt and knocks it into touch, from memory. so much for the plan.

then comes the irish line out calls - dublin, 8, 4, potato, guinness (or whatever) and the irish lock (donal lenihan??) who is standing next to eales (in the days before lifting), says, and forgive the language, 'oh ****, not me again'. eales could not believe it. won the lineout and we scored in the corner.

i was frantic at that stage and living down at hastings point, northern nsw - a tiny seaside village of about 12 people. one petrol station and a caravan park. some bloke from the caravan park has gone beserk, murdered three people, exploded the petrol station by driving into the bowsers (all this was only 60 yards from my place) and there were police cars/sirens/ fire trucks etc etc all night long - i was so focused on the game, never heard a thing.

then that brilliant game against the all blacks for the semi. and if anyone ever doubted what campo could do, two of the most brilliant pieces of rugby ever conjured in that first half. a true genius.

[ARRV]

<br /><br /><br />

i'm surprised that lansdowne road couldn't here me first wailing in agony and then screaming with joy all the way from oz. a great tournament all round.

Same here. The good old days of Gordon Bray at his peak.

I also find screaming at the TV entirely cathartic. Doesn't matter what's on.

[Ken Gargett]

Same here. The good old days of Gordon Bray at his peak.

I also find screaming at the TV entirely cathartic. Doesn't matter what's on.

yelling at tv's keeps one sane.

my fave brayism - 'and he has been penalised for excessive use of the tongue'.

good old gordon simply could not have said backchat.