Stade de France 21st September 2007

Last Friday night's visit to the match was born out of a drunken friend's frustration (Dave Hanly) at losing the proud Thomond record to Leicester Tigers last January. He reckoned that we wouldn't be going to the HCup final so this match was targeted instead.

I doubt if I will go through the same traval arrangements again unless I have a Sherpa to carry my bags. Shannon - Stansted - Liverpool St - Waterloo - Gare du Nord - Metro is a hard sell for the future.

Had a great day Friday, lunch in the sun, beers at the the Trocadero looking down towards the Eiffel Tower, lads and lassies from Belfast, Waterford, Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Clare and everywhere playing tip rugby and managing not to break a window. A bunch of English joined in too - the only ones who didn't buy in were the French security.

As for the match ... well the stadium is outstanding, not as steepling tall as the Millenium and good views all around. Much easier to get there, in, and out of than Croker.

Loads if Irish there - eternally optimistic, but praying for a loss by less than 7. Anthems were great. Ireland's call sung respectfully, la Marseillaise put the shiver up the spine and, as the teams broke up and lined up for the kick-off, a rousing unplugged Amhran na bhFiann. Some of the Norners near us were less than impressed.

We just didn't have it in the night. This was very disppointing as the French looked so poor at times. How often have France failed to put real width and pace on the ball across the backline in Paris? To be honest the French crowd only cheered three times in the whole match, the anthem and the two tries. Beyond that, it was sqeauky bums all around. Chris White delivered for the French, but we drove his van. Some of the ill-discpline was shocking and for me displayed a total lack of confidence/concentration/cohesion. Few players really showed the leadership on the pitch - Easterby, BOD, Hayes; hard to go beyond them without lowering standards. All in all I feel that they will all go home with reputations diminished and futures uncertain.

The wives watched the match in a bar outside the stadium, with some 60 year old dear. Her husband spotted Eithne and Fiona, and dropped her - he must have thought she was a grenade because he ran away like he was holding the pin. They watched the match in in a half empty bar amongst an attitude of expectant indifference. French supporters are like Kilkenny and Kerry - they just can't be arsed until the final is reached. No jersies, balloons, music - nothing. Just gouged people on prices.

Overall, a bad night but an experience. Time heals all wounds and the IRFU know they will sell out the three 6N home games next spring. Fans are fickle indeed - they forgive and forget. Print this post