French have quality to mimic Irish renaissance
AFTER a long dismal period in French Rugby the stunning success of their U20 side at the Junior World Cup last week feels like a major breakthrough and a significant moment in time with implications over and above the actual winning of the JWC for the first time.
Panache, explosive power and pace, skill and a healthy dose of Gallic arrogance and savoir faire – it was all there in one glorious package and served as a timely reminder of just how much we have missed the real France at senior level recently.
Above all else, they played with confidence and the assurance of natural winners and when you place that alongside their outrageous skill no wonder French rugby is beginning to walk tall again.
All of which prompts a feeling of deja vu – and the memory of a very curious and rarely related tale – concerning Ireland and their mould-breaking win at the U19 World Cup in 1998 when they defeated hosts France in Toulouse.
As anybody who watched – let alone reported – on Ireland rugby throughout much of the 90s will concede, the national side was at a very low ebb indeed with no expectation of success and just the occasional individual like Kith Wood reaching the heights with the Lions.
There was a resignation and gallows humour that seemed to envelop Irish rugby and it wasn’t healthy. Irish rugby needed a lift, not to mention a kick up the bum.
And then came along the class of 98 coached by a young Declan Kidney. If you look at the Ireland line-up – which I list below – it actually only spawned two future superstars of the Irish game although they don’t come any better – in their differing ways – than Brian O’Driscoll and Donncha O’Callaghan.
Paddy Wallace – who was the star of the tournament – was also capped at senior level and made a decent impact although the presence of David Humphreys and then Ronan O’Gara limited his Ireland opportunities, while half-back partner in 1998, Kieran Campbell, manged to win three caps before he retired.
But what that team did by defeating South Africa in the quarter-finals, holders Argentina in the semi-finals and France on their own patch in the final was to give Irish rugby in general, and that generation in particular, a contagious belief that Ireland teams and players weren’t condemned to finish as also-rans.
Irish rugby became infected with their confidence and optimism and I have always made a direct connection with that triumph in 1998 to the emergence of strong Munster and Leinster sides very soon after, Ireland’s massive improvement throughout the noughties and their current number two world ranking. There were some hic- coughs along the way but that’s where it all started.
And yet it could have been so different, it could all have ended with a disappointing quarterfinal defeat against the Boks, another brave but ultimately doomed Ireland campaign. They could have returned from the competition round shouldered and apologetic.
Ireland were trailing 17-0 at one stage in that game but showed real guts and quality to finish the game at 17-17 after which a penalty shoot-out came into play.
O’Driscoll, who was Ireland’s main goal-kicker at this stage of his career, had levelled up the scores with a late touchline conversion, but to his disgust missed the first penalty from 22m in front of the posts and, on the backfoot, Ireland eventually ‘lost’ the shoot-out and the match.
Except that wasn’t the end of it. Paddy Wallace’s father Paul and Ireland’s development officer Eddie Wigglesworth up in the stands had noted that the Boks centre had been replaced late in the second half but had participated in the shoot-out, successfully slotting his penalty.
This was unambiguously contrary to regulations. Only players on the pitch come final whistle can participate in a shoot-out. They reported this to manager Harry McKibbin, a lawyer and then a judge back in Belfast, who immediately lodged an official complaint.
Ireland weren’t prepared to be plucky losers anymore. Their complaint wouldn’t make them popular but South Africa had contravened the laws and the game should be awarded to Ireland.
Ireland knew they had right on their side and although a hastily convened IRB Disciplinary committee asked – begged – them to consider staging the shoot-out again, Ireland stuck to their guns.
McKibbin knew they had an unbreakable case – it was there in black and white – and Ireland were going to be bloody minded and unbending. South Africa were duly disqualified, and Ireland progressed to the semifinals and, having got out of gaol, won the world crown at a canter.
It was a huge moment for Irish rugby and an important pointer to the future in terms of professionalism and the ruthlessness needed to win.