| Magic moments for Irish rugby
 Ireland have claimed
just three Triple-Crowns in the modern era, with the 2004 triumph preceded
by the successes of 1982 and 1985. But besides those previous Triple Crown
successes, there have been many other great Irish moments in the history
of the Six Nations.
1964 — Ireland trounce England with record win at Twickenham
Saturday February 8
England 5 Ireland 18
Twickenham
This game will go down as one of Irish rugby’s finest hours. The
Boys in Green demolished a woeful England side, recording an 18-5 win
that didn’t flatter them in the slightest.
Two Micheal Flynn tries, one from Noel Murphy and one each from Patrick
Casey and Noel Murphy, aided by the conversions of the great Tom Kiernan,
sealed Ireland’s victory.
The Ireland team contained such legends of the game as Mike Gibson, Willie
John McBride and Tom Kiernan.
They were much superior to England, in what was one of the first big sporting
moments screened by RTÉ television — which brought the sport
to a whole new generation including many rural areas dominated by GAA.
The scoreline remains a record win for a ‘home nation’ at
Twickenham in the modern era.
1982 — Twickenham triumph edges Ireland close to Triple
Crown glory
Saturday February 16
England 15 Ireland 16
Twickenham
There is little doubt that 1982 was an important milestone for Irish
rugby. Eight years after their last Triple Crown success Ireland appeared
set for a new glorious era. The success of 1974 had bridged a gap of 23
years before their previous Triple Crown success.
However this was the first time Ireland won the Triple Crown on home soil.
On their way to that famous triumph the team led by Ciaran Fitzgerald
had a difficult hurdle to overcome at Twickenham.
However a memorable try from Gerry ‘Ginger’ McLoughlin clinched
a famous victory over the Auld Enemy.
A set-piece close to the England line left the minimum of room for the
front row, but when McLoughlin got possession he was simply unstoppable
as he carried three England players over the line with him. The scenes
of jubilation which greeted the final whistle gave testament to Ireland’s
relief. Now within one game of winning the Triple Crown after so many
years of frustration.
1985 — Kiernan’s late drop-goal clinches second Triple
Crown in three years
Saturday March 30
Ireland 13 England 10
Lansdowne Road
Ireland’s Triple Crown year of 1985 will always be remembered as
‘The Mick Doyle Triple Crown’. Doyle followed a controversial
and initially unpopular policy of picking predominantly inexperienced
players and persevering with a running game.
Three years after the 1982 triumph, Irish rugby was beginning to slip
into the doldrums once again. Doyle discarded many of the older, popular
players and replaced them with young tyros such as Brendan Mullen, Philip
Matthews and Micheal Bradley. Older hand Willie Anderson was converted
from No. 8 to a second row.
But the decision to play a running game at all costs was the pivotal decision.
With a free flowing style that won over their critics Ireland advanced
to a Triple Crown decider with England at Lansdowne Road.
The deciding game against England was tied at 10-10 when a Micheal Kiernan
drop-goal in the closing minutes of a close match sealed a famous victory
for Ireland and made the nephew of the other famous Irish international
full back Tommy Kiernan an instant folk hero.
2000 — Brian O’Driscoll — simply magnifique!
Saturday March 18th
France 25 Ireland 27
Stade de France, Paris
Millennium year witnessed the birth of a new superstar in the Irish sports
firmament. Until his outstanding individual performance in the game against
France in Paris Brian O’Driscoll was just another of the legion
of young Irish players with scruffy potential and a big reputation. After
a stunning hat-trick that left the French chasing shadows, ‘Drico’
became an instant sports celebrity of the new Millennium.
Expectations among the Irish public had been quite low that year. Fans
travelled in hope rather than any kind of optimism to the Stade de France
to face a strong French side. Ireland had a miserable record in Paris
until O’Driscoll’s performance that day ended 28 years of
defeats on French soil.
The Irish performance up to the point of O’Driscoll’s first
try was typical of so many which had gone before — all graft, no
style. However O’Driscoll provided the cutting-edge away from home
and helped to boost confidence among the Irish players for the successful
campaigns which followed in subsequent years.
2001 — Ireland deny England Grand Slam in delayed Six
Nations match.
Saturday October 20
Ireland 20 England 14
Lansdowne Road
The foot-and-mouth outbreak of that year saw this match played on a wet
October day. Ireland seemed to have nothing to play for, while England
hit town anticipating coronation as Grand Slam winners. But the chance
to defeat the Auld Enemy on home soil was an incentive enough for Eddie
O’Sullivan’s men.
After a clash that was more about attrition than inspiration, England
led with the clock winding down. Keith Wood was already having one of
the matches of his life when he emerged at the head of a massive Irish
drive and crashed over the goal-line with the Lansdowne roar ringing in
his ears.
The site of Wood’s bald head glistening in the evening’s half-light
with the ball over the line is an iconic Six Nations moment for Irish
rugby fans.
2004 — Eddie’s boys clinch first rugby success in
19 years
Saturday March 27
Ireland 37 Scotland 16
Lansdowne Road
This might be called the year when Ireland’s golden generation
of rugby players had delivered a long overdue title. Brian O’Driscoll,
Ronan O’Gara and their teammates had been carrying all before them
at underage level and with experienced heads such as Keith Wood and Malcolm
O’Kelly to the fore, Ireland swept to Triple Crown success, including
a famous Twickenham triumph over World Champions England.
While all of the other games were also hard-fought, the toughest turned
out to be the decider, against Scotland who put up some stubborn resistance
before eventually succumbing.
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