It was a match to nothing anyway - England and Ireland were playing for pride only - Ireland had just blown there championship chances with that poor performance against Wales. England had their nightmare week-end too - losing to a Scottish team that has had a lousy season so far. England had the added incentive of trying to break a run of fourlosses on the trot to Ireland.
The train to Twickenham should probably have been seen as an omen. We first of all set out from Marble Arch on the Central Line to hook up with the District Line at Notting Hill Gate, only to discover that the District Line was not running to Richmond this week-end. Why would it - its just a game of no consequence! So we had to reverse our tracks and make for Waterloo. We arrived in Waterloo at 12.15 - great - there was a direct train to Twickenham at 12.25; no stops would get us in at 12.50 and with a 10 minute walk to the ground we would be able to meet up with Paul for pre-match lunch as planned at 1pm. We got the tickets and piled onboard. The train was almost as full as you could imagine. It started out very slowly (this is about the only bit that wasn't like the match!). Well at least it wasn't going to stop - wrong! After about 20 minutes it arrived at Clapham Junction - and it stopped and another load of people got on. Then it continued slowly. The heat was unbearable. Soon it was 1pm and we were still on the train. Fortunately the match started at 3! Then someone noticed that we were not on a direct route to Twickenham but we had taken a parallel line that was going to take us past Twickenham and would have to double back! Anyway you get the drift - it was a nightmare train that eventually pulled in at 1.20 a mere 30 minutes late!
It was a good 10 minutes - but we eventually reached the East Stand of Twickenham on Rugby Road. There was an Industrial Estate across the road - our instructions were to look for "CP Supplies". Sure enough it was there on the sign at the entrance. We followed the sign and arrived at a trade desk at the front of a warehouse. We signed in and found a lot a familiar faces. There were pallets loaded with sheets of gypsum and chipboard around the side but in the middle there were about 15 tables laid out for lunch with a buffet and a bar set up at the side. We had an excellent lunch followed by apple crumble and plenty of wine. It was quite an enterprise.
At about 2.30 we headed out to the ground and about 10 minutes later we were perched in the Upper North Stand - in the corner with lots of other Irish supporters. A great view across the stadium. I don't think there is a bad seat in Twickenham. The pre-match warm up was going on and at about 2.50 as the teams came off the pitch the pre-match festivities started. We had soldiers ab-sailing off the roof at each corner and the band playing the anthems.
At about 7 minutes past 3 the game kicked off. It was a very strong and confident start by Ireland, O'Gara makes good progress from an English turnover, then an Irish penalty is kicked into touch on the twenty two, From the line-out ball O'Gara throws a long pass to Murphy who flips back to Kearney who is tackled short of the line but his strength caries him over - TRY! Followed by a conversation, 7-0. About 3 minutes later the English full back is isolated - fails to release and we get another 3 points from O'Gara's boot. 10-0 and just 7 minutes gone, unbelievable start - its coming up to 5 in a row it seems.
Shortly after Paul O'Connell plays the ball on the ground, and Cipriani kicks the penalty. About 10 minutes later Sackey gets past Trimble who is again showing a weakness in defence and scores a try which is converted and the sides are level. Its been a pretty freeflowing game so far. Both teams are playing an expansive game, which probably means that they are less fearful of each other than other teams they met earlier this year - or maybe on this last game to nothing they are just giving it a lash. Just past the half hour Flood, puts the Irish backs under pressure with a lovely little chip and run and Ireland concede a kickable penalty - with Cipriani on this form who needs Jonny!! Just before half time Ireland mauled their way into the 22 - but Reddan passed the ball forward.
5 minutes into the second half England extended there lead to 6 points with a penalty. Murphy and Leamy have gone off injured. Fitzgerald teams up with Kearney and Fitzgerald by the left touchline and ducking and diving their way into the English margin-left: 5px; . However the English manage to stop them 10 metres short of the line. The move is rewarded with a penalty a few minutes later but O'Gara kicks it wide. It now feels like that great start was some other team and some other match.
However Ireland try again and they stretch the English defence - sweeping across the pitch and back again. But then, just inside the twenty two, with the line in their sights, they lose their way and in the end O'Connell takes the ball all on his own (again) and is grounded by several English defenders. He holds on, as you do when isolated and is penalised.
After the penalty England go on the attack and they don't make silly mistakes. Matthew Tait, on as a blood substitution, scores a try in the corner underneath us. England now have a commanding lead 23-10. Ireland keep up the attacks but every time they get into the English twenty two, they suddenly ignore the wingers out wide and instead ask O'Connell to try to storm his way through the centre - a tactic England have no problem dealing with all day. We had plenty of of possession but seem to waste every single opportunity.
Then with 10 minutes to go Haskell drives into the twenty two, setting up a scrum. Then Jamie Noon makes a great run in between Trimble (again weak in defence) and Horgan, with Jonny(who came on in the centre to a tremendous roar) on his shoulder, Noon gets over for a try in the corner. That is the nail in the coffin. Its time to start worrying about the train back to London and before the "Swing Low" got going in earnest, we left. England got another penalty making the final score 33-10.
Nail in the Coffin, uploaded by M+MD.
At least we beat the rush and got a bus to Richmond and an uneventful on time train ride back to Waterloo. I wasn't in the "Sack Eddie" crew after the World Cup but I'm afraid after this pathetic set of performances I am there now.
