IN PARIS WE stayed in a hotel next to the Palace of Versailles. Nothing but the best for the lads. As memorable as the gardens was the police escort into Paris. Les gendarmes don’t take any shit when they’re on motorbikes. If you leave at a certain time they ensure you arrive at the stadium on time.
France had won the previous 15 meetings between the nations, and Ireland hadn’t won in Paris since 1972 — five years before I was born! I had watched France-Ireland games on TV, and there was a familiar pattern. For the first 20 or 25 minutes Ireland would usually play reasonably well and then capitulate. France then invariably ran riot. Two years before, I’d been in Stade de France for the first time, having played for the Irish Universities the day before. It was Gatty’s first game as Ireland coach, and against all odds Ireland had nearly won. Ireland led until seven minutes from time, but then fell behind 18–16. Victor Costello made a late break but couldn’t get his pass away for a match-winning try.
That gave us hope, and after our couple of wins we went there without fear. We had a core of Munster players who had won away in Colomiers, and this was a new Irish team, most of whom had never before played in Paris. The mind is a funny thing.
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The Stade de France was as comfortable as a hotel. The pitch was perfect. The sun was shining. ‘La Marseillaise’ was fun to hum along to. What was there to be frightened of?
Drico’s hat-trick was nearly all down to him. He made the break that led to his first try. After Claw had taken it on, Mal O’Kelly popped Drico a lovely pass and he sauntered in under the posts. Then, from a scrum, Rob Henderson cut them open and passed inside to Drico for his second. Denis cut them open for the third, before I was scragged and my pass went to ground. Everyone stopped except Drico, who scooped up the ball and scampered through. Emile N’tamack looked like a spectator as Brian ran past him. Humphs’ conversion made it a one-point game; then he nailed a brilliant penalty two minutes from time.
Denis had already kept us in the game with his first-half tackle from behind on their hooker Marc dal Maso, who was sprinting towards the line. Denis came from a long way back and hit dal Maso from completely the wrong angle. He had to throw his head in front of him, otherwise dal Maso’s momentum would have carried him over the line. Denis took one for the team there.
Peter Stringer is congratulated after the 2000 Six Nations clash between France and Ireland. EMPICS Sport
EMPICS Sport
I was the man to kick the ball off the pitch for the final whistle. I dropped to my knees, closed my eyes and put two hands in the air. I shed a tear in that moment. Mikey Mullins hadn’t been used off the bench but he was the first to hug me while I was on the ground. We did a lap of honour and there seemed to be only Irish supporters in pockets all around the Stade de France. Gaillimh virtually picked me up on to his shoulders.
In the dressing room and at the reception, Syd Millar and Noel Murphy — both legends of the game — were as emotional and thrilled as if it had been their old playing days. We moved into the hotel where the IRFU were staying near the Champs-Elysées that night. Judging by the way lads looked the next morning, and the stories that were told, some had a later night than I did.
Three wins in a row was unheard of for Ireland. And it went straight to our heads. Maybe there’d been an element of fear going to the Stade de France that was missing at home to Wales in our last game. That was one of the most annoying and frustrating defeats I’ve ever experienced. We hardly played. It wasn’t as if Wales were an outstanding team, but they were good enough to beat us. Axel was within inches of winning the game at the end, but we lost 23–19. It was no way to end such a good season, nor to end Donal Lenihan’s time as manager, as he was turning his attention to the Lions. Still, the turnaround within a few weeks had been incredible.
Extracted from Pulling the Strings by Peter Stringer published by Penguin Ireland. For more info, click here.
'I know it sounds crazy, but we felt invincible'
IN PARIS WE stayed in a hotel next to the Palace of Versailles. Nothing but the best for the lads. As memorable as the gardens was the police escort into Paris. Les gendarmes don’t take any shit when they’re on motorbikes. If you leave at a certain time they ensure you arrive at the stadium on time.
France had won the previous 15 meetings between the nations, and Ireland hadn’t won in Paris since 1972 — five years before I was born! I had watched France-Ireland games on TV, and there was a familiar pattern. For the first 20 or 25 minutes Ireland would usually play reasonably well and then capitulate. France then invariably ran riot. Two years before, I’d been in Stade de France for the first time, having played for the Irish Universities the day before. It was Gatty’s first game as Ireland coach, and against all odds Ireland had nearly won. Ireland led until seven minutes from time, but then fell behind 18–16. Victor Costello made a late break but couldn’t get his pass away for a match-winning try.
That gave us hope, and after our couple of wins we went there without fear. We had a core of Munster players who had won away in Colomiers, and this was a new Irish team, most of whom had never before played in Paris. The mind is a funny thing.
The Stade de France was as comfortable as a hotel. The pitch was perfect. The sun was shining. ‘La Marseillaise’ was fun to hum along to. What was there to be frightened of?
Drico’s hat-trick was nearly all down to him. He made the break that led to his first try. After Claw had taken it on, Mal O’Kelly popped Drico a lovely pass and he sauntered in under the posts. Then, from a scrum, Rob Henderson cut them open and passed inside to Drico for his second. Denis cut them open for the third, before I was scragged and my pass went to ground. Everyone stopped except Drico, who scooped up the ball and scampered through. Emile N’tamack looked like a spectator as Brian ran past him. Humphs’ conversion made it a one-point game; then he nailed a brilliant penalty two minutes from time.
Denis had already kept us in the game with his first-half tackle from behind on their hooker Marc dal Maso, who was sprinting towards the line. Denis came from a long way back and hit dal Maso from completely the wrong angle. He had to throw his head in front of him, otherwise dal Maso’s momentum would have carried him over the line. Denis took one for the team there.
I was the man to kick the ball off the pitch for the final whistle. I dropped to my knees, closed my eyes and put two hands in the air. I shed a tear in that moment. Mikey Mullins hadn’t been used off the bench but he was the first to hug me while I was on the ground. We did a lap of honour and there seemed to be only Irish supporters in pockets all around the Stade de France. Gaillimh virtually picked me up on to his shoulders.
In the dressing room and at the reception, Syd Millar and Noel Murphy — both legends of the game — were as emotional and thrilled as if it had been their old playing days. We moved into the hotel where the IRFU were staying near the Champs-Elysées that night. Judging by the way lads looked the next morning, and the stories that were told, some had a later night than I did.
Three wins in a row was unheard of for Ireland. And it went straight to our heads. Maybe there’d been an element of fear going to the Stade de France that was missing at home to Wales in our last game. That was one of the most annoying and frustrating defeats I’ve ever experienced. We hardly played. It wasn’t as if Wales were an outstanding team, but they were good enough to beat us. Axel was within inches of winning the game at the end, but we lost 23–19. It was no way to end such a good season, nor to end Donal Lenihan’s time as manager, as he was turning his attention to the Lions. Still, the turnaround within a few weeks had been incredible.
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Brian O'Driscoll Six Nations Ireland Looking Back Peter Stringer Rob Henderson France