THIS IS THE big one.
When the Rugby World Cup pool draw was made all those many months ago, this showdown was circled in red on Irish fans’ Paul O’Connell calendars.
The Boys in Green face Les Bleus in Cardiff in a game that will decide if it’s the All Blacks next up in a quarter-final versus the far-more-appealing Pumas.
And thousands of us will be there to see this mouth-watering clash unfold in the familiar surrounds of the Millennium Stadium.
These are the types of fan you’ll meet around the Brewery Quarter before the game and in the stadium for Le Crunch.
1. The rugby nerd
All that unseen work Jamie Heaslip does? This fan sees it.
This supporter knows they're stuff. He reads Whiff of Cordite and Demented Mole and recognises the difference between a second five eight and a centre. He'll quote Liam Toland's column back to you and Sky-plusses BOD's BT demos every Monday.
Most likely to say: "Did you hear Felipe Contempomi's at the Off The Ball thing on the O2 this week?"
2. The rugby hipster
Generally seen in the pub wearing an electric pink Toulouse jersey from the early 00s, this rugby fan likes nothing better than getting up at 4am to watch the ITM Cup in his retro Perpignan pyjamas. He knows that U20s is where it's at, he knows all about Connacht's latest southern-hemisphere signing long before he touches down in Shannon and his weekend coupon depends on Crusaders beating the spread.
Most likely to say: "You'd want to see the batch of U20s the Boks have coming through."
3. The day tripper
This event junkie doesn't care if it's the Euros, the darts or a Take That gig at Croker... they'll be there in a leprechaun suits and novelty hat. Likes the rugby of course but the craic is the main focus for the day. You may recognise their funny pictures from your Facebook feed.
Most likely to say: 'Where are we meeting up afterwards?'
4. The auld lad
He's seen it all before. Brian O'Driscoll? Pfff... you should have seen Jack Kyle. Likely to be in the stadium early to watch the warm-up and read the programme. Staying in the same B&B he's frequented since the 70s.
Most likely to say: "It's nice... but the Cardiff Arms Park was bettter."
5. The die hard
There’ll be a lot of bandwagoners on the streets of Cardiff this weekend... and hopefully London later in the tournament. But this fan deserves their seat. This supporter is all about the AIL, clicks through the turnstiles of Thomond or the RDS on a weekly basis and loves nothing more than a purple snack and Against The Head of a Monday night.
Most likely to say: "I saw Gallaimh on the ferry and he agreed with me on the lineout situation."
6. The wannabe ref
FYI, this guy is going to sit behind you and shout 'In from the side' into your ear every two to three minutes. He likes to talk about the offside rule, crooked feeds at the scrum and is anxious to see players roll away.
Most likely to say: "Off this feet!".
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If Ahern is valued because of his hybrid abilities, Coombes really should be too. He can offer real ballast at 2nd row if needed and has the height and weight. If there was a ‘last man standing’ scrap between himself, McCarthy and Ryan I think he’d be my bet. Devine hopefully get’s a look in and I’m hoping we see Osborne at 12 or 15. Very interested to see who Easterby gives 10 to v England, nothing between them at the moment imo.
@Lochlainn Garvey: a last man standing scrap??? Too bad it’s not playground rugby. Coombes isn’t a second row and won’t be considered as one for Ireland
@adizlack93: Yep, a scrap. Coombes is big, tough and abrasive in short quarters. All things we have historically lacked when bigger teams have gotten in our faces. Secondly (pun not intended), think you might have missed a few Munster games the past few seasons. Coombes has been deployed at TH lock to great effect.
@Lochlainn Garvey:
Coombes might get away with playing 2nd row with Munster but at international level he is not tall enough.
@Lochlainn Garvey: very aware but Munster and Ireland are not the same. Izzy will be next cab off the rank at SR, then prob Ahern. Whatever way you try to shoehorn Coombes into the squad, he is not better than the incumbent no. 8 Doris or backup Conan and def not a better SR than Beirne, Ryan, McCarthy or Izzy, Baird & Ahern
@Lochlainn Garvey: Coombes just doesn’t seem to have it for international rugby… he is a beast for Munster, but the step up just hasn’t suited him to date. He certainly won’t replace any of the current crop of 2nd row forwards and there are 2 or 3 ahead of him for 8 and 5 or 6 ahead of him for blindside. I am not an international coach so I cannot explain why. Leo Cullen suffered the same problem and never broke into Irish teams… Stu McCloskey did too until he came back stronger. Luke McGrath still does a great job for Leinster but will never be good enough for Ireland. Just the way it is sometimes.
@Paul Ennis: yep, the coaches definitely think there’s a missing link, for the life of me I can’t see what it is (as he’s improved his workrate in fitness this year) but I’m not going to suggest I know more than them! I hope he can get a breakthrough and, like McCloskey, show us what he’s really made of.
@Padraig Fallon: Same height as McCarthy (according to Google at least).
@adizlack93: No doubt there’s a lot of competition (lucky us), and the lads ‘ahead’ of him are all class. I think he’s too good and his skill set too unique for an Irish player not to give him a proper crack. Anyway, hoping Easterby trusts some young lads in any event.
@Lochlainn Garvey: Sorry but Coombes is nowhere near international standard for the second row, especially with the others we have in the country. He’s not up to it when it comes to our other backrows either, we have way too much talent there and his one dimensional game is not enough. It’s not a last man standing scrap. If it was, I’d get Seamus from WWF and throw him in at 8.
@Lochlainn Garvey: he’s definitely improved and it’s one of those good problems to have. I think the issue is he’s slow compared to others and doesn’t have the soft hands Doris and Conan would. Absolutely crucial for Munster though but international rugby is a step up and AF has already had a look a few times
@Paul Ennis: yes. In those two games where he was part of a scratch Irish teams. If we’re deciding guys’ test potential based on those opportunities rather than their ability to deliver excellent performances for their provinces week over week, then pretty soon we’ll have nobody fit for the Irish jersey. He has a nearly 50% strike rate for Munster. In fact, looking at the two paltry chances he was given with Ireland, he has a 50% strike rate with them too.
@Brenda Collins: excellent performances week after week? He wasn’t excellent against Leinster at all and that was the last game before saracens so your statement is wrong
Surely Tom Farrell deserves a mention. He has been the best centre in Irish Rugby this season. I know age might come against him but sometimes form has to be rewarded.
@Marc O’ Meara: it’s a shame but I expect age will go against Farrell much as it did for Frisch.
@Brenda Collins: laughable at how ever Munster player should be in the Ireland squad after a few URC performances. He’s been on Connacht for years doing the same thing ..
Gleeson, Coombes, Ahern or Izzy haven’t done enough in recent games to get a call up. Maybe McNabney and even Murphy get a call???
@Noel Lynn: Izzy and Ahern will be called up if I had to bet
@Noel Lynn: fancy Murphy as a bolter
Yep, a scrap. Coombes is big, tough and abrasive in short quarters. All things we have historically lacked when bigger teams have gotten in our faces. Secondly (pun not intended), think you might have missed a few Munster games the past few seasons. Coombes has been deployed at TH lock to great effect.
Jheez the Coombs argument is over. has been fore a while, don’t see Easterby undercutting AF’s preferences and he simply doesn’t see a place for Coombs in the squad. Aherne might get a call as he was due one before and is returning from injury amicably. Ben Murphy would be excellent in the srum half space and is worth developing given his form, that or Doak, Dont think we should be looking at Blade but he might get the nod on experience.