Overall, France deserved to win, they were much the better team in the first half but missed a few penalties and also hit the post from the drop goal attempt in the second. Ireland fell asleep in the last minute and that kill them. Also, O'Gara's kicking for touch was not that great all day plus the non penalty in the second half when Horgan was pulled back might have won it for Ireland. Still it was a great match to watch, very tense throughout.
Whichever team lost would have had valid reasons to feel hard done by. I had a horrible feeling that the non-foul that prevented a try would come back to haunt us
That sucked. People in pub were still celebrating and the replay was still going on and it flicks back and France score.
France dominated possession in the 1st half. They are not excellent, but they do enough to win. Ireland had some flashes of brilliance, but it just wasn't enough. I wonder how much do you think the Irish missed O'Driscoll? I bet he was in agony watching that match. ENG vs. IRE and ENG vs. FRA will be the best remaining fixtures.
What a first half....wet surface helping Ireland for sure. The French ref is shite but the scoreline isn't. I'm not too fond of Rugby but it'd kill me for England to leave Croke Park with a result.
ire 43 - 13 eng nearly over.... a great win today in a historic game at croke park. by a 30 point margin no less
What a great match. Good to see the anthems being respected too, and for Wilkinson's first kick. Did anyone else notice Hayes and Flannery in tears during Amhrán na bhFiann? O'Gara and O'Driscoll didn't look like they were far off either.
I'm stunned that Ireland beat the PISS out of England! I mean that was a right good thrashing. Still think that France is going to take it. They have the lead and I just don't see them losing it.
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/rugby/international/article2360836.ece "Assuming France defeat Scotland in Paris, Ireland will have to beat Italy by five points more ... to clinch their first championship title since 1985."
Ireland 51 - 24 Italy France have to beat Scotland by 24 points to win the Six Nations and its currently 20-14 to France at halftime.
http://www.rte.ie/sport/2007/0317/irelandrugby.html http://www.rte.ie/sport/2007/0317/france.html In GAA news: "All-square in football final" "the All-Ireland Senior Club Football Final will take a replay to separate the finalists - for the first time since 1993. An extremely competitive game of football at Croke Park saw today's final end in a 1-09 to 1-09 stalemate between Crossmaglen, the Ulster champions, and Kerry and Munster kingpins Dr Crokes. ... "replay ... in O'Moore Park, Portlaoise, on 1 April" Armagh abu! Up Cross! http://www.crossrangers.com/morenews.asp?id=166
Well, I posted the rugby links first! Since there's no GAA thread in the NSR sub-forum, I posted here instead of starting a thread. Get over it.