Legendary status of Thomond Park helps ease the pain of defeat

WHEN the pain of disappointment eases it may be possible for Irish rugby supporters to see that last Saturday’s ferociously-contested match between the habitual English champions, Leicester, and the European champions, Munster, will add to and not diminish the legendary status of Thomond Park.

From the reaction of the Leicester team at the end, it was evident this was for them like Munster defeating the All Blacks in 1978. That is what Thomond Park now means. And just as Munster could not have won that famous match in 1978 without a Leinster genius from St Mary’s, so the English could not have won Saturday’s match without three Leinster stalwarts (Blackrock, Mary’s, Newbridge) and the Ulster out-half Ian Humphreys at No10, together with Argentinian and Samoan support.

Such is the present state of European rugby, and I hope we do not come to rely increasingly on foreign players. Munster has reminded us that rugby is essentially about loyalty, friendship and local ties. It is also about sportsmanship. Thus there is silence during kicks at goal (a factor that adds immensely to the intensity and excitement of matches). My abiding memory of the match was the sportsmanship of Donncha O’Callaghan when he clapped the Leicester players as he made his way through their line to the dressing room at the end.