Column to make an Englishman proud

I WRITE with profound gratitude for the generous and fair-minded column by Matt Cooper (October 19) on the subject of Irish support for England against South Africa in the World Cup Final.

As a churlish Englishman, may I add two corrections of detail in his excellent piece.

I was in the East Stand in Lansdowne Road in 1972 when the generous French paid us a return visit after their 14-9 beating in Paris on February 29 that year. Their reward was another beating. I still recall the ball nestling on the ground from a wonderful Barry McGann Garryowen as a prelude to Ireland’s first try. It was England’s turn to come in 1973 with an Old Monmouthian, Tony Jorden, at full-back, and David Duckham on the wing.