Hold on to your jaws, this isn’t over yet
The injury was one of the most critical in the aftermath of a blood-and-thunder battle in which his boot was worth its weight in gold.
He had to undergo surgery at the weekend and a stabilising plate was inserted around the bone. These are tough men.
In the wider context, however, our national jaws are all in danger of at least minimal displacement (through dropping wide open so often) at the continuing magnificent displays of our provincial sides in the Heineken Cup and elsewhere. The disappointments of the Six Nations campaign have long ago been driven into the shadows by the thrilling triumphs of Leinster, Munster and Connacht over the last couple of weeks. When I think of the long losing decades when the Irish at all levels were ‘gallant in defeat’ it is incredible to think that Munster and Leinster are both in the final shakedown for the final in Paris, and that, given their current lust to win, they could yet go eyeball to eyeball one last time this season because both teams have learned how to rip up form books with skilled hands.
And learned how to win. And even learned how to pull the biggest games out of the fire as Leinster so memorably demonstrated last Friday. We are now in a jaw-dropping place indeed.
I remember that Ronan O’Gara was scarified on the larger island a few seasons ago when he remarked that Irish provincial rugby was now operating at a higher level than its English counterpart; that Irish sides like Munster and Leinster now confidently expected wins against English opposition.
The furore was such that I think there were folk in Ireland who would rather the remark had not been made because of the potential consequences on the fields of play. But the man was 100% correct and the stats prove it.
Ireland won the Grand Slam last year, defeated England again this season, and are now in the situation where they are providing two of the last four standing in the Heineken Cup. And not a vaunted English club in sight. All vanquished along the way. The Saints came to Thomond to win and put up an extremely formidable effort too.
In the end though, on reflection, their defeat was stunning and more comprehensive than many of us felt at the time. Leinster had a hell of a battle with heavyweight Clermont before they achieved their success. But nowadays, for the first time in our lives, I think it is fair to say that the fans expect these great teams to win rather than lose; to seize victory from the jaws of defeat.
It used to be so different in that era of fiery starts and those gallant defeats. Not for these fellows. It is probably true both Irish teams now fear each other more than any other outfit. It certainly should be true for Munster this summer given recent history anyway!
But the achievements of both so far in the Heineken Cup should not be allowed to at all mask the great season which the Cinderella province of Connacht have put in. They reached the semi-final of the Amlin Challenge Cup at The Sportsground when they defeated a seasoned and spirited Bourgoin outfit and accordingly preserved a truly jaw-dropping record for their year.
Who are the only team in Europe with a 100% winning record for the season? Yes it is Connacht.
They had a three-point margin at the close of a thundering game which saw the visitors hold a six point lead going into the last quarter.
But the Connacht which Michael Bradley has fashioned have forgotten how to lose in this their best season. They clawed their way back into the game through patient and determined forward play and a huge will to win.
They were level with six minutes to go in the thriller and pressed hard for the verdict that would see them into the semi-final.
The minutes ticked away until the dramatic final seconds that do things to our jaws.
And was it not Connacht that the legislators almost condemned to death only a few seasons ago. They have ripped up the form book since too. It does not get much better than this in terms of excitement and achievement through three of the four fabled green fields.
The delight on Paul O’Connell’s face in the Thomond stand said it all. He will get to play one more big game at least as he recovers from injury. Sexton will have his stabilising plate unscrewed by May and he hopefully will be in action too. Connacht march on. The swallows are back and the prospects are all good and all so very exciting. Our jaws will all be sore from cheering before it is over.
* Ken Fitzgerald, a proud Leinster supporter, has taken me to task for describing Leinster as Jackeens last week.
He pointed out that the term was both inaccurate as well as demeaning because so many of the Leinster squad come from all over the province and indeed beyond.
* accept his point and apologise fully.
* cormac66@hotmail.com
