Joe Schmidt must put quick end to French renaissance
It’s hard to believe 10 years have passed since the French spoiled the big Irish party on the occasion of our first ever rugby international at Croke Park. If John Hayes’s tears became the defining symbol of that historic clash against England two weeks later, Vincent Clerc remains the enfant terrible from that opening game.
Hayes harbours treasured memories of his role in the annihilation of England on that landmark occasion, a decade ago next Saturday, as it happens. However the Bruff stalwart must harbour nightmares at finding himself abandoned in midfield in the dying moments of Irish rugby’s debut outing at GAA headquarters. It may be lonely around the fields of Athenry but, for a prop forward, it’s utter isolation when left stranded in open space, in a mismatch against a fleet footed winger.
