Midfield magic offers hope of redemption

WHEN France winger Vincent Clerc scored in the dying moments in Croke Park last Sunday I couldn’t help but recall the moment Michael Lynagh scored in the Wanderers corner in the last minute of Ireland’s World Cup quarter-final against Australia in 1991. The nightmare returned.

In circumstances not dissimilar to Sunday, Australia responded to a great Ireland try by Gordon Hamilton to regroup and retrieve victory from the jaws of defeat and go on to win the tournament.

It is a horrible way to lose a game. However, due credit must go to the French. Having just endured the heartbreak of seeing a drop goal from replacement out-half Lionel Beauxis come back off the post, they survived a further hammer blow when Ronan O’Gara converted his last penalty moments later to stretch Ireland’s lead to four.