How rugby is countering the effects of Big R

STILL searching for those green shoots of recovery the economists have promised? Be alert, then, as the cameras pan out into the stands at the Stade de France tonight.

Thousands of Irish supporters have followed the Grand Slam champions to Paris, with some tour operators reporting a busy trade in all things involving the oval code in 2010. Could it be that the small ‘r’ is helping us overcome the Big R?

Sean Skehan of Killester Travel has 800 fans paying up to €525 each for the privilege of shouting on Brian O’Driscoll and company in Saint Denis today. “The numbers in France is the same as we had on our last Six Nations game there in 2008. The money is there from fans, so you could say these are green shoots of recovery.”