Whilst most of our Welsh friends the week before forecasted Ireland to win by 10 points. You have to admire the fire that burns deep in  the Scottish bellies.

The wonderful Scottish character in the middle of the montage, when asked for his feelings about the game, before the game, during a video interview, proudly announced his mobile number on camera and asked ‘Dublin Girls to call him without delay.’

As the last game of international rugby in Croke Park (The Hidden Jewel In Ireland’s Crown) drew to a close a couple of kilted Scottish fans told me what a privilege it was to visit Croke Park as it was a ‘sacred venue’  – a rare and never to happen again event , unless they came back to watch some Gaelic Games – Ireland’s national sport.

A touching moment of sportsmanship was shared with me by one of Ireland’s great out-halves, Ollie Campbell.  He told me that after the game, the Irish,  fly-half who struggled with his kicking and who was subsequently  substituted, Johnny Sexton, went into the Scottish dressing room  and gave his precious Irish shirt (he has only a handful of caps) to his opposite number, Dan Parks. When Parks offered his Scottish shirt in return, Sexton thanked him but refused as he felt that since Parks had won the  ‘Man Of The Match’ award  it was therefore a special game for him and he should keep his shirt in memory of  his outstanding performance.  This was from a young man who had just lost the chance of achieving one of his dreams – winning  his first Triple Crown.  Our dream was over but, like Johnny Sexton, we’ll rise again.

…to be held in hidden jewel in the crown which the rest of the rest of the world never knew about, the GAA’s wonderful Croke Park. And once again, our Welsh friends shone. They came in droves. Thousands of red shirts worn proudly and distant Welsh voices singing beautifully in pubs across Dublin. How come the Welsh are such great singers? If anyone knows, please inform me. Even the biggest ugliest, most savage prop forwards quietly, yet proudly, stand up and sing beautifully when called upon. Ireland won and the Welsh celebrated with us. Irish captain, Brian O’Driscoll won his 100th cap.

Their final game before moving back to the world’s oldest international rugby venue, Lansdowne Road. A really sizzling new stadium, in the same old location, opens in the Autumn. But meanwhile, we’ve got one more trip to ‘Croker’ to see Ireland take on the Scots and maybe win a Triple Crown. A great day of sportsmanship is coming as Irish men, women and children cheer on auld England to beat France on Saturday to give Ireland a chance of winning the 6 Nations Championship outright.

Munster made history when they beat the mighty All Blacks by, what was in those days, an emphatic beating, 12-0.

Moments after the final whistle was blown, Donal Caniffe, the Munster captain, heard the news that his father had died suddenly . He left the stadium immediately. When the New Zealand Maoris heard the news they did a ritual prayer tribute in their dressing room and were joined by the non Maori team members as a tribute to Mr. Caniffe’s memory.

Do you know of any stories like this, where honour, nobility and humility take over from human dejection and despair which is sometimes suffered by losing a big match?

Another sportsmanship story from that famous 1978 game – All Blacks Snow Whites ‘Go On The Lash’.

Yet another sportsmanship story from the rich heritage of Munster v All Blacks games – ‘you could hear a dog bark’. 

score more points than the Springboks over the three test matches – sorry Springbok fans – I can’t resist the stats. Fantastic series and congrats to the Springboks on winning it overall. In fact, it was great to see the Lions applauding the fantastic Springbok captain John Smit as he  lifted the trophy.  The end of a great tour and very fond memories of a great sporting nation, South Africa (I’ve got to come back for the World Cup if  Ireland qualify!).

I caught the Emerging Springboks game in Capetown and witnessed one of the finest conversions ever kicked in the dying moments to give the youngish Springboks a draw. Then I witnessed another killer kick in the Second Test in Pretoria – again the last kick of the game to give the Springboks the series.  The Lions played magnificently but didn’t get the result. However what thrilled me were the Springbok fans who applauded every Lions try, and converted kicks. I am constantly amazed at the generosity of their hospitality – they can’t do enough for us. A great country – I’m coming back (if Ireland qualify for the  World Cup 2010)!

It was, in fact, more than a moment, it was several minutes. When the new Irish anthem was sung, I heard Welsh people sing it with great gusto. When I looked around me, I saw every man, woman and child (all dressed in red shirts) singing the Irish song along with the Irish. It felt fantastic. And then came the Welsh National Anthem, The Land Of My Fathers. I’ve been in both the new Millennium Stadium and the Old Cardiff Arms Park and heard the Welsh sing their song with great pride many times before. This time, however, it seemed louder and even more passionate – if that’s possible.

The Welsh wanted a big win to secure the 6 Nations Championship (and a Triple Crown by beating England, Scotland and Ireland). The Irish were attempting to win three titles: The Triple Crown , the 6 Nations Championship (having already beaten France & Italy) and an illusive Grand Slam (beating everyone). Illusive because we’ve only done it once, way back in 1948.

Ireland won 17-15 by a last minute drop goal from Ronan O’Gara in what was a fantastic game of rugby. Afterwards  I was really taken by the hundreds of Welsh fans that came over and congratulated us. I love the Welsh, their passion, their singing, their stadium, their city, their rugby and most of all, their sportsmanship.

I was in Cork visiting Marian Ormond the widow of Dennis to whom the book is dedicated. As I left she handed me a newspaper article which recorded a recent lunch time chat from some of the famous Munster 1978 side, one of whom is the flying winger and personal friend of the Ormond family, Jim Bowen. More than 30 years later, he revealed a sportsmanship moment I never heard of before.

The all conquering 1978 All Blacks became the first New Zealand rugby team to win a Grand Slam by beating Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales. Their only defeat on that tour came against Munster. It remains to this day, the only time any Irish rugby team actually beat the mighty All Blacks. Graham Mourie’s All Blacks seemed invincible, until they stepped into a jam packed Thomond Park and met the mighty Munster men.

Wing forward Christy Cantillon scored a try and fly half Tony Ward kicked 8 points to register the Province’s 12-0 win over the world’s best. They even wrote a play about it called Alone It Stands, which has played to packed houses all over Ireland and overseas.

The All Blacks were fast, skilled, strong and very aggressive. Losing is not in their psychy. They play hard and fast. They play to win. And they do win. In the Northern Hemisphere, they are regarded as the best team in the world, regardless of who wins the World Cup. And on that tour they beat everyone (except Munster). Losing is not entertained. Munster winger, Jim Bowen recalls :”They were very gracious, although not initially. Certainly that night at the dinner they (All Blacks) came into dinner on their knees, linking each other, singing Hi, Ho…They were good characters.” Despite being the best in the world, they took defeat with dignity and good humour.

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Editor’s note: The Munster captain, Donal Caniffe was born in the general Hospital in Westmeath (Leinster) but the family were living in Dromod, Co. Leitrim (Connaught) and in his own words: “I’m claiming Leinster, Connacht and Munster lineage.”

The Irish Times 15 Nov 2008

To listen to the Irish  Radio interview click on the play button (arrow button) below:

Or if you prefer click the link below to download the mp3 file:

RTE-Radio-1

Pass this link to a friend.

This is an excerpt from an extraordinarily well written piece by a Kiwi, Martin Moodie, whose article captures the greatness of sportsmanship as demonstrated by the Munster fans. As the late, great Jack O’Donnell from St. Louis Missouri used to say “read this and cry”.