The Great Day
By JohnA April 27 2008
Whatever else happens today, we're well set for a fine LISC Car Park party. It's April blue skies and sunshine – fitting indeed for a very proud day. The last time the traveling Armitage family woke in London, we were ankle deep in snow – and that was just 3 weeks ago.
Whatever else happens today, we're well set for a fine LISC Car Park party. It's April blue skies and sunshine – fitting indeed for a very proud day. The last time the traveling Armitage family woke in London, we were ankle deep in snow – and that was just 3 weeks ago.
Steffon was up early with the usual apology for not quite having managed to fill the kitchen with anything remotely like breakfast material. Scrambled eggs and smoked salmon? Not this time. Worryingly, he is still chattering about a 'famous drop goal'. I thought we had laid this one to rest over the previous night's pasta. I suspect he's only half joking. Still, it seemed wise to make it clear that we hadn't driven up from Devon to get horribly embarrassed.
Steffon re-appears in a new playing under-vest looking like a Scuba Steve. For some reason, there is also a cap which seems to have small ears - Steffon is now Batman. Who dreams up this stuff? Bring back the jock strap. Or maybe not.
At this point, we should add something about wounded French Aristocrats and our motley band of pretenders, Never mind all that, we know that there is talent and guts enough on both sides to swing it either way. Can Bob Casey's crew cut it? Will there be a caravan party tonight? Never mind St Patrick's Day, this is serious stuff.
Midday, time to hit the road - still no sign of snow.
+-+-+
So, here we go. It's never going to be easy - watching the boy our there and taking a few snaps. Then I remember, it's the annual 'John A' report. Damn it, where's that pad?
Well, never mind the notepad, you can read the match details elsewhere. For me, this was a glorious performance by our boys. We played our game, we fought, we scored two great tries. We matched the 'Kings of Europe' in every respect except one. We lost because our last ditch defense did not quite match the magnificent effort put in by Toulouse when needed most. That's what makes Kings – defending the line. We were close but not quite close enough – yet.
It was such a pleasure to watch Irish throw the ball around with such purpose – coming so close to scoring in the first two minutes. The defense was magnificent. Terriers, one and all, forcing the Aristocrats to force their game and fail. To pick just one, Peter Richards was heroic in bringing down Jauzion – how big is he?
The much hyped Irish line-out won some but also lost a few. (Nick Kennedy and Toby Booth were still to be seen on the pitch some 15 minutes after final whistle deep in analysis)
Peter Hewat's clearances were long and accurate but, crucially, dealt with by quick throws and the legendary Toulouse counter-attack. Today, it fed the Toulouse appetite where it had previously broken Perpignan hearts.
An early exchange of penalties was followed by the first of several Topsy break-outs as he sped, span and escaped for the first try of the match. The two London Irish danger men, on each flank, were to prove a menace to Toulouse throughout the match.
We approached half-time with a 10-3 lead until the 33rd minute when the pressure finally outflanked the defense with a try to the 13 'Difficult Name' -ok then, Ahotaeiloa, if you insist. Clearly inspired, Toulouse started to throw the ball around in ominous style to bring an attacking line-out on 5m. The power of the Toulouse pack was duly converted into points to take Toulouse into a 10-15 lead at half-time.
If the first half had been frenetic, it was clear that Irish needed a repeat of their first half start to take back the initiative to stop Toulouse running off with the match.
So it was on 43 minutes that quick passing across the halfway line led to Losi slipping the tackle and he was away ... and gone – real time SloMo, Is it really happening?
Yes, it is.15-15.
Thus continued a match of attack and counter – both sides equally dangerous but the Kings of Europe edging ahead with two penalties.
15-21
In the 32nd minute came the big Irish challenge that was ultimately to decide the game. As Shane broke clear into the Toulouse 22m, it seemed that a pass to his right would put away the try. Against most sides, this would have surely have been true but this was Toulouse.
Toulouse tracked back fantastically quickly to break down the immediate threat and then maintained a quite outstanding defensive wall against everything Irish had to throw at them – quite enough to break all but the best.
So it was that the defense of the Kings of Europe kept out the valiant Irish attack to deny the match winner – just as the Irish defense had just fallen short at the close of the first half.
15-21 Final Score
Yes, we lost but really there was be Glory in Defeat.
And London Irish have gained all the more respect for that.
+-+-+
So, what now?
Well, we've had quite an adventure. Do we call it a failure if we don't qualify for the Heineken Cup next year? No, of course not. We've always known we have have a team that can beat anyone on its day - and we so nearly did today. I guess we need to work out why we fell short in a few too many Premiership games. If we spend a year building for the next adventure while we mount a domestic challenge, then so be it. There's more to come yet.
+-+-+
Let me close with a mention of our friend Oxon Rob - blessed with the wisdom of a fine man and the enthusiasm of a wide eyed boy. How Rob would have loved to have seen the Great Day. How he would have enjoyed the battling performance of the motley band that is London Irish.
And how Rob would be looking forward to more ....
Steffon re-appears in a new playing under-vest looking like a Scuba Steve. For some reason, there is also a cap which seems to have small ears - Steffon is now Batman. Who dreams up this stuff? Bring back the jock strap. Or maybe not.
At this point, we should add something about wounded French Aristocrats and our motley band of pretenders, Never mind all that, we know that there is talent and guts enough on both sides to swing it either way. Can Bob Casey's crew cut it? Will there be a caravan party tonight? Never mind St Patrick's Day, this is serious stuff.
Midday, time to hit the road - still no sign of snow.
+-+-+
So, here we go. It's never going to be easy - watching the boy our there and taking a few snaps. Then I remember, it's the annual 'John A' report. Damn it, where's that pad?
Well, never mind the notepad, you can read the match details elsewhere. For me, this was a glorious performance by our boys. We played our game, we fought, we scored two great tries. We matched the 'Kings of Europe' in every respect except one. We lost because our last ditch defense did not quite match the magnificent effort put in by Toulouse when needed most. That's what makes Kings – defending the line. We were close but not quite close enough – yet.
It was such a pleasure to watch Irish throw the ball around with such purpose – coming so close to scoring in the first two minutes. The defense was magnificent. Terriers, one and all, forcing the Aristocrats to force their game and fail. To pick just one, Peter Richards was heroic in bringing down Jauzion – how big is he?
The much hyped Irish line-out won some but also lost a few. (Nick Kennedy and Toby Booth were still to be seen on the pitch some 15 minutes after final whistle deep in analysis)
Peter Hewat's clearances were long and accurate but, crucially, dealt with by quick throws and the legendary Toulouse counter-attack. Today, it fed the Toulouse appetite where it had previously broken Perpignan hearts.
An early exchange of penalties was followed by the first of several Topsy break-outs as he sped, span and escaped for the first try of the match. The two London Irish danger men, on each flank, were to prove a menace to Toulouse throughout the match.
We approached half-time with a 10-3 lead until the 33rd minute when the pressure finally outflanked the defense with a try to the 13 'Difficult Name' -ok then, Ahotaeiloa, if you insist. Clearly inspired, Toulouse started to throw the ball around in ominous style to bring an attacking line-out on 5m. The power of the Toulouse pack was duly converted into points to take Toulouse into a 10-15 lead at half-time.
If the first half had been frenetic, it was clear that Irish needed a repeat of their first half start to take back the initiative to stop Toulouse running off with the match.
So it was on 43 minutes that quick passing across the halfway line led to Losi slipping the tackle and he was away ... and gone – real time SloMo, Is it really happening?
Yes, it is.15-15.
Thus continued a match of attack and counter – both sides equally dangerous but the Kings of Europe edging ahead with two penalties.
15-21
In the 32nd minute came the big Irish challenge that was ultimately to decide the game. As Shane broke clear into the Toulouse 22m, it seemed that a pass to his right would put away the try. Against most sides, this would have surely have been true but this was Toulouse.
Toulouse tracked back fantastically quickly to break down the immediate threat and then maintained a quite outstanding defensive wall against everything Irish had to throw at them – quite enough to break all but the best.
So it was that the defense of the Kings of Europe kept out the valiant Irish attack to deny the match winner – just as the Irish defense had just fallen short at the close of the first half.
15-21 Final Score
Yes, we lost but really there was be Glory in Defeat.
And London Irish have gained all the more respect for that.
+-+-+
So, what now?
Well, we've had quite an adventure. Do we call it a failure if we don't qualify for the Heineken Cup next year? No, of course not. We've always known we have have a team that can beat anyone on its day - and we so nearly did today. I guess we need to work out why we fell short in a few too many Premiership games. If we spend a year building for the next adventure while we mount a domestic challenge, then so be it. There's more to come yet.
+-+-+
Let me close with a mention of our friend Oxon Rob - blessed with the wisdom of a fine man and the enthusiasm of a wide eyed boy. How Rob would have loved to have seen the Great Day. How he would have enjoyed the battling performance of the motley band that is London Irish.
And how Rob would be looking forward to more ....
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