- Alastair Eykyn
- 22 Sep 07, 08:39 PM
Paris - What hope an Irish miracle? The faces of the players as they wandered through the interview area in the bowels of the Stade de France on Friday told a story.
For them, the French match was THE one. has all but condemned them to an early exit, and don鈥檛 they know it.
A pall of hangs over the squad, despite the defiant mutterings of the captain and coach. Barring an astonishing turn of events next Sunday, the golden generation have missed the boat.
Continue reading "Where are you, Brian O'Driscoll?"
- Bryn Palmer
- 22 Sep 07, 07:38 PM
Nantes - So , like , survived what the hosts billed as another match couperet in this World Cup 鈥 couperet being the blade of the guillotine.
One notoriously dangerous Pacific Island opponent overcome; another, increasingly bullish, one awaits at the Parc des Princes on Friday.
The would suggest the world champions were twice as good as Samoa, but that is misleading in the extreme.
Continue reading "One Pacific Island opponent down, one to go"
- Bryn Palmer
- 22 Sep 07, 05:27 PM
Nantes - I was at the Stade de la Beaujoire on Saturday as England survived another scare against Samoa before .
Here鈥檚 how I rated each individual England player鈥檚 performance. See whether you agree and give us your own thoughts.
Continue reading "England ratings v Samoa"
- Tom Fordyce
- 22 Sep 07, 10:49 AM
Aix-en-Provence, early on Saturday morning - I鈥檓 not sure which was the louder noise - the yells of joy in the cobbled streets last night as the celebrating citizens of Aix watched , or the two hours of hacking coughs that Dirsy produced around the 3am mark.
Continue reading "Things that go bump in the night"
- Bryn Palmer
- 22 Sep 07, 01:38 AM
Paris - From the 鈥scenario catastrophe鈥 of their , the cathartic effects of a comfortable and critical victory enveloped France on Friday night.
Given the enormity of what was at stake, the relief of a nation - and perhaps many neutrals who feared for this World Cup鈥檚 health without its hosts - was palpable.
Continue reading "Relieved hosts leave Irish in a stew"
