Rugby Memories

rockman15 wrote: »

Whats your favourite game you have seen or been to and why?


for me it was the Ireland/ All Blacks game back in 97....my first international....there were people sitting on the edge of the field that day in Lansdowne.....amazing atmosphere not to mention the haka etc...had our asses handed to us that afternoon...

I watched that NZ match in a pub in Brussells - it was the afternoon of the 2nd leg of the 1998 World Cup play off loss v. Belguim

As for enjoyable games Ive seen - on TV it would be either BOD's game in Paris or the first test for the Lions in Australia when BOD scored. Another memorable one would be the championship opener at Murrayfield in 1985. We had a new coach, a substantially new back line, and Hugo McNeill scored a running try practically straight from the kick off. We had been in the doldrums before that match as well and the style in which the win was achieved was unusual for us.

Watching Ireland beat England in Twickenham in 2004. I was sat in my one of my favourite pubs with my girlfriend and one of my best friends. The sun was streaming through the windows. I had a frosty pint and I couldn't believe what I was watching. When I lest the pub on that sunny Spring day, all seemed right with the world.
Also watching my school lose the cup yet again in the Sportsgrounds in Galway. It was a crap result, but the whole day sticks with me. Happy memories.

2006 HC semi Leinster vs. Munster, and drowning my sorrows while my girlfriend at the time, a munster girl, rubbed it in to the max.

Never said they had to be good rugby memories

2004 HC quarter final - first match when i started going to them a lot.

that 2000 Ba-ba's game - fantastic.

This year Barbarians vs. SA, definitely one I think will go down in my memory as just fantastic.

Actually I remember that argentina game vividly - I was in the pub with my brother and dad to watch it, and felt sick by the end of it

There are so many but here are some that spring to mind...

Intl - Simon Geoghegan's try against England in 1994. Irish rugby was not in a nice place at that particular time but this guy was a shining light.

Provincial - has to be Munster's win over Biarritz in 2006. What a day.

Club - Barnhall gaining promotion to AIL Div 4 and joining the senior ranks back in 1998. Things not going too well at the moment unfortunately.

think i cried when we lost to Argentina in 99.

Best memory was watching BOD score in the first Lions test in 2001.
Worst was losing to Oz in the Third test and getting nothing but bad natured abuse from the **** in the stands of Stadium Australia

My favourites would probably be the Munster/Leinster Heineken semi-final from 06 and the final of that year along with Ireland v Australia from 06.

So many memories to choose from, it's hard to choose one....

Watching Ireland score 10 tries against Romania in 86 when I was 11.

Samoa in 88....my first drink (standing in the schoolboy section of the south terrace drinking peach schnapps from a hip flask an older lad from school brought).

Mick Galwey crossing the line (with tony underwood hanging off him) to score in Lasdowne in 93.

The 2nd test in SA in 97.

Being at the argentina game in Lens in 99......Not a good memory.

BODs hat trick against France in paris.

Having north terrace tickets for the All Blacks game in 05 and not being able to go because of the IRFU closing it after the fire underneath it :mad:


New Years Eve 06 for the last game in Lansdowne.

Probably my favourite memory though is meeting Willie John McBride at a cousins wedding about 10 years ago. I asked him for his autograph and by the end of the night there was about 40 lads standing around him as he told the story of the "99 call" on the 74 lions tour.

(it took me nearly an hour to write this as kept remembering games to add)

Was at the NZ Ireland match as well in 97, had them on the run as usual by half time (I remember Merhtens saying they thought they were going to lose).

Maybe this is an inappropriate place to don the Golden Anorak, but I'm afraid some people have false memories. For example:

Imhof Tank wrote: »

Another memorable one would be the championship opener at Murrayfield in 1985. We had a new coach, a substantially new back line, and Hugo McNeill scored a running try practically straight from the kick off.

No he didn't. He nearly did but you get no points for nearly scoring a try.

and

Toomevara wrote:

Campese's last minute try in the 91 world cup at Lansdowne

It wasn't Campese. It was Lynagh. The bastard!

My own memorable moments would have to start back in 1973. Ireland v New Zealand. Ireland come back from seven points down in the last few minutes to score first a penalty and then a great kick and chase try by Tom Grace in the corner to level the scores.

I was standing on the Havelock Square terrace right behind the goal as Barry McGann, surely the fattest back ever to play for Ireland, lined up the conversion from the touchline and missed it by a whisker. We were that close to beating New Zealand for the first time ever. We haven't been as close since.

Mind you we gave them a good game in 2001. Fantastic atmosphere at Lansdowne Rd that day when it looked for a while as if we could take them.

Also thumping Wales 21-7 in 1980, first win over them for ten years.

Geoghegan's match in Twickenham in 1994. I was there for that.

O'Driscoll's match in Stade de France in 200. There for that one two.

But none could top the record-breaking victory over England in Croker last year. Magical occasion, magical result and some bloody good play too.

First international game I remember being at was Ireland v OZ 84 when Ella's ozzies beat us on their grandslam tour

Best international game I was at- Lions 1st test in Brisbane 2001 and BOD try nearly missed as was queing at the bar at half time

Other favs I have been too
Many V england 1993 after eng whopped Scotland mrs underwood was jumping on top of her seat, no greater pleasure then seeing Galway milling through Tony underwood, 2001 wood scored- stringer hand trip.

Ireland beating BOKs after white saying no irish players would make the team!!

Worst international - lots in 80s/90s remember Harlequeens coach debut for england he scored 2/3 tries they mullered us :mad:
Ireland being whopped by Western Samoa in a half empty lansdowne road and Tuigamala running riot

Best Provincial game- 14 man leinster showing backbone to beat Munster in Magners final

Best/Worst club game- Marys V Young Munster AIL final when it meant something, it had it all a full Lansdowne road will it ever be repeated for a club game - don't think so. Great close game too - Ger earls intercepting Nicky barry should have taken him down. Peno to win match for marys coming back off post

Pinetree Boy wrote: »

This must be a young board. Thought there would be some Munster fans mentioning 1978. Rematch scheduled for this year.

Well I was around then. What event are you talking about?

çrash_000 wrote: »

Was that Holwell's last match? When Stringer diving got him sent off in his final match?

nope the 14 man match was when miller kicked foley between the legs in the celtic league final in 2001/2002 season.

Howalls last match was only a couple years back.

Oh I remember the previous one now, aye.

Luckycharm wrote: »

.


Best Provincial game- 14 man leinster showing backbone to beat Munster in Magners final
(

They had 13 at a time also !!

My fave memory is the 5 minutes after ROG kicked the penalty just before Clerc scored in Croker....I have a video clip of me and the excitement as I KNEW we were going to win the Grand Slam !! Those 5 odd minutes were the best! The rest of teh week THE WORST !!

2nd best was 2002 Landsdowne, Irl Vs Eng. Eng playing the last game of seaon for the GS and it was the 3rd season in a row they were in this situation, previously losing at the death to the Scots and Wales.

This time round Keith Wood was instrumental in beating them, class memories of the schoolboys stand jearing English fans as they left and best of all........

............Martin Johnosn receiving the Championship Trophy from El Pres with a massive scowl, like it was the wooden spoon ( cos they still actually won the 6N but lost the GS and the game on the day )

The next year they pulled it together, won the GS and then the world cup ! But then we beat them 1st game after RWC in Twickers...another great memory

This thread is fun !