Best match of the season just gone?

Persiancowboy

Well the rugby season has finally ended and what a season it has been for Irish rugby. There are so many stand-out moments and matches so what's your favourite?

Given all that has happened during the season I will go for that amazing night in Thomond Park where Munster almost pulled off the unbelievable double against the All Blacks. Having been lucky enough as a 16 year-old to attend the original match in Thomond this one surpassed it for sheer excitement and a full 80 minutes of high class and high tempo rugby and the two renditions of the Haka. A truely wonderful and unforgettable match and occasion.

Riskymove

+1

it was the most amazing rugby atmosphere I have ever experienced

thomond2006

Munster vs NZ followed by the 2nd Lions test.

Munster vs Clermont at Thomond Park deserves an honourable mention too, when we scored 2 tries at the death to win.

Zzippy

Beating Munster and Leinster in Galway was sweet
But I'd probably go for the Munster-ABs challenge match, as a spectacle it was a great game to watch with a fantastic atmosphere

[Jackass]

Munster v New Zealand was historic and one of those days people wont ever forget, unlucky not to win it, but great game. Probably the occassion and game of the season from an Irish point of view.

From a personal point of view...Wales in Cardiff....had it all, the highs, the lows, the tenstion, the drama, and then of course....the 50 odd years of hurt being wiped away in a sensation of uphoria and relief.

Also, the Leinster v Munster game in Croke Park...such an amazing occasion for Irish Rugby and one of the best atmospheres to go to as a fan! Days like that don't come along too often, but when they do, they're one's to savore. Bragging rights went to Leinster this time, but also, in the interest of the game here (and I know I'm bias) I think it was important that Leinster not only won that game but also won the trophy, it really puts us on the map, along with the grand slam, to not only have Ulster with a crown or one European power house like Munster, but to have Leinster finally fullfilling their potential and having 3 Irish European Champions (more than the amount of French teams that have won it), holding 4 trophies (the same amount the French have won, just one shy of the amount the English have won), is some achievement!

gcgirl

Munster v New Zealand was one hell of a game !
Then the Grand Slam decider in Millennium stadium !

funky penguin

1. Grand Slam Victory... I can still remember the feeling of sickness in the stomach, then the utter joy as Jones' ball just went under! What a day for Irish rugby.

2. Leinster V Munster in Croke Park. Wow. Revenge has never been sweeter, and teh cherry on the top was sitting in between two Munster supporters! But as Jackass said, it really was important for Leinster to win it, and the cup. Not just for irish rugby, but mainly for the club.

3. All Blacks V Munster. I've never in my whole life shouted as hard for Munster to win. What a game this was, from the emotional high of seeing the Munster haka to the utter heart break of Joe Rockokokokokoko. It was so close, and a fascinating game of rugby.

d'Oracle

Im gonna go with AB's V Munsters.

Off the ball have a recording of the NZ commentary on the last 5 min on the website.
Its cool to hear how utterly blown away by the fans the Commentators are.
(co-commentator was Conrad Smith, I think)

Micky Dolenz

Wow, what a fantastic season, we really are spoilt for choice. It's hard to pick just one game, when there were more than a few big big games.

I'd go along with funky penguin's selections and add the Ireland V France game. Too hard to choose a top one.

keano_afc

Grand Slam decider for me. I've never gone through so many emotions in one game. I watched Jones' kick and thought it was over all the way. Was too busy celebrating to see Murphy boot it out of play. Lost my voice for a day after, but what a feeling.

EdgarAllenPoo

d'Oracle wrote: »

Im gonna go with AB's V Munsters.

Off the ball have a recording of the NZ commentary on the last 5 min on the website.
Its cool to hear how utterly blown away by the fans the Commentators are.
(co-commentator was Conrad Smith, I think)

I've a copy of the whole thing with the NZ commentary, they just couldn't get over how the crowd reacted during the match, seemed to pay more attention to that than the actual match.

Leslie91

1. Munster v New Zealand in Thomond.
2. Ireland A v England Saxons in Denver.
3. 2nd Test SA V Lions in Pretoria.

Deedsie

Ireland beating Wales for the Grand Slam. No question.

Gijoe

Agree with all of the above. We've had loads of games from an Irish perspective to choose from this year.

2 games that I really enjoyed even though I had no interest in really were the 2 games between Harlequins and Stade Francais in the Heineken Cup. Was great stuff to watch.

thomond2006

d'Oracle wrote: »

Off the ball have a recording of the NZ commentary on the last 5 min on the website.
Its cool to hear how utterly blown away by the fans the Commentators are.
(co-commentator was Conrad Smith, I think)

Have you a link d'Oracle?

Stev_o

In terms of the quaility of rugby the two best matches that spring to mind were Glasgow and Bath at the Rec, exhibition stuff just beyond brilliant, and Glasgow away to Toulouse again lovely rugby.

Special mention to Leicester vs Cardiff in the semi final that had it all.


Other then that i struggle to think of many other games (bar all 3 Lions test) were the quaility of rugby on show was high and entertaining.

I prefer to seperate the sentimental moments were the rugby on show was actually nothing awe inspiring but the hearts were worn on sleeves to the games where true footballing skill was shown by both sides.

Gasglow vs Toulouse

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeLQb8x20UI

d'Oracle

thomond2006 wrote: »

Have you a link d'Oracle?

http://newstalk.ie/newstalk/off-the-ball/downloads.html

Its about halfway down on the right.
Some good stuff on that.

Depp

Ireland V.S. All Blacks in Croke Park, atmosphere was amazing

thomond2006

Depp wrote: »

Ireland V.S. All Blacks in Croke Park, atmosphere was amazing

Match was poor though, Ireland never fired a shot that day.

subfreq

Leinster v Munster (Croke Park) Probably best atmos at a club game I have ever been to.

Stade France v Harlequins

Wales v Ireland - Epic day where I though my heart would fail several times

siltirocker

As regards entertainment, Ireland v France and Stade France v Harlequins. Have to be top. As regards spectacular. Grand Slam, Munster v ABs kicked ass!

anonymous_joe

Hmmm.

Leinster Munster game was unreal.

Heineken Cup final - not an amazing match, but utterly engrossing, and terrifying.

Welsh game - emotionally anyway

Best international game for me though was the French game, France played some magnificent rugby, and Ireland's defence coupled with uncharacteristicly cold ruthlessness made for one of the best games I can remember.

buck65

Munster vs All Blacks - no question for me.

Paparazzo

1. Leinster V Munster at Croker
2. Wales Ireland for the grand slam.
3. Heineken Cup Final

ALH-06

Paparazzo wrote: »

1. Leinster V Munster at Croker
2. Wales Ireland for the grand slam.
3. Heineken Cup Final

Agreed. With Ireland v France coming in at 4.

Tim Robbins

1. Leinster V Munster
2. Leinster V Leicester
3. Leinster V Scarlets
4. Munster V Ospreys
5. Ireland A V Saxons.

Ireland V France had some green shoots that Kidney would let players pass the ball and run, but when I watched it again it was a bit boring.

The worst game of the season was probably Ireland V Argentina, the amount of kicking in that made William Web Ellis turn in his grave. The J4 game I did in the morning was far a better match. Dito the English match.

OldJay

Best game involving an Irish side club, provincial or international was the Ireland win over France, by a country mile. It had everything physically and psychologically to pave the way to Cardiff on March 21st.
Everything else pales in comparison for me. I think because of the structure of the season (provincial finishing after the internationals) people tend to overlook the hugeness of the lads winning the 6N. The pinnacle team in the country won their pinnacle comp outside the RWC.

Diabhal Beag

How can anybody even look past the Grandslam decider. The match was amazing and nerve-wracking.

The match was decided by the shortest of distances and if you ever want to introduce somebody to rugby just show them the last 2 minutes of that match.

Munster -v- All Blacks B was pretty great too

Tim Robbins

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

How can anybody even look past the Grandslam decider. The match was amazing and nerve-wracking.

I think we were lucky to win that one.

Sangre

Leinster v Munster without a doubt.

Was down at the Kinsales 7s watching it in a marquee with hundreds of others people absolutely surrounded by munster people. A bunch of leinster folk managed to get right in front of the big screen and we just got progressively more estatic as the game went. Had beer thrown in my face during the match and loved every minute of it.

Aidric

I was lucky enough to be in the millenium stadium for the grand slam win so that takes it for me. The atmosphere and session afterwards will never leave me.

Judgement Day

Munster V Leinster in the Magners League at Thomond Park
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfSkgzjCZ78

and Munster V The All Blacks have to be among the highlights of a fantastic year but the Grand Slam Win and putting the Boks back in their box in the 3rd Test would be the best two occasions for me. It felt good to be alive last Saturday, really good - especially Ugo Monye's wonderful intercept try !

http://rugbydump.blogspot.com/2009/07/british-irish-lions-beat-boks-in.html

OldJay

Tim Robbins wrote: »

I think we were lucky to win that one.

So what? It was a great game that went down to the wire and the winning team won everything. Greatest day in Irish rugby history full-stop.

smurphy29

funky penguin wrote: »

1. Grand Slam Victory... I can still remember the feeling of sickness in the stomach, then the utter joy as Jones' ball just went under! What a day for Irish rugby.

2. Leinster V Munster in Croke Park. Wow. Revenge has never been sweeter, and teh cherry on the top was sitting in between two Munster supporters! But as Jackass said, it really was important for Leinster to win it, and the cup. Not just for irish rugby, but mainly for the club.

3. All Blacks V Munster. I've never in my whole life shouted as hard for Munster to win. What a game this was, from the emotional high of seeing the Munster haka to the utter heart break of Joe Rockokokokokoko. It was so close, and a fascinating game of rugby.

Good post, pretty much my top three too. Would have to mention Ireland v France in there too, for the sheer quality of the rugby, and after months of anguish, the first time in ages I came away from an Ireland game buzzing.

Tim Robbins

Justind wrote: »

So what? It was a great game that went down to the wire and the winning team won everything. Greatest day in Irish rugby history full-stop.

so what?
I like rugby. Not ping pong, up the jumper, players afraid to pass etc.

If that's all rugby was, I'd prefer to watch GAA or Soccer.

We didn't win that match, Wales lost it.

Micky Dolenz

Tim Robbins wrote: »

so what?
I like rugby. Not ping pong, up the jumper, players afraid to pass etc.

If that's all rugby was, I'd prefer to watch GAA or Soccer.

We didn't win that match, Wales lost it.

would you rather see a great game of rugby and your team lose or a game like you described and see your team win?