Hi °C | Lo °C IRISH rugby legend Gerry 'Ginger' McLoughlin has backed the country's current heroes to defeat England on Sunday.
Following last weekend's courageous victory over Wales, there has been a scramble to secure precious tickets for Sunday's Six Nations clash.
McLoughlin famously scored the winning try against the English as Ireland marched to the Triple Crown in 1982.
England are tipped to try to overpower Ireland after doing the same to Scotland in their opening match. But former prop McLoughlin insisted Ireland have nothing to fear.
"We are afraid of nobody these days – they are a fine bunch of players," Mr McLoughin said of Declan Kidney's team.
"It's all about the size of the fight in the dog and not the size of the dog in the fight.
"Let's hope that we have that fight on Sunday and then we have every chance," he added.
McLoughlin is photographed here alongside a young Ciaran Fitzgerald as they enjoy a stroll in the Edinburgh sunshine before a 11-11 draw with Scotland in the 1979 Five Nations match.
Both forwards will always be fondly remembered by Irish rugby supporters for the part they played in historic wins against England at a time when the country was crippled by recession.
Playing against England in 1985 and with a coveted Triple Crown at stake, Irish captain Ciaran Fitzgerald turned to his teammates at a packed Lansdowne Road and asked; "Where's your f****** pride?"
Drop-goal
The Irish team responded and secured the Triple Crown with a last-minute drop-goal.
Mr McLoughlin – the current Mayor of Limerick – said he became great friends with Ciaran Fitzgerald from their time playing together for Connacht, Ireland and the Lions.
"We grew up alongside each other. We would have been in college together too in Galway and had some great times. Front row forwards would stick together.
"Ciaran was the best captain I ever played under," Mr McLoughlin added.
"That photo was taken in Edinburgh in 1979, we would have been out for a stroll before the match – that was the routine thing to do.
As for Mr McLoughlin's famous try in 1982, he says, "People still ask me about it. It's nice to be remembered in that fashion.
"I can't remember anything about it, only that afterwards Moss Keane said to me that they had given the try to Wille Duggan.
"I said: 'Shag off, I pulled ye over the line'."
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Irish Independent
