We've come a long way since days of economy class
Twenty years is a long time in rugby. Jim Glennon was a member of the first Irish World Cup squad in 1987 and his memories show just how far the game has travelled since then
Sunday September 02 2007
RUGBY World Cup 1987 will go down in the history of the game as the defining moment in its evolution since that son of Tipperary William Webb Ellis performed his infamous party piece while playing football at Rugby School in 1823.
I was privileged to be in Australia and New Zealand for the inaugural tournament as a fully-fledged playing member of the Irish squad. There is no greater honour than representing your country on the world stage, be it in sport, the arts, politics, or whatever else your chosen discipline might be.
At the time it was a fascinating and hugely enjoyable, if ultimately disappointing, adventure.
The build-up to the tournament was dominated by the loss of Nigel Carr to an IRA bomb. I often reflect on the loss that he was, not only in terms of World Cup '87 but also to Ulster and Irish rugby right through the late Eighties and early Nineties. He was an outstanding talent, one of the very best Irish openside flankers of all time. His partnership with his schoolmate Philip Matthews through Regent's House School, Queen's University, Ards RFC, the late Jimmy Davidson's 'Club Ulster' and ultimately Ireland was remarkable in that they complemented each other so well. They won every honour open to them until Nigel's career was so cruelly cut short.
Times have changed radically since the amateur days of the first World Cup. Our start was a 34-plus economy class flight to Auckland in the company of our Welsh and Scottish opponents, followed immediately on arrival, by a game of Gaelic, played with a rugby ball. Mick Doyle's idea of innovation.
The following night, as we assembled in the hotel lobby to go to the tournament banquet, we were shocked to hear that Doyler had been removed to hospital after what they thought was a heart attack. Thankfully he was back with us less than a week later. To put his absence into perspective, the full complement of backroom staff on the trip consisted of Syd Millar (manager), Doyler (coach), George Spotswood (IRFU), Mick Molloy (team doctor) and Joe Doran (physio). How times have changed. You can multiply that by four, I'd guess, to get the modern equivalent.
Doyler's hospitalisation proved a godsend for the media in the lull that exists in the week before any major international sports event. His week in hospital included a 'live' phone link-up with Gay Byrne on Gay's morning radio show and a goodwill call from CJ Haughey, then Taoiseach.
The recovered patient subsequently enjoyed relating the tale of how he had told Charlie of his good fortune that the incident had not taken place in Ireland, such was the Government's propensity for closing down hospital beds.
Our opening game in Wellington was quite anti-climactic -- the key game in the pool being lost to a Jonathan Davies-inspired Wales on a scoreline of 13-6. The disappointing day will always be remembered by the travelling party for the shambles that was a poor quality tape of James Last and his orchestra's version of 'The Rose of Tralee' masquerading as an anthem for a proud Irish team and our small band of loyal supporters. The great Con Houlihan, who witnessed the debacle, described the compromise anthem as 'God Save the Rose of Tralee'.
Canada in Dunedin and Tonga in Brisbane were relatively minor obstacles en route to Sydney for a quarter-final date with Australia in the 14,000 capacity Concorde Oval. Hard as it might be to believe now, match tickets were still relatively freely available on the day of the game.
Australia disposed of our challenge by 20-6, withDoyler musing: "At least we won the second-half".
The following morning there was an immediate return journey home for the official party, minus a few of us who opted to stay on in Australia for varying periods. Not long after their departure, the French arrived to take our places in the hotel and a very inquisitive Pierre Berbizier, showing signs of things to come, engaged us in a linguist's nightmare of an inquisition, using French, English, sign and anything else that would do the job to communicate our impressions of the Aussies and any possible weaknesses they might have.
The following week the current Italian coach and his colleagues set the competition alight when they shocked the hosts in an epic encounter, capped by a magnificent last-minute Serge Blanco try to book their place in the final against New Zealand.
The overriding recollection now of that time, 20 years on, is the contrast between our out-and-out amateurism and the varying degrees of professionalism displayed by others, particularly the Southern Hemisphere countries.
The evidence of how far we were behind these countries was all around us. I specifically remember the unashamed commercialism surrounding the tournament and its participants, especially in New Zealand. Watching local TV coverage of the tournament we were mesmerised by the number of personal appearances of the All Blacks in unabashed endorsement (contrary to the laws of the game) of all kinds of commercial products, from beers through to toiletries and tractors. The one that stuck in my mind, though, was the advertisements for a bank in Wellington offering its own special commemorative 'All Blacks World Cup 87' special savings bond at a basic rate of 18pc with a bonus of 1pc for every game won by the national icons. In other words, 24pc.
The best available at the moment for the 2007 renewal starting next Friday is 2/1 on with the bookies, or a 50pc return -- but only if they win, and total loss of investment if they lose.
But for value, and a nice piece of symmetry if that's what you're into, try France at 10/1 to reverse the 1987 final result. It's as good value in a sporting bet as you'll get all year -- no offence intended to Limerick fans.
jimglennon@o2.ie
