Expect to see more Tricolours out for Ireland’s next Rugby World Cup match

There was a buzz about the place last week in anticipation of Ireland’s Rugby World Cup match with South Africa.
Not as intense, perhaps, as that which prevailed for Italia 90, or the Louth footballers’ appearance in the Leinster finals of 2010 and this year.

The tricolours were out, but mostly on businesses and pubs. Still, there were plenty to ask, “Will you be looking in tonight”, and as the game progressed there were several among the gathering which I was among watching the telly to refer to ‘us’ and ‘we’.

I asked someone on Sunday close to me did they see the game, and was told, “No, we were matching Man United”.
I suppose it takes something special to break a long-nurtured habit.

All that said, expect to see many more Tricolours flying over the next fortnight and longer.

Ireland, five point winners over the reigning champions in a game that has been described as the tournament’s best so far by those better informed by me, meet Scotland the weekend after next. Even if this clash of the Celts doesn’t go Ireland’s way, a place for Andy Farrell’s team in the quarter-finals is assured.

South Africa could have done with a Sam Mulroy. They missed four of five kicks at goals – had they been converted, the Springboks would have had 11 more points on the board.

But even that didn’t influence the writer – not known for his love of the Ireland team in the past – whose account I read from saying: “Ireland surpassed even their brilliant recent form and organisation, and they certainly showed an almost unbelievable resolve in coming home on an absolutely sensational occasion last night.....” That will do for me.

I might, just might, unfurl the Tricolour, last flown from the top window in celebration of Eve McCrystal and Katie Dunlevy’s Olympic success, and get it back in place for the Scotland game and the others (more than one, hopefully) after that.