Welcome to blog 13. Triskaidekaphobia in full effect!
I am a little bit late this week. I wasn’t really in the humour to try and be funny (try being the operative word). So to start off I would like to send all the good vibes and positivity I have up to Mrs. Spence and the rest of the Spence family. They have been amazing through this tragedy, and I hope they saw and heard us singing for her before the game tonight. It was quite special to be there and sing with the blue army. As Tony McDevitt said on Facebook, ‘4 teams, 1 family’ (can we please get that on a t-shirt right now?).
Powerful stuff.
Now this was my first proper match in the RDS this season. I know this is the second home game, but I was so late to the first one that I missed it. I also know it is blasphemous to miss the opener and I do have a legitimate reason for doing so but I can’t go into it for legal reasons. I’ll just say it involved a video that is only available in Japan and the Aran Islands…………and Ranelagh.
So tonight was the first proper go in my new seats. Batman (me) and Robin (shay) are sitting in block E in the Angelsea stand. When you enter the stadium, turn up the stairs and we will be looking down at you as you walk up the stairs. Come say hello if you fancy it.
The first thing to be said about the Anglesea stand is that sound doesn’t travel as well as it does in the grandstand. So we have to shout louder….challenge always accepted! We did that tonight, but the age profile is a lot higher than other areas of the stadium. Which is unfortunate. We had an aul pair beside us who where giving it socks which was great crack, but to take on Munster in Lansdowne, we will need to shout a lot louder than we did tonight!
The game itself was ……eh…….jaysus I am not sure what it was. There where glimpses of really good play from us. But there was also something missing. There weren’t any bad performances, it just seemed flat. It may have been the emotion of the day. I did enjoy seeing Fionn Carr scare the opposition as he should be doing. I am hoping this is him returning to his fleet-footed form (how was that for alliteration?)..I thought the lineout worked well, the scrum creaked a wee bit but wasn’t a disaster. But again, we weren’t consistent enough for the 80 minutes. There should never be 6 points between Edinburgh and us. They are not a bad side; it is just that we are the best side.
The positives are that Sexto has had the predators working from the start of this season. It is fantastic to see him run like a demented scarecrow. And then when Madigan came on he added something for the last while. How Madigan is not in the Ireland practice squad is beyond me. Taking provincial bias out of the equation, he is the second best out half in Ireland. He might be the same in Europe. Hopefully someone is in his ear saying that his time will come.
Another positive is captain Cullen played a big part when he was on. He put in a big shift. Leo looks to have dropped a few pounds over the summer and looks like he might be at the beginning of his best season in blue yet. He demanded the ball and crashed through a sturdy Edinburgh defence.
Jimmy Heaslip looked to be getting back to his magical best too. He may have been partaking in ballet over the summer, because he had the twinkle toes out tonight. Another big shift from Cian Healy too. We saluted him as he was leaving in his massive jeep.
Making up for something are we church? …..;)
I drive a mini…..unfortunately that is not an ironic car.
Lastly the great Brian O’Driscoll played another great game. He looks stronger than he has in years and ready to do what he does better than anyone. Which brings me to the Laighin Out bar. Always a great spot for a post match brew or tipple or whatever you’re into. We all packed in there waiting for the great man. Our new president and supreme leader (she wrote other words to describe her on a piece of paper but I have lost it) Aisling O’Connor (@aisling7) introduced Brian to a round of applause that is usually saved for when ……eh…….ok it is saved for Brian O’Driscoll let’s be honest. Sporting a black eye he brought us through a typical week in training, his influences and hopes for the upcoming season.
It was great to see him away from the cameras of post match interviews and see that he is a real person, a good laugh and a good lad. The rugby players are so much more accessible than the spoilt footballers. So next time there is a Q&A in the Laighin out bar, get yourself down there. I might be able to sneak a few non season ticket holders in ;)
And to finish off. We are getting close to my favourite game of the season. Munster are on the way. They are playing well so far. Seem to be no warming up for them, they hit the ground running. We need to be up a few gears from tonight. Both on the pitch and in the stand!
I am ready! Are you?
Until next week….
Allez Les Bleus and for one night only SUFTUM!
Keego (@nkeegan): Newbie blogger, former professional wrestler, sometime attempted rugby player (@TheThirsty3rds), professional procrastinator and attempted musician with a fondness for long walks on the bar, tea and the couch. Opinionated Leinster fan and constant gardener.
