ireland - grand slam winners 2009!!!

I can't type. My voice has gone. I have tears in my eyes. My heart is pounding. I cannot begin to describe how I feel right now - Ireland haven't won the grand slam in over half a century. They haven't even won the championship in decades. My cat has gone running in terror as I jumped around the room screaming. Ireland have won the championship, they've won the triple crown, they've won the grand slam... I'm a bit happy.

Le James Joyce

I didn't know what to write about today. Truth be told it's so long since I sat down to type something I've got out of the way of it. I was here this morning trying to think of something but soon gave up, jumped in my car, and drove to Donegal instead.

As I drove I listened to the radio - and suddenly I was bombarded by a barrage of potential topics. They were coming at me so fast I knew I'd only be able to recall a small sample by the time I got home. Here are just a few:

1. The eccentricities of Donegal drivers and the bizarre methods they employ getting from A to B. In particular the invisible middle lane where they get to practice playing chicken with traffic coming from the other direction.

2. The funeral of the late opera singer Luciano Pavarotti in Modena. The way he was one of the very few singers who crossed the divide between opera and mainstream, and the way he transcended cultures with a graceful ease. And yet, listening to the tributes on the radio, you'd have thought he only ever sang one song, entitled 'that one he did for Italia 90.' Apparently Nessun Dorma is tough to remember for the average soccer fan.

He lived the songs, his opera was a great mash of joy and sadness; surreal and earthy at the same time; a great volcano of a man who sang fire but spilled over with a love of life in all its complexity, a great and generous friend.Bono

3. Osama Bin Laden's latest change of image; and why the UK/US intelligence agencies weren't watching 'This Morning' when the make over was taking place. They should bring Philip Schofield and Fern Britton in for some very intensive questioning - preferably in Guantanamo Bay.

4. Moira Cameron becoming the first woman ever to work as a Beefeater at the Tower of London - and the obvious weakness women have when undertaking the role - the inability to face forward when required... and quite possibly grow facial hair.

5. The Rev Ian Paisley announcing today that he wasn't going to stand for re-election as moderator of the Free Presbyterian Church. Now, obviously, one man does not a church make, but when I picture the Free Ps I tend to think of Big Ian at the helm - it will be odd not making that connection. Maybe this should be the topic I choose to write about in the blog, I usually have plenty to say on the good doctor, he's always good for a bit of religious/political/cultural satire - yet oddly I have nothing more to say - I'm speechless. Really speechless.

No, the topic I chose to comment on occurred to me while listening to the build up for the New Zealand v Italy match in the Rugby World Cup. I'm not sure of all the details as I missed the start of the item (my attention was momentarily concentrated on attempting to swerve in order to avoid a battered Renault flailing down the middle of the road) but John Inverdale seemed to be interviewing an English Rugby fan (ex player maybe?) who was travelling round France watching the various matches. He had been in Paris for the France v Argentina game. He told Inverdale that he watched it in the James Joyce Pub. Apparently James Joyce, he informed us, "was some kind of French Philosopher."

Hmm. Yes, some kind of.

Ah, the ignorant english. Très amusant.

teaching strategy 101

For ten minutes i have been thumping my chest and leaping in the air with my tongue out. Not common practice for a SN teacher but sometimes I find it helps vent frustration.

It also helps when in a couple of hours I will be teaching my kids to do the All Black haka. It's part of drama - we use it to look at how the Maori people use dance and expression to send out a message of passion, strength and unity. Anyway it's been a few years (and several stone) since I last performed a haka and I thought a bit of rehearsal was in order. Every little break I get I've been trying to remember the moves by practising them over and over again.

The thing is I forgot my room overlooks the Headmaster's study. I spotted him looking in this direction with a concerned expression. If he worried about my state of mind before...

England Croke in Dublin

"In front of a supercharged home crowd on a dry but blustery day in Dublin, Ireland tore into the white-shirted visitors from the kick-off" So said the BBC website almost 2 years ago to the day. Ireland again entertained the English today and again beat them - so what were the differences.

When the England squad's preparation includes a history lesson, you know that this is no ordinary rugby international.bbc.co.uk

Well, first of all it was held at Croke Park - the home of GAA in Ireland. Contrary to the predictions of a friend of mine this didn't turn out to be the issue it could have. "Rugby is now the most sectarian sport in this country" he proclaimed sagely. He obviously didn't expected to see the crowd politely applauding the British National Anthem. I'm not sure what he did expect - pipe bombs?

The crowd of mainly Irish fans respected the British national anthem "God Save the Queen", and the English flag flew next to a grandstand first built with rubble from the 1916 Easter Rising by Irish nationalists against British rule. Guardian Unlimited

The second difference was that this is an English team with a bit of confidence about them. Two years ago England were a demoralised bunch even before kick off after losing 9 out of their previous 11 games. This year's England team were sitting second in the table after beating Scotland and Italy - there were even whisperings of title contention.

The Irish put on a show of intensity not seen since New Zealand's infamous victory over France in November 2004, and the English were powerless to prevent the green tide that washed over them, leaving few survivors in its wake. World Cup Web

The third difference was that England Coach Andy Robinson has left the building to be replaced by Brian Ashton. Quick note to Mr Ashton - Resting key players, mind games and pretending players 'may' not be fit enough might work for Alex Fergusion. But International Rugby is a very different game from Premiership Soccer. I hope you learned the lesson our players taught. By focusing on one player and turning him into some kind of saviour figure you forget one thing - a team will always beat an individual. Jonny Wilkinson wasn't at his best today, but even if he was Ireland would have won the game.Difference number four. Hmm... struggling now. Ah, of course - the weather. According to that BBC quote at the start it was dry and blustery in 2005. This year it was rainy and still. In this situation a good kicking game is favoured. Luckily for the Irish O'Gara (not always my favourite player) was on fire, scoring 8 kicks out of 8 and totally confusing the English with his range of positional kicks and poor old Jonny W - with the weight of his country upon his shoulders, was overshadowed.

Ireland delivered the performance the occasion demanded on Saturday when they hammered England by a record 43-13 in a momentous Six Nations encounter at Croke Park to reignite their championship ambitions. New Zealand Herald

Finally, the fifth difference between now and 2005. The score. Two years ago Ireland won 19:13 - a handsome enough victory. In 2007 Ireland won 43:13. A record breaking score that will make anyone wearing green well up and choke back a few tears of pride. Congratulations to those English supporters who did themselves proud by singing and cheering throughout a match they never looked like winning - it can't have been easy. The commentator said towards the end of the match "The Irish players are beginning to enjoy this now." Me? I enjoyed every second.

and they wonder why...

Two completely unrelated rugby stories for you today. First of all is the news that most of the English clubs have, grudgingly, taken England's hint and will be resting their England International players. All except Sale that is - Sale have pointed out that they pay the players' wages and if they want to play their biggest stars they will. Leicester and Newcastle have fallen into line and have announced that they will rest their England players . England Head coach, Brian Ashton, named the squad on Tuesday in an effort to get his players rested from club games at the weekend.

"What Brian would like, quite rightly, is the starting XV not to have to play," elite director Rob Andrew said... "It will mean (the players involved) won't do a great deal on Monday or Tuesday, will train Wednesday and go to Dublin on Thursday."

I have a certain amount of sympathy for all parties involved. The clubs have every right to feel like they are being subjected to emotional blackmail - who wants to be seen as hindering the National team; and the England coaches would be taking a huge risk watching their players take part in a competetive league match days before a vital Six Nations meeting.

Now leave all that aside as we move onto the completely unrelated second story. The English Premier Rugby League have issued a statement stopping Scottish players based in England from training with their countrymen this week.

Scotland coach Frank Hadden has hit out after three English-based players were prevented from joining his national squad training session... a PRL spokesman told BBC Sport: "Our position has been consistent for all unions for some time - players have to return to their clubs for the fallow weeks... "It is up to the clubs to select whoever they wish. The clubs will always look at each individual on a case-by-case basis."

The PRL surely have a point. They aren't in the game to help out the Scottish - this is all just a bit of goodhearted gamesmanship after all. They are perfectly within their rights... Or are they? Scotland head coach Frank Hadden obviously doesn't think so. With Scotland preparing for their next RBS Six Nations clash against Italy on Saturday 24 February, he is furious he has been deprived of three of his key players.

"The English clubs have been aware of our training days for a long time, but there was a three-line whip yesterday which caused the players to be told by their clubs that they couldn't train... We have been in discussion with the IRB and our understanding is that the IRB have been in touch with the RFU (English Rugby Football Union), and the RFU have contacted the clubs and said that they must comply with regulation nine, and they have chosen not to do so... The regulations say you have to give a fortnight's notice. We've given them two months' notice."

This sort of situation makes me sigh long and hard. The English seem to think that we should be understanding as they walk all over the rest of us to get what they want. In many ways they are like the 12 year old playground bully in for a bit of counselling who claims he doesn't need friends and then goes on to complain that no one likes him.

I suppose the point I'm trying to make is that in a few weeks time when England play France and the anglocentric British media start whining about how the celtic nations all want France to win and that we always support anyone but England I wish someone would look out these two articles again and let them read exactly why they have such a bad reputation. It isn't anyone but England we support - it's anyone less arrogant, petty and spiteful than England... oh, I suppose that would be anyone. I think English sport and their sporting media should take a moment and try a spot of introspection. A humbler more sporting country would be so much easier to like.