What if 1971 had the first Rugby World Cup?

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By sheek, 8 Dec 2009 The Crowd is a Roar Pro

Tagged:: English rugby, International Rugby, Rugby Union, Rugby World Cup

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About a month ago, I speculated that the Rugby World Cup came four years too late for many of the games’ greats. Had the World Cup been held in 1983, it would have been one hell of a tournament, with all the likely talent available.

So here’s another “what if” fantasy: what if the first-ever Rugby World Cup had been held in 1971?

Those of you familiar with your rugby history would immediately appreciate the significance of 1971.

1971 represented 100 years since the first-ever test match, which was between England and Scotland (won by the Scots). 1971 was also the centenary of the birth of the English Rugby Union (RFU). The Scottish Rugby Union (then SFU) was formed in 1873.

To celebrate and mark the occasion, England played matches against Scotland (lost 6-26) and a President’s XV (lost 11-28). For trivial interest, the President’s XV was as follows:

Piere Villepreux (FRA), Steve Knight (AUS), Jo Maso (FRA), Joggie Jansen (SAF), Bryan Williams (NZL), Wayne Cottrell (NZL), Dawie de Villiers (SAF-vc), Brian Lochore (NZL-c), Greg Davis (AUS), Ian Kirkpatrick (NZL), Colin Meads (NZL), Frik du Preez (SAF), Hannes Marais (SAF), Peter Johnson (AUS), Roy Prosser (AUS).

What if the RFU and their fellow British unions had taken the celebrations one step further, by staging the inaugural Rugby World Cup?

Unfortunately, such foresight and vision wasn’t available in 1971.

It would have been a fascinating first-up World Cup, with no certainty as to who the winner might be. Wales were about to enter a golden period. Could they have done what Uruguay did in the football equivalent?

New Zealand and South Africa were both still formidable, despite the All Blacks implosion against the Lions. They were a team in transition, and much troubled.

The Springboks had gone through Australia undefeated despite widespread apartheid protests. But Australia wasn’t strong in rugby in 1971.

France were their usual dysfunctional selves, but could beat anyone on their day.

Ireland and Scotland were both solid and steady, without being spectacular. England, like Australia, would have brought up the rear!

For the purpose of the exercise, national captains Lochore (NZL), D.deVilliers (SAF) and Telfer (SCO) didn’t retire in 1970, but continued on to the world cup. Co-incidentally, each would have been 31.

Also Carrere (FRA) wasn’t embroiled in a club transfer scandal, youngster Goodall (IRE) deferred his defection to league, Thorne (NZL) returned from South Africa, and the brilliant HO.de Villiers (SAF) recovered from his career threatening injuries. He was still just 26.

Here are some composite teams of the time, with a little tweaking, for your interest.

AUSTRALIA: A.McGill, J.Cole, D.L’Estrange, G.Shaw, J.McLean, R.Fairfax, J.Hipwell, R.McLean, G.Davis (c), P.Sullivan, O.Butler, S.Gregory, R.Prosser, P.Johnson, D.Dunworth. Bench: S.Knight, G.Richardson, M.Barry, M.Flynn, B.Stumbles, J.Howard, R.Thompson.

NEW ZEALAND: L.Mains, B.Hunter, G.Thorne, J.Joseph, B.Williams, W.Cottrell, S.Going, B.Lochore, A. McNaughton, I.Kirkpatrick, C.Meads (c), P.Whiting, R.Guy, T.Norton, B.Muller. Bench: K.Carrington, R.Burgess, C.Laidlaw, A.Wyllie, T.Lister, A.Hopkinson, R.Urlich.

SOUTH AFRICA: HO.de Villiers, S.Nomis, P.Cronje, J.Jansen, G.Muller, P.Visagie, D.de Villiers, T.Bedford, J.Ellis, P.Greyling, J.Williams, F.du Preez, H.Marais (c), P.van Wyk, T.Sauermann. Bench: I.McCallum, A.Roux, J.Viljoen, M.du Plessis, J.Spies, M.Louw, R.Barnard.

FRANCE: P.Villepreux, R.Bertranne, J.Trillo, J-P.Lux, J.Cantoni, J-L.Berot, M.Barrau, W.Spanghero, C.Carrere (c), P.Biermouret, B.Dauga, E.Celeste, J-L.Azarette, R.Benesis, J.Iracabal. Bench: C.Dourthe, J.Maso, M.Pebeyre, J-C.Skrela, C.Spanghero, M.Lasserre, M.Yachvili.

ENGLAND: R.Hillier (c), J.Janion, J.Spencer, C.Wardlow, D.Duckham, I.Wright, J.Page, R.Hannaford, A.Neary, P.Dixon, N.Horton, P.Larter, F.Cotton, J.Pullin, S.Stevens. Bench: P.Rossborough, A.Old, N.Starmer-Smith, R.Taylor, C.Ralston, D.Powell, A.Johnson.

WALES: JPR.Williams, G.Davies, J.Dawes (c), A.Lewis, JC.Bevan, B.John, G.Edwards, M.Davies, J.Taylor, M.Roberts, B.Llewellyn, J.Young, D.Williams. Bench: I.Hall, P.Bennett, R.Hopkins, D.Quinnell, G.Evans, D.Lloyd, N.Rees.

SCOTLAND: I.Smith, W.Steele, J.Frame, C.Rea, A.Biggar, C.Turner, D.Paterson, C.Telfer (c), R.Arneil, P.Brown, G.Brown, A.McHarg, S.Carmichael, F.Laidlaw, I.McLauchlan. Bench: I.McGeechan, I.Robertson, I.McRae, W.Lauder, P.Stagg, N.Suddon, Q.Dunlop.

IRELAND: T.Kiernan (c), A.Duggan, F.Bresnihan, M.Gibson, E.Grant, R.McGann, R.Young, K.Goodall, F.Slattery, M.Hipwell, W-J.McBride, M.Molloy, S.Lynch, K.Kennedy, R.McLoughlin. Bench: B.O’Driscoll, R.Milliken, J.Moloney, D.Hickie, H.Steele, N.Dwyer, D.Barry.

Enjoy the trip down memory lane!

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The Crowd Says (33) | Page 1 of Comments

Gladstone said | December 8th 2009 @ 6:25am | Report comment

Thanks for the pleasant ramble, Sheek. Some great names in that AB side. As for the Wallabies I saw Hipwell play on a tour in England when he stayed on the field with a busted rib. Loved his flick-of-the-wrist pass from the base. Then along came Farr-Jones, and now we have Genia who could develop into world No. 1.

Incidentally, how many other halfbacks ever captained the Ws? Or the ABs. And was there ever a prop who captained either team?

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sheek said | December 8th 2009 @ 7:24am | Report comment

Hi Gladstone,

Other halfbacks to captain Australia (apart from the modern trio of Hipwell, Farr-Jones & Gregan) include Chris McKivat & Possum Wood before WW1, Wakka Walker & Syd Malcolm between the wars & Ken Catchpole post WW2.

Incidentally, McKivat is the only player to captain both the Wallabies & Kangaroos.

Not as conversant with NZ, but from the 60s onwards, Chris Laidlaw, Dave Loveridge & Justin Marshall led the ABs on occasions.

Props, there have been a few. For Aussie there was Bill Watson before WW1, Tom Davis, Ron Walden & Vay Wilson between the wars, & post WW2, John Thornett is the most famous. This list may have missed one or two.

For NZ, Wilson Whineray who captained the ABs from late 50s to early 60s, is considered not only one of their finest props but probably their most outstanding captain.

Apologies this was off the top of the head. Too lazy to consult the books today!

Reply
- PastHisBest said | December 8th 2009 @ 8:48am | Report comment
  
  1987 – NZ, D. Kirk
  
  Reply
  - sheek said | December 8th 2009 @ 9:26am | Report comment
    
    PastHisBest – Of course….. how did I miss him?
    
    Reply
    - katzilla said | December 8th 2009 @ 10:15am | Report comment
      
      Because hes Australian
      
      Reply
DT said | December 8th 2009 @ 7:36am | Report comment

From memory, Chris Whitaker captained the Wallabies in one game at the 2003 World Cup.

In this fantasy World Cup world, the 1979 tournament would have been brilliant too.

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jus de couchon said | December 8th 2009 @ 8:13am | Report comment

If there had of been a World Cup in 71 I think Wales might have grabbed it . Im not Welsh by the way.

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- sheek said | December 8th 2009 @ 10:28am | Report comment
  
  Jus de couchon/DT,
  
  Okay, just a bit more info! In my spare time (& perhaps I have too much of it) I’ve come up with possible WC scenarios in 1971-75-79-83. This is how it goes.
  
  1971 – tournament held in UK & Ireland only. Traditional ‘big 8′ invited. Two pools by 4 teams. Wales win final from South Africa. Ireland claim 3rd, France 4th. New Zealand sensationally fail to make semis!!! Final played at Twickenham, London.
  
  Wales XV (champions): JPR Williams, Gerald Davies, John Dawes(c), Arthur Lewis, John Bevan, Barry John, Gareth Edwards, Mervyn Davies, John Taylor, Dai Morris, Delme Thomas, Mike Roberts, Barry Llewellyn, Jeff Young, Denzil Williams.
  
  1975 – tournament held in UK, Ireland & France. 12 teams invited. Three pools by 4 teams. Three pool winners plus best 2nd finisher progress to semi-finals. New Zealand upset Wales in final. Scotland claim 3rd & England a shock 4th. South Africa sensationally fail to make semis!!! Final played at Murrayfield, Edinburgh.
  
  New Zealand XV (champions): Joe Karam, Bryan Williams, Bruce Robertson, Joe Morgan, Grant Batty, Duncan Robertson, Sid Going, Andy Leslie(c), Ken Stewart, Ian Kirkpatrick, Peter Whiting, Hamish McDonald, Bill Bush, Tane Norton, Kerry Tanner.
  
  1979 – tournament held in South Africa. 12 teams invited. Four pools of 3 teams, followed by quarters, semis, play-off & final. South Africa, nervous due little prior international exposure, nevertheless win the final against traditional opponents NZ. In a southern hemisphere triumph, Australia claim 3rd & Argentina 4th. Northern hemisphere nations crash out on hard SA surfaces!!! Final played at Newlands, Cape Town.
  
  South Africa XV (champions): Dawie Snyman, Ray Mordt, Willie du Plessis, Peter Whipp (Danie Gerber off bench), Gerry Germishuys, Naas Botha, Divan Serfontein, Morne du Plessis(c), Rob Louw, Theuns Stofberg, Louis Moolman, Moaner van Heerden, Daan du Plessis, Robbie Cockrell (Willie Kahts off bench), Nik Bezuidenhout.
  
  None of the 3 du Plessis’ were related (although later Willie’s brothers Carel & Michael played for the Boks).
  
  1983 – tournament held in France, UK & Ireland. 16 teams invited. Four pools by 4 teams, plus quarters, semis, play-off & final. SA arrived with a team considered stronger than 79, but the high quality of the overall opposition, & dogged by protest disruptions, saw them crash in the quarters to Australia, no less.
  
  France pipped Australia in the final, in extra-time, the best final on record!!! The Wallabies might have been tired from disposing of the Boks in the quarters, & ABs in the semis!!! New Zealand claimed 3rd & Ireland a slightly surprising 4th. Final played at Parc de Princes, Paris.
  
  France XV (champions): Serge Blanco, Patrice Lagisquet, Phillippe Sella, Didier Codorniou, Patrick Esteve, Jean-Patrick Lescaboura, Jerome Gallion (Pierre Berbizier off bench), Jean-Luc Joinel, Jean-Pierre Rives(c), Laurent Rodriguez, Jean Condom, Alain Lorieux, Robert papremborde, Phillippe Dintrans, Pierre Dospital (Michel Cremashi off bench).
  
  For the record, the Wallabies XV (runners-up): Roger Gould, David Campese, Mick O’Connor, Andy Slack (Mike Hawker off bench), Brendan Moon, Mark Ella, Phil Cox, Mark Loane(c), Chris Roche, Simon Poidevin, David Hillhouse, Steve Williams, Andy McIntyre (Stan Pilecki off bench), Billy Ross, Tony D’Arcy.
  
  The history of the WC shows us that there is usually one shock & one surprise each tournament, & I’ve tried to reflect this (1971-83) by sharing the semi-finalists around, & also providing a few shocks, especially to NZ & SA.
  
  Everyone will have their own impressions of how these WCs might have panned out. Anyway, enjoy….. !
  
  Wallabies record (brief).
  
  1971 – eliminated in pool. Captain Greg Davis (flanker); vice-captain Arthur McGill (fullback); coach Des Connor; assistant coach Bob Templeton; manager Joe French.
  
  1975 – eliminated in pool. Captain John Hipwell (scrumhalf); vice-captain Reg Smith (lock); coach Dave Brockhoff; assistant coach Daryl Haberecht; manager Ross Turnbull.
  
  1979 – finished 3rd. Captain Tony Shaw (flanker); vice-captain Paul McLean (flyhalf/fullback); coach Dave Brockhoff; assistant coach Bob Templeton; manager Nick Shehadie.
  
  1983 – finished runners-up. Captain Mark Loane (eightman); vice-captain Mark Ella (flyhalf); coach Bob Dwyer; assistant coach Bob Templeton; manager Chilla Wilson.
  
  Reply
Gladstone said | December 8th 2009 @ 9:04am | Report comment

Sheek, that’s not bad for off the top of your head. All I have is dandruff on mine. Gregan and Catchpole were no-brainers but you amazingly came up with Walker, Woods and McKivat. That’s a great trivia question re McKivat and the Roos and the Ws. I should have got Whineray, too.

John Thornett, ex-school captain at High, was the best schoolboy breakaway I ever saw, then or now. Just can’t feature him as a prop – and I believe he also played second row. John was a wonderful swimmer and was only bested in the CHS butterfly by Ron Sharpe who was one of the biggest school boys ever. Thornett also rowed in the eight – a marvelous athlete and a thorough gentleman.

High can’t boast a lot of great rugby players but Thornett and John Bosler and Keith Cross – the fastest international breakaway anyone ever saw – are up there. Had Brian Allsop and Craig Wing played Union instead of league (both for Easts) they would have been Wallabies, too.

But your alma mater, Waverley, must have produced a hell of a lot. Let’s have a list when you’re not feeling so lazy.

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- sheek said | December 8th 2009 @ 9:36am | Report comment
  
  Gladstone,
  
  Good memory re my alma mater. During the 30s, Waverley College provided both the Wallabies & Kangaroos captains, though not quite concurrently.
  
  Dave Brown was the Kangaroos captain around the mid 30s, while Cyril Towers captained the Wallabies in 1937. Both were brilliant centres.
  
  Waverley has always been comfortable producing leading players in both codes. Current Wallaby Ryan Cross is an old boy, while Luke Ricketson, former Roosters & Kangaroos player, was another.
  
  Our 1st XV jumper has twin golds ‘V’s on the front – a very league style jersey!
  
  John Thornett began his Wallaby career as a flanker, moving to lock then prop. He was before my time, so I can’t comment on what was his best position – what do you think?
  
  They were a talented set of brothers – the Thornetts. John captained the Wallabies in an illustrious career; Ken was a famous league fullback & Kangaroo; while Dick was a triple international, representing Australia in water polo, & playing for both the Wallabies & Kangaroos.
  
  Reply
Lazlofade said | December 8th 2009 @ 9:21am | Report comment

Sheek and Gladstone – speaking of High and Waverley, and those test teams of yesteryear, a centre who played for the Boks against the Wallabies in Sydney around 1954 or so went to High before his family moved to SA. Anybody know his name?

Re. Waverley College – did Noel Hayes, who played winger for Easts, ever play for the State? How close did he come to Wallaby status? How about a fast and clever Waverley halfback named Johnny Gilday? Did he ever go on to greater things?

Last of all Sheek, how many Wallabies can Cranbrook claim?

Reply
- sheek said | December 8th 2009 @ 9:40am | Report comment
  
  Lazlofade,
  
  Cranbrook??? Give me a break! (Only joking).
  
  I’ll have to do some research on your questions…..
  
  The Hayes name is famous at Waverley, with the pavilion at Queen’s Park named after two of them. But I’m not sure if it’s named after Noel or a relative. I’ll have to check…..
  
  Reply
  - sheek said | December 8th 2009 @ 12:43pm | Report comment
    
    Lazlofade,
    
    The Saffie/Aussie you referred to was Wilf Rosenberg.
    
    He was actually born in South Africa, lived his formative years in Australia attending Sydney Grammar (so the bio says), before returning to SA, then later moving to England to play league. He toured Australia & NZ in 1956, playing in 5 of the 6 tests on tour. He was indeed a centre.
    
    Reply
- Terry Hayes said | July 20th 2010 @ 10:12am | Report comment
  
  The two brothers were Noel and Terry Hayes. Noel was a reserve for NSW. Terry (school captain in 1955) played for Randwick and was a Wallaby trialist in 1962 playing for the Rest against Australia. The Queens Park Pavilion is named after their parents Tom and Minette (Midge) Hayes and is The T and M Hayes Pavilion. Both were tireless volunteers for all things Waverley and in particular Queens Park forwell over 45 years.
  
  Reply
mattamkII said | December 8th 2009 @ 11:22am | Report comment

Well we all know who to blame for no WC prior to 87 dont we…..

Reply
Dublin Dave said | December 8th 2009 @ 12:00pm | Report comment

The thing is Sheek, there actually was a World Cup, of sorts, held around about that time. It was a Sevens Tournament, featuring national sides from all the major countries and I think it was held as part of the centenary celebrations for the Scottish Union.

The English, Scottish and Irish Unions all celebrated their centenaries in the early 1970s and as Scotland had invented the concept of Sevens rugby, (who says all the innovative rugby ideas come from the southern hemisphere?) they staged a World Cup like event during their commemorations.

This may not sound like a big deal now but in those amateur days, it was quite something to bring sides from all over the world for a weekend tournament.

I don’t think South Africa had a team. They had just finished their disastrous “Demo” tour of 1969-70 when vociferous anti-apartheid demonstrations hampered the organisation of most of their games. They failed to win a single test against any of the four home nations, ending up with defeats to England and Scotland and draws against Ireland and Wales.

Nevertheless, New Zealand definitely sent a team. I remember because Ireland beat them. Unfortunately, I have been unable to dig up any written references to this tournament so I am relying on my memory but even at a distance of nearly 40 years I can remember the Irish team with some certainty and I have a feeling that Grant Batty may have played for New Zealand but that may be a false memory.

I think this tournament took place after the Seventh All Blacks tour to Europe which occured in 1972/73. For all that they did not lose a test against any of the four home countries, they still left with the worst record of any All Blacks tour up to then. They played 26 matches in Britain and Ireland, winning 20 losing four and drawing two. One of their losses was the legendary match against the Barbarians in Cardiff. They also lost to Llanelli and two English divisional sides as well as drawing twice in Ireland, against Munster and in the test match.

The Lions won tests in New Zealand in 1971 and South AFrica in 1974 so it was a period in which European rugby in general was quite strong, even compared with the best of the Southern Hemisphere.

So it should not come as too big a shock to learn that the team which won that sevens tournament was England, with Ireland in the runners up position. I can remember the last seconds of the final because they produced a moment to break the heart of any young boy, as I then was. With Ireland leading and time running out, an attack which seemed certain to produce another try was thwarted on the English goal line. The ball was thrown out to their winger Keith Fielding, a speed merchant who later went to rugby league, and he ran the length of the park to score the winning try.

I can still recall the Irish team. It comprised Fergus Slattery, Ken Kennedy and Terry Moore in the forwards. Donal Caniffe at scrum half, with the remaining backs being Mike Gibson, Seamus Dennison and Vinnie Becker.

Slattery should need no introduction: a tearaway flanker who went on two Lions tours and regularly features on “greatest of all time” lists. Neither should Mike Gibson, although I believe some of the younger generation in Australia believe he’s a sports hack on Australian TV. Not the same guy! The real Mike Gibson was a legend at the mention of whose name one should genuflect and cross oneself in reverence (if that’s not too inappropriate a tribute to pay to a good Ulster Protestant)

Kennedy was one of Ireland’s best ever hookers and went on several Lions tours. Terry Moore was a lanky number eight who also represented Ireland at basketball and was made to play sevens. I believe he has since passed away. None of the other three were capped at the time but all would later make a few appearances for the full national side. Dennison and Canniffe both figured strongly on the Munster side that famously beat the next All Blacks to tour Europe in 1978. Caniffe captained that team and Dennison’s tackle on Stu Wilson remains one of the folk memories of that day.

Vinnie Becker was a short stocky red headed winger who had been Irish sprint champion and was one of the occasional examples we get of the entire nation’s allocation of fast twitch fibres for a few generations being concentrated in one set of legs. He was the fastest thing on an Irish rugby field for years and it is entirely within the tradition of the selection policies of the time that he only got two caps. Furthermore he played on the wing while at out half there was some ham fisted kicking Munster type who was congenitally unable to pass the ball. I don’t think Becker got a pass in either of his matches and was subsequently dropped. Joined up thinking has never been an Irish speciality.

It’s a shame there doesn’t seem to be any readiliy available literature about this event. It was a big deal at the time. And the closest we would get to a world cup for nearly 20 years.

Roll on New Zealand 2011.

Reply
- sheek said | December 8th 2009 @ 12:34pm | Report comment
  
  Dublin Dave,
  
  You’ll be pleased to know in my fantasy inaugural WC of 1971, Ireland was in the same pool as NZ, & scored their first & only win against the ABs, thus knocking them out of the tournament.
  
  Alas, Ireland’s first & only win against the ABs remains just that – a fantasy!
  
  Reply
Lazlo said | December 8th 2009 @ 12:00pm | Report comment

In that best ever final, the Wallabies lost because of speed and indecision. The kick through on that muddy field was misjudged by two of the Ws (Campo was one of them) and then it was all over because the French had a bullet back three. Blanco was faster than Gould, Esteve was faster than Moon, and Lagisquet was faster than anybody. Maybe it was the best ever final because there wasn’t a weak member in either team, and they were playing under the old laws.

Reply
- sheek said | December 8th 2009 @ 12:31pm | Report comment
  
  Lazlo,
  
  Very true! Australia actually toured France in 1983, drawing the first test (scoring the only try) & narrowly losing the second test (France scoring the only try).
  
  The Aussies were actually quite concerned by the foot speed of the French backs, & were reluctant to play an expansive backline game, knowing that any mistakes would/could be brutally punished on the counter-attack by the speedy French.
  
  In that actual series O’Connor was missing from the Wallabies due his defection to league; Cox missed the tour through injury, while Blanco was missing for the French also through injury.
  
  Reply
ohtani's jacket said | December 8th 2009 @ 12:11pm | Report comment

I think it’s possible that a number of players would’ve held on until the Cup. From an All Black perspective, I’m talking Ken Gray, Lochore, MacRae, Laidlaw and maybe McLeod pushing for a spot.

Reply
- sheek said | December 8th 2009 @ 12:25pm | Report comment
  
  OJ,
  
  This is true. I try as much as possible to be true to the times, taking into account the reaction of players knowing that a world cup was coming up. For example, Joe Karam is my fullback in the fantasy ABs team that won the 1975 WC, although in reality he switched to league that same year.
  
  1971 & the ABs was really difficult. I recalled Lochore, Thorne & Laidlaw (as backup halfback) all of which I thought was reasonable.
  
  I also read that Ken Gray retired in 1969 so as he wouldn’t be selected to tour SA in 1970. In 1971 he would have been 32, which is not particularly old for a prop. And would the likes of Ian MacRae & Bill Davis has kept going?
  
  I don’t know fully the reasons why MacRae & Davis didn’t play after 1970, since they were both young enough (late 20s). Of course, even if the ABs had many of their great stars from 1967-70, would it have made any difference?
  
  The 1970 series against the Boks showed that some of these great ABs had lost their lustre. It’s all speculation, but fun speculation all the same.
  
  Reply
  - ohtani's jacket said | December 8th 2009 @ 5:01pm | Report comment
    
    Who knows whether it would’ve made any difference… That Welsh side never did beat the All Blacks and I don’t think the South Africans would’ve been invited to a World Cup in 1971. There’s no way Ireland would’ve beaten us, though. That’s fanciful.
    
    Reply
    - Dublin Dave said | December 8th 2009 @ 9:30pm | Report comment
      
      This whole idea is “fanciful” OJ. That’s the whole point of this thread.
      
      However, an Irish win over New Zealand round about then would not have been so outlandish. Ireland had a strong team then in an era when European rugby was on a par with the giants of the SH, as evidenced by the succesful Lions tours of the time.
      
      Let’s think through the possibilities of a 1971 World Cup. Let’s assume it would have taken place late in the year, as World Cups tend to do, to accommodate the different seasons. That would put it into the 1971-72 European season and that remains for those of us in green, the great “What might have been”.
      
      For its first international away to France in 1972, Ireland called up five new caps but perhaps more tellingly, the selectors recalled to the team a centre called Kevin Flynn after an absence of six years. Flynn was a wonderfully incisive runner but was known to be weak on defence and as such was considered a luxury Ireland could not afford. But that year he was recalled to play alongside Mike Gibson.
      
      Other players on the team included McLoughlin and Lynch at prop, both hot from the successful Lions tour of New Zealand, Kennedy as hooker, Williie John McBride at lock, Fergus Slattery at flanker and new caps Moloney at scrum half, and Grace and McMaster on the wings.
      
      They won in Paris for the first time in 20 years (a feat that has only been achieved once since) and great were the celebrations that weekend. Sadly, the next day was January 30 1972, which has passed into history here as Bloody Sunday. Thirteen people were gunned down by paratroopers at a rally in Derry and the whole place went to pot. Ireland were able to fulfill their next fixture, beating England at Twickenham with Flynn ghosting in for a memorable match winning try in the dying seconds. However, given the turmoil in Ireland, neither Wales nor Scotland came to Dublin to play their scheduled matches.
      
      Had Ireland beaten Scotland (as they would have been hot favourites to do) it would have set up a mouth watering winner-take-all Grand Slam decider against Wales in Dublin. It might have been a match that we would still be talking about today. But sadly, it never happened.
      
      The following season New Zealand came to Dublin and escaped with a draw. A late conversion attempt from the touchline of an equalising try by Tom Grace shaved the upright. I know. I was there!
      
      So an Irish win over New Zealand in 1971 or 1972 might have been a suprise. But not a shock.
      
      Reply
      - ohtani's jacket said | December 9th 2009 @ 2:02am | Report comment
        
        All right, because that was such a nice post I will allow this flight of fancy to pass.
        
        Besides, I’m sure we would’ve conspired to find some way of losing the ’71 World Cup. We’re very charitable about these things.
        
        Reply