Trains, boats and planes discharged thousands of Irish fans making rugby voyage of their dreams, writes MARK HENNESSY, London Editor, at Twickenham
LOOKING SLIGHTLY the worse for wear, the Ulster fans boarded the District Line at Gloucester Road, heading for Twickenham. By Ravenscourt Park the train carriage was gently swaying as they raucously sang Stand Up For The Ulstermen.
The procession to Twickenham had begun. Thousands from both clubs had arrived the night before, while from early morning Luton Airport had been taken over by legions of fans in blue and white or red and white arriving on charter flights.
In Richmond, a traditional stopping-off point for Irish rugby fans, the Orange Tree had been turned into “Kielys-on-the-Thames”, as hundreds of Leinster fans milled around the pub, occupying the pavement outside.
Around the corner, 20-minute long queues for drinks at the Sun Inn were the norm, though the flow of drink outside was interrupted temporarily when, horror of horrors, credit cards could not be accepted for a time.
The clubs’ supporters, many of whom had spilled over onto the edge of the road, were joined by a group of men out enjoying a combined rugby weekend/ stag party, wearing Union Jack bermudas and boasting “Jim’ll Fix It” wigs, cigars and glasses.
A frustrated local driver stopped, believing, wrongly, that not enough room existed to get past. Muttering her objections at the fans’ presence, she was ever so gently mocked as she finally decided to move on.
Inside Twickenham, the fans mingled easily, exchanging banter and predictions; though those queuing for liquid sustenance for the game ahead fumed at the slow rate of service at the Chariots of Fire bar.
Inside the stadium, the announcer pedantically described the teams as “Leinster Rugby” and “Ulster Rugby” – the official names, according to the club’s own websites, but the use of which provoked an Irishman’s traditional irritation similar to that caused by an Englishman’s use of “Éire”.
Leinster hopes of a third trophy began to move from dream to reality within 20 minutes, despite numerous turnovers by both sides. By the 32nd minute, an O’Driscoll offload put O’Brien clear, leading to a try from Healy.
On the hour mark, the announcer told the crowd what most already knew – that an all-Ireland affair in southwest London is no bar to travel.
“The attendance today is 81,744, a new record for the Heineken Cup final,” he said.
The uniformity in the serried ranks in the stands were interrupted from time to time as replenishments for some from the bar beneath them in the North Stand arrived, along with calls of “Mind the pints, lads”.
On the 73rd minute, Brian O’Driscoll returned after a six-minute-long blood substitution. “You hardly think he was going to miss this, do you?” said a Leinster supporter.
Moments later, the sun broke through the cloud, bathing Twickenham in a soft glow.
The victory celebrations had begun long before Cronin scored a try with the 80-minute mark looming and McFadden’s conversion, though most of the Ulster fans sportingly stayed for the presentation of the cup.
However, the pitch presentation was closely guarded. Two Leinster fans made it onto the sward, before they were brought down by security guards and manhandled – none too gently – to the stand.
Leinster fans booed in disapproval, before returning to cheer their men.