Irish grit to pressurise France

Ireland once again embrace the traditional mantle of underdogs for tomorrow's IRB/ FIRA World Youths Championship final against France in the Les Septs Deniers Stadium, Toulouse (3.0 Irish time), hoping that for a third successive match they can rip the formbook asunder.

Having slipped past South Africa with the aid of the rulebook, Ireland totally eclipsed pre-tournament favourites Argentina in the semifinal, worthy and convincing 18-3 winners. Not everyone has acclaimed the achievements. Their passage to the final failed to rate even a cursory mention in the local media, too intent on savouring the possibility of a home victory.

Ireland team-manager Harry McKibbin explains: "We haven't received even the barest mention in the papers. Prior to the start of the tournament they were speculating as to who would oppose France in the final, concentrating on the relative merits of champions Argentina and a powerful Springbok side.

"When we got past South Africa we still did not rate any coverage. There was a substantial preview of the French semi-final and a few lines on Argentina but absolutely nothing on us other than in the briefs where they gave the fixture."

Against this backdrop it is hardly surprising that the bond between members of the squad has been central to the success.

"The atmosphere and spirit have been wonderful and great credit must go to coaches Declan Kidney and Bart Fanin. They have been directly responsible for ensuring that the players mixed well and that there were no cliques, driven by provinces. The importance of the squad rather than the team has been fostered and even the four boys who won't tog out tomorrow feel part of the proceedings."

Ireland's progress, while ignored locally, must in all honesty be considered something of a revelation. When one realises that neither players qualified to play for the Irish Schools or Irish Youths teams were eligible, it encapsulates the enormity of what has been achieved in only their second year in the competition.

McKibbin is honest with regard to the general standard at the World Youths Championship. "I would have to say that is is very mixed. Even though Spain and Uruguay have made the top flight, they are considerably less able than established rugby countries like France, South Africa, Argentina, Wales, Scotland and ourselves."

So how have they managed to defy the formbook? McKibbin laughs: "I think it is with a little bit of traditional Irish grit and determination. I would say that the style we are playing is very Irish: we are in their faces, exerting pressure and then looking to strike quickly when we force turnovers.

"There is a pronounced similarity in the way we have been playing and Ireland's performance in the Five Nations Championship match at the Stade de France. It is the team rather than the individual that has flourished. Having said that, the big men, second-rows Donnacha O'Callaghan and Damien Broughall and number eight Aidan Kearney, who is still in school at St Michael's College, have been exceptional. He's a wonderful prospect.

"France were beaten finalists last year, losing to Argentina 18-12 in Buenos Aires. The weight of expectation has so far proved nothing more than a minor inconvenience as their semi-final thrashing of Canada illustrated. The 16,000-seater Les Septs Deniers is sure to offer a colourful and noisy backdrop to proceedings.

"We are aware that the French will start as overwhelming favourites, backed by what is likely to be a partisan crowd but it is a familiar position in which we find ourselves. Ultimately it is about what takes place on the pitch and we have been more than a match for everyone to date."

So these are positive words from an Ireland party that have defied expectation and in doing so further embellished the country's curriculum vitae in the competitive world of elite underage competition. Ireland once might have travelled in hope but now challenge for the ultimate accolade. Allez les Verts.

Ireland: D Rossi (Clontarf); M Cupitt (Instonians), S Moore (UCD, capt), B O'Driscoll (UCD), D Holt (UCC); P Wallace (Campbell College), K Campbell (London Irish); A O'Brien (UCD), A Flavin (London Irish), F Roche (Bohemians); D O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution), D Broughall (UCD); C McCarey (Ballymena), A Kearney (St Michael's College), N Coughlan (UCD). Replacements: D Mescal (UCG), J Reyn- olds (watsonians), A Considine (Bective Rangers), B Urqhart (Methodist College, Belfast), C Fitzgerald (Garryowen), C Good (RBAI), C Schofield (Bangor).