Ireland Elated After Long Years Of Hurt In France

Brendan Gallagher delves into some of rugby’s most enduring images, their story and why they are still so impactful

- Brendan Gallagher

What’s happening here?

It’s March 19, 2000 at the Stade de France in Paris and Ireland have just beaten France 27-25. Centre Rob Henderson and skipper Keith Wood are getting the celebrations underway while in the background a very young Brian O’Driscoll is sloping away, perhaps not quite yet used to the attention and celebrity status that was about to engulf him.

What’s the story behind the picture?

In brief, 28 years of Irish failure. Ireland’s last win in Paris had been at the old Stade Colombes in 1972 when they made off with a 14-8 victory but in between it had been a tale of woe and underperforming. Paris became a graveyard for Irish rugby, indeed they never did manage a win at the Parc Des Princes during that period. Legions of Ireland players, particularly flankers, made painful debuts there and were never heard of again. Ireland then lost their first ever game at the Stade de France and a feeling of groundhog day set in.