Murray Kinsella reports from Cardiff
YOU KNOW THE mood has taken a turn for the better when Joe Schmidt is hanging around after his press conference to do a bit of slagging.
Following a tense feeling around Ireland camp earlier this week, there was a relative skip in the step as the head coach named his starting team on Friday.
The pressure of a World Cup had been evident in the exchanges with the media on Tuesday and Wednesday in Celtic Manor, understandably so with such an important fixture ahead.
In contrast, the atmosphere around France was utterly relaxed, to the extent that one’s confidence in Ireland’s prospects of beating Philippe Saint-André’s side in the Millennium Stadium wavered.
Were Ireland retreating into themselves with the heat on them after that poor performance against Italy?
The leader sets the tone, and Schmidt did that on Friday. Sitting up on stage – literally on this occasion – in front of the assembled Irish and French journalists, the Kiwi spoke with energy, passion, a touch of humour and notable volume. It seemed a concerted effort to convey a positive, confident tone.
As is so often the case, Schmidt’s habits filtered down to his players. There was Peter O’Mahony with a rare smile in front of a huddle of question askers minutes later. Jamie Heaslip strolled by with a casual joke before agreeing to a selfie with a fan who had somehow found his way into the media event.
You made my year in Edinburgh, Jamie. Best day of drinking I’ve ever had. Thanks for the photo, my friends will be impressed.
Robbie Henshaw briefly paused to discuss possible penalty offences against Mathieu Bastareaud. Schmidt pointed the finger in a good-natured manner at those who had looked to reveal his team before the official announcement.
Word from several places is that Ireland trained better than ever on Friday, their final session before this France clash. That was a contrast to at least one of the on-pitch sessions before the Italy game, when Schmidt had been unhappy with the application and accuracy.
It’s always amazing just how much a quality training session can affect the mood of the group. On Friday, everything worked perfectly, each individual player looked as sharp as they have at this World Cup, the communication was concise, the plays crisply executed.
Of course the confirmation on Saturday morning that Jared Payne is heading home came as a spirit dampener, but rugby players are resilient beings. The Ulsterman’s hand would have been shaken, a word of encouragement and then move on.
Back in Cardiff city centre on Friday evening, the influx of clothing bearing harps, shamrocks, stags and green fabric began in earnest. Ireland themselves shifted in on Saturday morning, back to the same Marriott hotel they occupied for the World Cup opener against Canada.
How long ago that game seems now, a different world of excitement, intensity, stress. By 4pm on Saturday, the Welsh capital was already getting close to bursting point, particularly with so much on the line for Warren Gatland’s men against Australia on televisions across the city.
By that hour, the official World Cup fanzone in Cardiff Arms Park, alongside the Millennium Stadium, was already full. Queues were beginning to snake back down Westgate Street. Not far away, one could barely get in the door of Dempsey’s.
We left the revelry to those who had made the expensive trips, although one can be sure that the drinking holes from Mocka all the way up to Tiger Tiger were absolutely mobbed until the early hours.
Ireland’s invading fans brought with them a sense of positivity and confidence, echoing how Schmidt’s squad finished their week’s preparation.
