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Ireland in the Five Nations of 1987

By Gary Watton
April 13 2013

Ciaran Fitzgerald was now given the elbow as big Donal Lenihan led Ireland during an encouraging Five Nations campaign. Only a narrow defeat in Edinburgh against a formidable Scotland team prevented another triple crown season. However, the wheels came off when Ireland lost in a mediocre display against Wales in the inaugural World Cup. To everyone's surprise, Wales progressed to the semi-finals, while Ireland were soundly beaten 33-15 in the quarter-finals by Australia. 

IRELAND 17 ENGLAND 0; 7th February; at Lansdowne Road

15 MacNeill

14 Ringland

13 Mullin

12 Kiernan [TRY, penalty, conversion]

11 Crossan [TRY]

10 Dean

9 Bradley

8 Anderson

7 Carr

6 Matthews [TRY]

5 Glennon

4 Lenihan (c)

3 Fitzgerald

2 Harbison

1 Orr

In very wet conditions, the hosts grabbed two second half-tries from Ulstermen Matthews and then Crossan to win easily.

SCOTLAND 16 IRELAND 12; 21st February; at Murrayfield

15 MacNeill

14 Ringland

13 Mullin

12 Kiernan [drop goal, penalty, conversion]

11 Crossan

10 Dean

9 Bradley

8 Anderson

7 Carr

6 Matthews

5 Glennon

4 Lenihan (c) [TRY]

3 Fitzgerald

2 Harbison

1 Orr

Ireland's annual tormentor Roy Laidlaw sneaked another try to cancel out Donal Lenihan's earlier effort. 

IRELAND 13 FRANCE 19; 21st February; at Lansdowne Road

15 MacNeill

14 Ringland [TRY]

13 Mullin

12 Kiernan [penalty, conversion]

11 Crossan

10 Dean

9 Bradley [TRY]

8 Spillane

7 Anderson

6 Matthews

5 Glennon

4 Lenihan (c)

3 Fitzgerald

2 Harbison

1 Orr

In a repeat score of 1981, France won the coveted 'Grand Chelem', after Ireland had rocked them with an early 10-0 lead.

WALES 11 IRELAND 15; 4th April; at Cardiff Arms Park

15 MacNeill

14 Ringland

13 Mullin [TRY]

12 Kiernan [penalty, 2 conversions]

11 Crossan

10 Dean [TRY]

9 Bradley

8 Spillane

7 Carr

6 Matthews

5 Anderson

4 Lenihan (c)

3 Fitzgerald

2 Harbison

1 Orr

The Leinster duo of Dean and Mullin were the try-scoring heroes as Ireland this time finished strongly, after a bad start.

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Ireland in the Five Nations of 1987
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