As we arrived at the ground we parked next to a family of Wuss supporters who weren’t that excited about their new look team and said that their team could never fantastic. So as we got into the north-west corner of the stadium (after the usual visit to the craic and burger van.) we ran to the corner post and tried to see the other corner flag. I think I heard from somewhere at the away Wuss game last year that the game could be called off in the ‘interest of player safety’ if you couldn’t see each corner flag. So at 2pm it was 50:50 and freezing cold, don’t worry this isn’t the weather report. I think there were a lot of Wuss fans; I could hear them not see them.

LKR spotted in the player only huddle that Catt wasn’t in there and Hickey was warming up so she of course guessed correctly that Shane started, Hickey was on the bench and Catt was coaching. Another weather check at 2:35pm, LKR ‘Its fine’, SamR43 ‘Nah’, JonR43 ‘Very dodgy’ and DanR43 chickened out and didn’t answer. But by 2:45pm the fog was lifting. Also the announcement that Rawlinson wasn’t playing meant only 2 of the 3 new Wuss superstars were playing. At 2:50pm we could see corner to corner and we were set.as Juan leads the team out for his 50^th Guinness Premiership appearance. Come on you Irish.

Straight from the kick-off Spud is taken out in the air and a penalty is awarded which Delon kicks. Another penalty from the line out and things were looking good. Delon punts it beautifully to the 5m line and we drive for the line. Steffon gets held up but the forwards drive again from the scrum and score. Try only 4 minutes in! Announced as Skuse but everywhere else it’s given to Paice. A great conversion added by Delon, of course Delon takes his time over his kicking and got the Wuss fans angry by taking about 1min and 1sec. Kick-off and on the return kick Tops is given as offside, a great spot by the ref as it was so foggy. Wuss take a shot near the 22m line. Drahm makes it 7-3 only 8 minutes in. A knock on somewhere in the South East corner of the stadium by Wuss from the kick-off. The fog was getting worse which meant we tried plenty of up and under's, maybe too many. Then a great sight, a chip through by Shane, something we have missed over the pass few weeks and something I’m sure a few people couldn’t even see then. Wuss then gave away quite a few pens but we keep going for a try and not taking the 3. But Wuss eventually clear. Touch judge on our side (not that the east stand could see) was a bit stingy so Bob helped him out, which wasn’t appreciated. 20 minutes gone. A very crooked throw into a lineout by Wuss which we could see as clear as the day, oh wait.

Then came our first real glimpse of Sam Tuipoopoo who broke a few of our tackles. The fog then became worse than before the kick-off. Eventually we get a penalty on the Wuss 22 for not rolling away. Now I may have to take the blame for this as I wrote, ‘Delon makes it 10-3’ and he missed so I had to change it to ‘Delon doesn’t make it 10- 3.’ Lot of play in the south-east corner and there was lots of shouting from what I think were Irish supporters so I assumed we were going forward. 10 minutes to go. Then another penalty to Irish on the Wuss 22 for killing the ball, I think. This time Delon really does make it 10-3. At the kick-off Bob is taken out, very similar to the first kick-off where Phil was taken out. The Wuss hooker – Lutui was then binned with 6 minutes to go in the half. Play then goes somewhere into the south east corner again. And Wuss come out of the fog with the ball and Gonzalo gives a Gonzalo type tackle picking them up and driving them down, then a big cheer but then a pen is given for not rolling away. Wuss attack near the WEST stand and Gravy goes down and was ‘tripped’ by Delon, most people think he was tripped but I’m still not sure. Delon is carded for the incident. Drahm makes it 10-6 from the penalty and the half time whistle goes.

The half time entertainment was the usual paper aeroplanes, which was a surprise as they were not delayed like the flights back from Toulouse airport last weekend due to ‘weather conditions’. Then the crowd being warmed up by the drummers and the announcer pointing at the stand he wants to make a noise, well umm it was foggy so it wasn’t as good as it could have been. The fog wasn’t getting any better but no worries there was plenty of hot chocolate and coffee and food.

A lineout straight from the kick-off and a straight throw in from Wuss for once. Play then goes into the other corner. I CANT SEE! The Wuss number 2 returns. Wuss get a lineout on our own 22 (which of course wasn’t put in straight) and Tuipoopoo ran a fantastic line straight through our defence and scores, converted to make the score 10-13. Delon comes back on eventually and goes straight for the posts somewhere between the 22 and the 50. He makes it 13-13 with a great kick. I say great kick but I could barely see it but I'm sure it was. After some time the ball is kicked into the Wuss 22 maybe in the south stand. Then there was lots of cheering but the ball then comes out of the fog and is cleared by Wuss. Then some changes:

            Tonga – Dermody

            Juan – Phil The Great, who had a great game. I say this with a gun to my head.

            Dodge – Richards

Delon seemed to be limping. A knock on by Irish and then a knock on by Wuss shortly after but the scrum was awarded to us, a very short advantage. Sometime after we get a penalty on the Wuss 22 in the centre for some sort of dance move signalled by the ref. I’ve called it a ‘penalty for boogying.’ Delon makes it 16-13 with 17 minutes to go. Wuss then get a penalty a few seconds after the kick off and Drahm misses the kick keeping it at 16-13. The 22 was then kicked straight out so Wuss get a scrum on the 22 and then a penalty for something but it was too foggy to tell. Kick taken and 16-16 with 12 minutes to go.

            Thorpe – Steffon.

Delon then tried a rather ambitious drop goal from well outside the 22 which I didn’t appreciate and got rather angry with. Irish attack and Shane chips through with Tops chasing but the ball just goes out the back, very close. 6 minutes to go.

            Hudson – Nick

Lots of up and under’s then which kept play going with just 4 minutes to go and the scored still tied. Delon then takes a great run up to the 22 by the WEST stand so I could see this very clearly. Delon makes a great pass to Tagi who runs inside and breaks through 4, yes 4 (weak) tackles from Wuss and goes over the line! Converted, 23-16 with just 1min 30secs to go. Wuss attacking but keep going backwards and backwards and then they knock it on with no time left on the clock. The full time whistle goes and Irish get the 4 points today.

A short conclusion. It could have gone either way. We made it hard work and Wuss put up a good hard fight and possibly the draw was the deserved result but we never gave up and scored at the death.

Well done Irish and Merry Christmas!

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