Toulouse vs London Irish - Match Report
By Billy Hamilton October 12 2006
London Irish played their first game in the Heineken Cup in the hotbed of Toulouse last Saturday. Although they were defeated it was probably their best performance of the season and hopefully signals a return to their winning ways.
London Irish played their first game in the Heineken Cup in the hotbed of Toulouse last Saturday. Although they were defeated it was probably their best performance of the season and hopefully signals a return to their winning ways.
Toulouse 28 London Irish 23
Brendan Venter returned to the team for the first time this season but it was almost a short-lived debut. His first tackle of the game, within a minute of the start, was penalised as being too high. When Welsh referee Nigel Whitehouse called him aside it looked as if he was going off even if only temporarily. To the relief of the Irish contingent, and the disgust of the home crowd, he was only to receive a warning on this occasion.
The visitors then settled down to play the sort of rugby that brought them so much success and admiration last season. They had Toulouse on the back foot but had to settle for a penalty and two magnificent drop goals from Barry Everitt to give them a 9-0 lead midway through the first half. Toulouse out half Jean-Baptiste Elissade reduced the gap with a penalty before a rolling maul took the home side over the goal line and their number 8 Isitolo Maka grounded the ball for the opening try. Everitt and Frederic Micahalak traded penalties give the Irish a one-point advantage at the interval.
In the first half the Exiles showed the ball recycling and retention skills that had been lacking since April of last year. Venter’s leadership and inspiration had certainly brought the spark back into the attack. The defence was also magnificent and their robust tackling smothered many a French attack.
Everitt slotted over his third penalty eleven minutes into the second period but the game was shortly to slip away from his side. Venter committed a second high tackle, which brought a yellow card. Elissade converted the resultant penalty. From the resumption the French set up an attack. Their new winger Vincent Clerc kicked the ball along the left touchline and beat Geoff Appleford in the chase to ground the ball and give his side the lead for the first time. The home side had therefore used their numerical superiority to knock up ten points.
When Venter was due to return from his cooling–off period he chose to send on Nick Burrows explaining later that he did so in case any more strong tackling from him might result in a permanent banishment. Clerc, later nominated as Man of the Match, scored his second try in an almost identical position when he chased Elissade’s chip kick over the line before the defence had realised where the ball had gone. With the fly half’s two conversions the Exiles suddenly had a deficit of 13 points going into the last eight minutes.
The boys in green showing their new spirit kept up the attack and scored their first try through Burrows. Everitt's conversion attempt went wide, his only miss of the day. In spite of continuing their onslaught they had to be content with Everitt’s third penalty with the last kick of the game.
Brendan Venter was full of praise for his team’s performance. “We are starting to enjoy playing rugby again. It is nice to see smiling faces in the dressing room once more”, he added. The players we were able to meet later echoed these sentiments. This game may be a turning point in the season and Venter hopes to build on the foundations laid down by this performance. His philosophy is still to bring on players who will learn to play without him but he would not rule out the possibility of him playing a fuller part in the Heineken Cup campaign.
One feature of this game was the size of the travelling Irish support which has been estimated as being between 4-500. With their green wigs and boas they certainly made an impact on the city of Toulouse.
Brendan Venter returned to the team for the first time this season but it was almost a short-lived debut. His first tackle of the game, within a minute of the start, was penalised as being too high. When Welsh referee Nigel Whitehouse called him aside it looked as if he was going off even if only temporarily. To the relief of the Irish contingent, and the disgust of the home crowd, he was only to receive a warning on this occasion.
The visitors then settled down to play the sort of rugby that brought them so much success and admiration last season. They had Toulouse on the back foot but had to settle for a penalty and two magnificent drop goals from Barry Everitt to give them a 9-0 lead midway through the first half. Toulouse out half Jean-Baptiste Elissade reduced the gap with a penalty before a rolling maul took the home side over the goal line and their number 8 Isitolo Maka grounded the ball for the opening try. Everitt and Frederic Micahalak traded penalties give the Irish a one-point advantage at the interval.
In the first half the Exiles showed the ball recycling and retention skills that had been lacking since April of last year. Venter’s leadership and inspiration had certainly brought the spark back into the attack. The defence was also magnificent and their robust tackling smothered many a French attack.
Everitt slotted over his third penalty eleven minutes into the second period but the game was shortly to slip away from his side. Venter committed a second high tackle, which brought a yellow card. Elissade converted the resultant penalty. From the resumption the French set up an attack. Their new winger Vincent Clerc kicked the ball along the left touchline and beat Geoff Appleford in the chase to ground the ball and give his side the lead for the first time. The home side had therefore used their numerical superiority to knock up ten points.
When Venter was due to return from his cooling–off period he chose to send on Nick Burrows explaining later that he did so in case any more strong tackling from him might result in a permanent banishment. Clerc, later nominated as Man of the Match, scored his second try in an almost identical position when he chased Elissade’s chip kick over the line before the defence had realised where the ball had gone. With the fly half’s two conversions the Exiles suddenly had a deficit of 13 points going into the last eight minutes.
The boys in green showing their new spirit kept up the attack and scored their first try through Burrows. Everitt's conversion attempt went wide, his only miss of the day. In spite of continuing their onslaught they had to be content with Everitt’s third penalty with the last kick of the game.
Brendan Venter was full of praise for his team’s performance. “We are starting to enjoy playing rugby again. It is nice to see smiling faces in the dressing room once more”, he added. The players we were able to meet later echoed these sentiments. This game may be a turning point in the season and Venter hopes to build on the foundations laid down by this performance. His philosophy is still to bring on players who will learn to play without him but he would not rule out the possibility of him playing a fuller part in the Heineken Cup campaign.
One feature of this game was the size of the travelling Irish support which has been estimated as being between 4-500. With their green wigs and boas they certainly made an impact on the city of Toulouse.
Bookmark or share this story with:
Digg
Delicious
Facebook
Reddit
Stumbleupon
More London Irish headlines
London Irish latest threads
London Irish Poll
