France against ageing Ireland in rugby opener

Press, 20 January 1984, Page 28

France against ageing Ireland in rugby opener

NZPA-AFP Paris The 1984 Five Nations rugby tournament starts this week-end with France the outstanding favourite to go one better than its championship share with Ireland last year. Those two countries will meet in one of the two opening games at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, while in the other, Wales will welcome Scotland to the National Stadium, Cardiff, with a tall score to settle.

The Paris game could be the swansong for Ireland’s ageing pack. Moss Keane, Willie Duggan, Phil Orr, Ciaron Fitzgerald, Gerrie McLoughlin, John O’Driscoll, and Fergus Slattery are all well over 30 and they must soon start feeling the years. The French backs, with the winger, Patrick Esteve, and centre, Didier Codorniou, outstanding, are arguably the best in the world

and the pack is steady if unexciting. At the National Stadium, Wales will be looking to avenge the humiliating 18-34 defeat inflicted by the Scots two years ago, the first home loss for Wales since 1968.

The signs, however, are far from promising. Wales, which finished third last year, have had a dreadful build-up, struggling to defeat Japan at home and then being mauled away to Rumania.

The Welsh, however, have stubbornly stuck by their squad. They have a new scrum-half, Mark Douglas, to replace the injured Terry Holmes, and have retained the eloquent Eddie Butler as captain. The Scots, after a tremendous 25-25 draw against the All Blacks at Murrayheld, still look that frustrating mixture of brilliance and mediocrity, with the front five being the main problem.