Madam, - I have followed the Irish rugby team for more than a decade through both bad times and good. What has most impressed me has been the generally fair analysis of the performance of the Irish team in your paper. However, I read with great disappointment your take on Ireland's display last weekend and feel some realism should be brought to the debate.
First of all, France had a distinct advantage in the team they could select, being at full strength. On the other hand, Ireland were missing several key players. Geordan Murphy, whose splendid drop goal proved the difference in winning the match for Ireland earlier this year, was unavailable.
His was a massive loss, both with regard to his versatility as a player and his excellent footballing skills. Add in the fact that Denis Hickie, one of our best ever attacking backs, was injured, and that David Wallace and Alan Quinlan, our best ball players, and such central figures in the victories of Irish teams in recent years, were also out, and, is it any wonder that we lost?
France also had the benefit of two days' extra training plus ideal conditions for them, hot and sunny.
In the final analysis, and hopefully with time, this Irish performance will be seen for what it was - a gallant and courageous effort by a severely weakened team to overhaul an impossible deficit against a French team which could well prove to be the best in the competition. - Yours, etc.,
LUKE KEHOE, Roselawn Road, Dublin 15.