Memory LaneMarch 2003: Wales 24 Ireland 25 At the Millennium. As end-game scenarios go, this was as dramatic as it gets. Stephen Jones lands a nice drop goal to put Wales 24-22 in front and, seemingly, crushing Ireland's Grand Slam aspirations in the process.
Ronan O'Gara had been on the field 10 minutes and was probably the only player not out on his feet.
"I looked over and Drico (Brian O'Driscoll) couldn't talk he was so wrecked, so I badgered the referee to find out how much was left and he said two minutes. Which doesn't give you an awful lot of time, especially when they're at home and they were so pumped.
"The restart probably went 10 or 15 yards longer than I expected, but fair play to Mal (O'Kelly) or one of the pack, they got a touch to it. It was unbelievable, the effort they resurrected at that stage of the match."
Peter Stringer provided the usual lightning service and from around halfway O'Gara reverted to technique. His first drop goal for Ireland must go down as the sweetest of his career. 25-24.
Game over? Actually, there was one more scene. Jones got into range once more but Denis Hickie managed to block the Llanelli outhalf's strike.
Again, O'Gara was the best-placed eyewitness. "Some fellas were just out on their feet, there was silence at the end really. Just fellas shattered."
So, it was all perfectly set for the Grand Slam decider against England at Lansdowne Road. The Irish media and public slightly underestimated Martin Johnson's team two weeks later: 42-6 was the final score.
Four years on and the quest continues.
Player Speak
By pure accident, I was exposed to my first viewing of Celebrity Big Brother on Sunday evening. Thankfully, it was the grand finale. However, French number eight Imanol Harinordoquy appears to have become transfixed by the whole Shilpa Shetty saga.
"When we assembled Sunday evening, we had the feeling it was a bit like Big Brother," said Harinordoquy. "It will be difficult for the TV viewers because they will have to choose among 40 guys, and for us a place in the World Cup squad will be hard to get."
Okay. Maybe his girlfriend/wife made him watch it. Normal people are known to become addicted. "To start with we don't share our bedrooms. I know it's because the 22 players in the squad and the 18 others who are supposed to focus on physical training have different schedules. Some of us will have to get up at six, others at eight."
Maybe the current form of Sebastian Chabal will see him confined to the couch for the Six Nations.
Word from the Welsh
"Let's not get carried away with how good Ireland are and talking about Ireland, let's talk about how good we are as a squad," said Gareth Thomas yesterday. "Let's build ourselves up so when we go into it we're confident and not worrying about their players. We're good enough now to talk ourselves up."
Gareth needs to find a way to talk himself out of a punishment for flipping Ulster fans the bird at this Thursday's ERC disciplinary hearing. Otherwise, he won't be featuring on Sunday.
On the box
A half-hour documentary called Croke Park - The Opening Hour will be televised on RTÉ 2 the week before the Ireland v France game.
RTÉ will also be covering all 15 matches during the tournament live, with a one-hour highlights programme to follow the Irish games.
