Green Army descends on Paris for do-or-die battle
Airport strikes can’t deter travelling fans
TENS of thousands of Irish supporters are expected to descend on Paris’s Stade de France in today’s do-or-die Rugby World Cup clash against the All Blacks.
New Zealand head into the tie in the unusual position of being underdogs, and will be out for revenge after losing a test series, on home soil, to the Irish last year.
Having already beaten reigning champions South Africa, Ireland will be fired up to finally end their quarter-final hoodoo.
The Boys in Green have never progressed beyond that stage of the tournament, but the nation is willing them to go all the way and become champions this year.
Since the tournament kicked off for Ireland against Romania in Pool B on September 9, supporter numbers have climbed steadily, from 30,000 up to an estimated 50,000 and then 60,000 last week for their decisive win over Scotland. Fan numbers could easily hit those heights again today.
Supporters will throng the Irish pubs along Boulevard Poissonnière, near the Arc de Triomphe, and the numerous fan zones closer to the stadium.
It was feared that many fans flying out yesterday would be
‘We’re lucky there are alternatives’
affected by French airport strikes. However, travel expert Eoghan Corry said the strikes should not prevent fans from getting there in time for the game.
Mr Corry said: ‘It looks like we’ll get away with this one. We’re lucky that there’s so many alternatives around where we’re going.’
He explained there were three different air-traffic control unions in France and it was the smallest of these unions that was striking.
Thousands more took flights to other parts of France and went by rail to Paris or flew into Luxembourg and jumped on trains also.
While many are travelling to Paris via London – and the Eurostar – others have travelled by ferries from Rosslare Europort and Dover in England.
Since Thursday, up to 75 flights have been scheduled, as well as numerous charter flights, and up to 15,000 passengers are expected to land in the three main Paris airports, while another 1,000 fans left from Cork Airport yesterday.
The numbers don’t include Irish people living in France and other mainland EU countries.
Graeme McQueen, media relations manager at Dublin Airport operator DAA, said: ‘The number of fans flying to France this weekend is likely to be the highest yet during this World Cup campaign. The further Ireland go in the tournament, the keener Irish fans seem to be to get behind the team in Paris.’
Head coach Andy Farrell has named a strong side to face the All-Blacks, with captain Johnny Sexton hoping that the quarterfinal will not turn out to be his swan song just yet.
And the coach could be line to receive the freedom of Dublin City.
Lord Mayor Daithí de Róiste is ‘actively’ considering the move.
A spokesman for the Lord Mayor’s office explained that the Freedom of the City is the ‘highest and most prestigious award’ that Dublin city can bestow.
‘The Freedom of the City award is under active consideration but no decision has been made as yet and the Lord Mayor’s nominated recipient(s) would be approved by council,’ the spokesman said. A former Lord Mayor of Dublin and north inner city Independent councillor Christy Burke believes Mr Farrell would be ‘very deserving’ of the award. ‘He has and is making the entire country proud of the Irish team’s performances and that doesn’t happen without a lot of hard work and dedication by all involved and in particular Mr Farrell’s guidance. I would be delighted to have him as an honorary freeman of the Dublin,’ said Mr Burke. The 48-year-old joined the Irish team in 2016 as assistant coach. He was named as head coach to succeed Joe Schmidt – now the All Blacks attack coach – after the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
Farrell was assistant coach with England from 2011 to 2015 as well as defence coach for the 2013 Series-winning British and Irish Lions tour to Australia.
The father of four, whose son Owen plays for Saracens and England, received an OBE in 2004 for services to rugby league.
He made his debut for Wigan aged 16 and was captaining England by the age of 21.
He won eight international caps for England.
The Freedom of Dublin has been conferred on 88 people since its first recipient, Isaac Butt, in 1876. The most recent recipients were environmentalist Duncan Stewart and activist Greta Thunberg.
In 2022 academic Ailbhe Smyth, professor and cyber security expert Mary Aiken and Olympic gold medallist Kellie Harrington received the honour.
While no financial benefits are attached to the award, holders have some ancient privileges and duties not enjoyed by ordinary citizens, some of which have little more than symbolic meaning.