Ireland in the Five Nations of 1986


Another Mullin try
By Gary Watton
April 13 2013

Like Scotland before them, the Oirish descended from champions to whitewashed wooden spoon recipients in one season. Unfortunately, this campaign began with a spanking in Paris from a French team themselves smarting from a defeat at Murrayfield. Ireland never really recovered from this setback, and this time around, the selectors couldn't resist the temptation to ring the changes, even dropping Phil Orr after forty-nine successive caps, a decision that spectacularly backfired at Twickenham against a rampant English scrum.

FRANCE 29 IRELAND 9; 1st February; at Parc des Princes

15 MacNeill

14 Ringland

13 Mullin

12 Kiernan [3 penalties]

11 Finn

10 Dean

9 Bradley

8 Spillane

7 Morrow

6 Kearney

5 Anderson

4 Lenihan

3 McCoy

2 Fitzgerald (c)

1 Orr

Little Pierre Berbizier, the prop Philippe Marocco, and the outstanding centre Philippe Sella helped themselves to a try.

IRELAND 12 WALES 19; 15th February; at Lansdowne Road

15 MacNeill

14 Ringland [TRY]

13 Mullin

12 Kiernan [2 penalties, conversion]

11 Finn

10 Dean

9 Bradley

8 Spillane

7 Carr

6 Kearney

5 Holland

4 Lenihan

3 Fitzgerald.D

2 Fitzgerald.C (c)

1 Kennedy

After a bright start that culminated in a 12-4 lead, Ireland collapsed, with big Phil Davies scoring the decisive try.

ENGLAND 25 IRELAND 20; 1st March; at Twickenham

15 MacNeill

14 Ringland [TRY]

13 Mullin [TRY]

12 Kiernan [2 penalties, conversion]

11 Crossan

10 Keyes

9 Bradley

8 Spillane

7 Carr

6 Morrow

5 Lenihan

4 McCall [TRY]

3 Fitzgerald.D

2 Fitzgerald.C (c)

1 Kennedy

Two first-half tries gave Ireland a 10-9 interval lead, but the Irish scrum was dismantled at a frozen Twickenham.

IRELAND 9 SCOTLAND 10; 15th March; at Lansdowne Road

15 MacNeill

14 Ringland [TRY]

13 Mullin

12 Kiernan [penalty, conversion]

11 Crossan

10 Ward

9 Bradley

8 Anderson

7 Carr

6 Morrow

5 Lenihan

4 McCall

3 Fitzgerald.D

2 Fitzgerald.C (c)

1 Orr

Kiernan missed an 'easy' late penalty attempt which would have yielded a merited win. Ireland had led 9-0 at half time.   

Ireland in the Five Nations of 1986
Posted by: Ireland (IP Logged)
Date: 13/04/2013 14:34

What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.

Goto: Forum List•Message List•Search•
  • Log In
    • Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.
    We record all IP addresses on the Sportnetwork message boards which may be required by the authorities in case of defamatory or abusive comment. We seek to monitor the Message Boards at regular intervals. We do not associate Sportnetwork with any of the comments and do not take responsibility for any statements or opinions expressed on the Message Boards. If you have any cause for concern over any material posted here please let us know as soon as possible by e-mailing abuse@sportnetwork.net