Before diving into the story of how the Ireland U19s won the 1998 FIRA World Youths Championship, it must be noted that the title of 'World Championship' should be taken with a grain of salt in this case.
The tournament in question did not feature, as Brian O'Driscoll put it, 'the big three' of Australia, New Zealand, and England.
However, it was beginning of a new dawn in Irish rugby. An even earlier beginning than the much vaunted game against Scotland in the 2000 Six Nations, and one that promised a new mindset and belief within players, at the tail end of the Dark Ages of the 1990s.
A New Beginning For Irish Rugby
One of the pioneers of this new era was the head coach of the U19s side, Declan Kidney - known for his man management skills and simplistic approach - explained the importance of confidence for these young players.
Once Irish fellows get the confidence, they can win. It's all about getting it into these guys' heads
The '98 crowd played South Africa, Argentina and France - in France - in just one week. The myth of the southern hemisphere sides was largely dissipated.
They realised, with the ball in their hands, they are no better and no worse. I told them this countless times.
Ireland went into the tournament with a number of standout individuals, including Brian O'Driscoll, Donnacha O'Callaghan, Paddy Wallace, Kieran Campbell, and captain Shane Moore.
The team handily saw off the challenge of the USA in the first round, with a winning score of 47-13, before coming up against South Africa in the quarter-finals.
Donnacha O'Callaghan and Brian O'Driscoll in the airport after their win, plus a the final in Toulouse.
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After initially fearing the big South Africans, Ireland went down 17-0 in the early stages of the game. However, a disallowed try, rather than knock their confidence, gave them this all important belief that Kidney was so keen to instil.
On the Irish team was St. Michael's student Aidan Kearney, who was in sixth year at the time, and only available for selection as the tournament fell during his Easter holidays.
In a piece with the Irish Examiner in 2004, he spoke of Kidney's methods and the pedigree of the the youthful South Africans.
All he said was, 'here's out strengths, here's our weaknesses. We're going to play to our strengths'.
When we went out against South Africa we realised we were as big as they were. Some of them had played Super 12 and more were playing just a level below but we had some big guys ourselves.
We had a guy called Damien Broughal, myself and Donncha O'Callaghan in our pack, all guys well over 6'3". It was a mobile pack too, we were good at the lineout and we had a set of backs who could run with the ball when we fed it to them.
A Fortunate Breach Of The Rules
And so it was that Ireland were able to claw back the deficit and finish normal time with the sides at 17-17, which lead to a penalty shoot-out.
O'Driscoll, who was Ireland's kicker at the time and had earned the draw with a late conversion, somehow missed his shot at goal from in front of the posts.
Winger Matthew Cupitt also missed his and Ireland lost out 4-3. But all was not lost, as a few keen spectators from the Irish camp noticed that South Africa had broken competition rules by using a kicker that had not been on the field at the end of normal time.
After some deliberation, they lodged a complaint, and despite the intended final of South Africa vs hosts France, the tournament organisers had no choice but to give the win to Ireland.
Argentina were duly swept aside in the semi-final, 18-3, before the same treatment was given to the heavy favourites France in the final, with Ireland keeping them to zero in an 18-0 win.
5 March 1999; Brian O'Driscoll, Ireland U21. Bank of Ireland U21 Rugby International, Ireland U21 v England U21, Templeville Road, Dublin. Picture credit: Brendan Moran / SPORTSFILE
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"It was a good stepping stone," said Brian O'Driscoll in 2018.
"Do you know what it was? It was a confidence boost. Certainly to me and other players of then being able to take the next step on the international stage.
"It's easier to come into a culture where's there's been an expectation to win in the past and the players know what it's like to get it done.
"We didn't step into that at all. It was barren years throughout the 90s, no excitement really around the Irish team, maybe not excitement, but expectation to achieve or to win or to push close for honours. That was never in out psyche.
"So all of a sudden to do that and achieve, you go they are just human, why can't we bring this on to all the teams we play on, all the representative teams.
"And I think that did happen with all those players that went on to achieve a full cap."
Full Squad And Results From The 1998 FIRA World Youths Championship
Backs: Kieran Campbell (London Irish), Aidan Considine (Bective Rangers), Matthew Cupitt (Instonians), Darragh Holt (UCC), David Mescal (Ballina/UCG), Shane Moore (UCD) (capt), Barry McCracken (CIYMS), Brian O’Driscoll (UCD), John Reynolds (Watsonians), Brendan Ronan (CBC Cork), Donovan Rossi (Clontarf), Paddy Wallace (Campbell College).
Forwards: Damien Broughall (UCD), Brian Cahill (UCC), Neil Coughlan (UCD), Conor Fitzgerald (Garryowen), Adrian Flavin (London Irish), Aidan Kearney (St. Michael’s College), Chris McCarey (Ballymena), Andy O’Brien (UCD), Donncha O’Callaghan (Cork Constitution), Frank Roche (Bohemians), Chris Schofield (Bangor), Joey Sheahan (PBC Cork), Ben Urquhart (Methodist College), Chris Good (RBAI).
RESULTS –
Ireland Under-19s 47 USA Under-19s 13, Samatan
Scorers: Ireland: Tries: Ben Urquhart, Damien Broughall, Chris McCarey 2, Paddy Wallace, Aidan Kearney, Chris Good, Donovan Rossi; Cons: Donovan Rossi 2; Pen: Donovan Rossi
Ireland Under-19s 17 South Africa Under-19s 17, Lombez
Scorers: Ireland: Paddy Wallace, Chris McCarey; Cons: Brian O’Driscoll 2; Pen: Brian O’Driscoll
Argentina Under-19s 3 Ireland Under-19s 18, Colomiers
Scorers: Ireland: Tries: Kieran Campbell, Neil Coughlan; Con: Brian O’Driscoll; Pens: Brian O’Driscoll 2
France Under-19s 0 Ireland Under-19s 18, Toulouse
Scorers: Ireland: Tries: Paddy Wallace, Darragh Holt; Con: Brian O’Driscoll; Pen: Brian O’Driscoll; Drop: Paddy Wallace
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