Man Behind the Match: Brian O’Driscoll and the 2000 Six Nations’ France Ireland

There are certain moments in sport when a realisation dawns that what you are watching is not run-of-the-mill; an extraordinary talent announces itself on the world stage. Usain Bolt, Roger Federer, Lionel Messi and Kevin Pietersen have all created those impressions in the 21st century. Add to that list Brian Gerald O'Driscoll at Stade de France in March, 2000.
O'Driscoll had taken his first steps towards rugby immortality the previous year, making his debut on tour in Australia. This was a new era, the first-ever Six Nations tournament with Italy having joined the party, and appropriately enough the brave new world also welcomed a man who would become one of the most revered centres to have played the game. At the age of 21, O'Driscoll would take Paris by storm.
Ireland arrived at Stade de France on the back of victories against Scotland and Italy. Warren Gatland's side were in a far more buoyant mood than they were after week one, when they suffered a sound beating by England at Twickenham. This, though, was a real test of the New Zealander's burgeoning team – Ireland had not won in Paris for 28 years and had not beaten France anywhere since 1983.
Flanker Simon Easterby was one of the new breed untainted by history: “It was my first season in international rugby. Changes had been made after the heavy defeat at Twickenham. Me, Peter Stringer, Ronan O'Gara, John Hayes and Shane Horgan had come in for the Scotland game. It was a turning point. When you look at how many caps those guys went on to win, Warren was looking at younger players, and we had nothing to lose.
“Having won our first couple of matches I remember thinking that this was great but then we had France, in Paris, with all that history. It was a phenomenal game, day and night – really special. The game just flew by.
“Many of us had not played there before. The likes of Keith Wood, Mick Galwey and Peter Clohessy would have had memories of Parc des Princes, but we had no hang-ups. It was a young team and not just in terms of the starting XV. There were people like Frankie Sheahan, Justin Fitzpatrick and my brother Guy on the bench.”
Kevin Maggs, winning his 25th cap, was one of the more experienced hands: “We'd been to the Stade de France and narrowly lost 18-16 two years before. Paul Wallace had a try disallowed and we thought we'd been robbed.”
Maggs had been O'Driscoll's centre partner on debut and during the previous year's World Cup but on this occasion was selected on the wing, with Rob Henderson chosen to form the midfield axis with the Leinster prodigy. Maggs said that he had already recognised the calibre of player: “When Brian first came in to train with us he was a young lad in for the experience but you just knew that there was something special about him almost instantly.”
Easterby agrees: “When you trained with Brian he just looked like all the great players. You get a couple in each generation – everything looks so easy for them. He had time on the ball. He was very competitive and electrifyingly quick. Ireland had never had a player like him at centre. Simon Geoghegan had the ability to make something out of nothing on the wing but to have someone at centre like Brian, with that ability, was something special.”
Ireland had a reputation at that time for being only fitfully competitive. At times it appeared that no two performances were alike. On their day they could give anyone a game but had a habit of winning one and then losing two or three on the trot. All too often there was a valiant performance in defeat against a quality team here, and then a sub-standard showing against weak opposition there. It was the new breed coming through in 2000, led by O'Driscoll, which developed more consistency and shaped a side that would win a trio of Triple Crowns and finally the Grand Slam in 2009.

The level of expectation would rise to unknown heights but back in 2000 those long years of failure in Paris had bred an almost fatalistic streak among Ireland's followers. When France wing David Bory dived over in the corner after just 47 seconds that familiar sinking feeling was prevalent, but Scottish touch judge Jim Fleming ruled that the final pass went forward and Bory's joy was curtailed.
However, home fly-half Gerald Merceron knocked over two quick-fire penalties to put the Irish on the back foot amid a welter of possession. Ireland were chasing shadows and something inspirational was required to turn the tide of both the match and history, cue O'Driscoll.
A scything tackle on Philippe Bernat-Salles lifted green spirits and a sniping break led to a period of superb continuity culminating in Malcolm O'Kelly feeding the on-rushing O'Driscoll to score under the posts. O'Gara converted and, almost inexplicably, Ireland were in front.
The lead did not last long, France hit back immediately through scrum-half Christophe Laussucq. Kieron Dawson then knocked on in the act of trying to score in the corner. Ireland were foiled again. The teams trooped off at the break with France holding a 13-7 advantage. It was time for the Irish leaders to step forward.
“I remember going in at half-time and we were saying to each other that we could so something here,” recalls Easterby. “If you can turn the tide in Paris the crowd starts to vent their frustration on their team and creates a lot of negativity.”
Maggs adds: “Yes, we knew we were in it and there were some tough words spoken at half-time. We knew we could get that 28-year-old monkey off our back. Keith Wood was skipper and was very vocal but Brian was also one of those who spoke and at the end of the day you look up to people who inspire you and get right behind them. When you are the sort of person Brian is you lead from the front, set the example. He raised the bar and he is the type of man people want to follow.”
Easterby agrees: “Brian was younger than most but he still had the ability, confidence and maturity despite having just a handful of caps to always have words to say at the right time.
“When Brian spoke everyone listened, even then. The great thing about him was that he would say something and then go out and do it himself, he was as good on the floor as anyone and his tackling was superb.”
Merceron started the second period with a penalty.  Ireland could not afford to concede the next score, surely, but so nearly did. Hooker Marc Dal Maso had 40 metres of field in front of him without an Irish shirt in sight but was hauled down just short of the line by a magnificent last-gasp tackle by Denis Hickie.
“Normally with a France side if they score those tries they tend to run away with things but when you see tackles made like that it just make you feel inspired,” admits Easterby.
There was no respite, though. France were controlling the game and when Merceron knocked over another penalty and O'Gara hit the crossbar with a shot at goal from the tee it appeared inevitable that France would win yet again, but O'Driscoll would not be denied on this day of days.
Henderson made a half-break and looked over his shoulder for support on the France 22, like a genie from a bottle O'Driscoll appeared, cutting a superb line at pace he collected the off-load and was untouched on a glory run to the posts. The French crowd fell silent, O'Gara converted to make it 19-14 and the jubilant Irish fans began to dream.
Maggs recalls looking across at the opposition and seeing disbelief at the spell O'Driscoll was casting: “They couldn't handle him. They couldn't believe this guy and what he was doing.”
Another twist. Replacement second row Paddy Johns was shown a yellow card for lying on the ball by referee Paul Honiss. Merceron pushed the home side more than two scores ahead at 22-14.
Gatland made a change at fly-half, sending on Ulster's David Humphreys for O'Gara. Just as in the 1980s, when Tony Ward and Ollie Campbell vied for the No.10 shirt, and the O'Gara-Jonny Sexton debate of recent years, there was divided opinion as to who Ireland should pick as their pivot.

“Ireland have been so lucky at out-half,” admits Maggs. “The likes of Humphreys and O'Gara would slot crucial drop-goals and penalties to win games. I was not worried. I knew that whichever one of them was on the field they would do the job.”
Sure enough, almost immediately after coming on, Humphreys slotted a 40-metre penalty to cut the deficit to 22-17, only for Merceron the metronome to record a sixth penalty.
It was down to the last seven minutes, it was now or never time for Ireland. Hickie darted from halfway to set up a ruck close to the France 22 and the moment had come for O'Driscoll to show his true class. Stringer fluffed a pass from the base, the ball bobbled along the turf but rather than fall on the ball to secure possession, as a mere mortal would do, O'Driscoll attempted an audacious pick up on the run. Quick as a flash the ball was gathered and searing acceleration cut him free from the gasping French defence. Even the great Emile Ntamack was powerless to stop him as he waltzed to the posts for a third time.
“He scooped it up and glided past the full-back to go under the sticks,” adds Easterby. “Even then he'd been recognised as being something special but that hat-trick elevated him to a different level. He was the main reason we won that game and why it's still talked about.”
Humphreys' converted to make it a one-point game and then was given the chance to seal an historic victory with a penalty three minutes from time. The final whistle set in train jubilant scenes with O'Driscoll carried shoulder high by his team-mates, not an honour conferred to many 21-year-olds in international rugby. But how could anyone quibble with the gesture, a legend was born and it was time to celebrate.
Easterby remembers: “We went into town and got to Kitty O'Shea's in the centre of Paris. There was a sea of green, you couldn't get in but eventually the crowd parted and we got into the pub and it was a great night!”
Maggs adds: “All the fans came out with us – we had an unbelievable time. What it meant to us as a group. It was special having never won in Paris. We had wanted to win so much. It was very special for me. I've enjoyed many milestones in my career but I was very lucky to be part of it. I feel I've been blessed to have had such a career and to have played with the people I played with.”
And Maggs places O'Driscoll on the highest of pedestals: “Brian is one of those special people that don't come along every day. He's honest, hard-working and not afraid to do something that he would ask someone else to do.
“He is the greatest player Ireland have ever had, breaking every record and with Leinster he is doing the same in the Heineken Cup. He is a special person, a special leader and a special friend, an icon of the modern game.”