The new Lansdowne Road is now open for business.
The Under-20s of Leinster, Ulster, Munster and Connacht, christened the new Dublin stadium with a highly entertaining, if one-sided match. On average there was a try every eight minutes, it was pity that they were all scored by the same side, as Leinster/Ulster recorded a 68-nil rout. In truth though, the stadium was the main attraction for the 35,000 spectators who turned up for the first day and it would be hard to find someone who didn’t enjoy the experience.
Behind the scenes there was a first day at school atmosphere. The match was an obvious shakedown and learning experience for the staff and there was a healthy acceptance that a few things were going to go wrong. I came across a lift that required a key card to work, but no one in the area seemed the possess one and although I was assigned Seat 1 Row B in the press box, it had yet to be installed. A friendly steward rustled up a temporary chair in no time though.
At half time I climbed to highest point in the east stand, where I met Paul and his 4 year son Dougie. Living in Ringsend he had watched as the stadium was being built over the last 3 years and looking out over the Havelock Square end, said he could see his house. The view of the pitch wasn’t bad either; the low roof trusses didn’t seem to be too much of a distraction, although at that height the half time entertainment looked more like an old version of sensible soccer.
After the match, the Leinster/Ulster players revealed that they had been using the home dressing room. Hopefully that is an omen for things to come. They did, though share the impressive physiotherapy pool with their beaten opponents. At the same time, Craig Gilroy, the 19 year old from Bangor, who will always be remembered as the player who scored the first ever try at the Aviva Stadium, gave his opinion on the new home of Irish rugby, and revealed he could have cleaned up at the bookies. Listen to Craig here.