Supporters colour the Rugby World Cup

In a sporting world all too often dominated by the darker side of drugs, cheats, greed, player disloyalty and the sheer incompetence of many who run some sports, it is a pleasure to spend some time with the grass roots fans without whom events just wouldn't happen.

Your correspondent was in Paris and Nantes at the weekend for two of the matches in the Rugby World Cup - and a joyous experience it was as well.

Irish eyes still smiling through

On the day of the match between Ireland and France the area around the magnificent Stade de France in St Denis became increasingly green as the day progressed. The 9:00pm kick off meant that there was ample time for the Irish hoards to prepare themselves for the contest, which they did in the traditional way. Green jerseys, not necessarily of the latest vintage nor always quite authentic, were de rigour for the male and female supporters alike and when gathered en masse they were a splendid sight.

The wealthier amongst them (of whom there were many - over 60 private jets flew in from Dublin) had an haute cuisine dinner in a giant marquee near the ground before the match. Their less well-heeled countrymen had simpler fare - mainly to provide an essential lining to stomachs! Despite the odds being stacked against them (5-1 against) the Irish seemed optimistic - with some justification as this has been a fine Irish team.

But their stuttering start to the World Cup was worrying a few. 'I just don't understand it - we've really gone off the boil,' one told me. But whilst there was some apprehension in the air there was no lack of humour nor affability to the battalions of French supporters.

Glorious support for 'Les Bleus'

If the Irish were full of passion this was well matched by the home fans - albeit in a slightly different style. The boulevard en route to the stadium was full of parked cars, many of which had their tailgates open and from which delicious pre match meals were being enjoyed. I was offered Brie and a glass of Montrachet from one and what looked like Suckling Pig from another and cries of 'Santé' were in the air along with many of 'Bonne Chance' to rival fans - matched by a cheery 'Good Luck' from the Irish in reply.

This is surely the true heartbeat of sport - passion, friendly rivalry, hospitality and humour. The French have the advantage of their great Marseillaise anthem and they were happy to remind us that the day of glory had arrived. 'Allons enfants de la Patrie, Le jour de gloire est arrivé!'

And so, as it turned out, it had. The 80,000 crowd saw a few moments of flair and plenty of sound defence from France but there was little for the Irish fans to celebrate - their team was soundly if unspectacularly beaten.

The Rosbifs in Nantes

Whilst the Irish were licking their wounds in Paris the Rosbifs were on their way in huge numbers to Nantes for England's vital match against Samoa. At lunchtime the city centre of this delightful Loire town was packed with white-shirted England supporters sitting and supping in the sunshine.

There were some execrable renditions of the weird and banal English anthem 'Swing low sweet chariots' from a few groups - but most of the English sat quietly and rather nervously awaiting the match. I have a theory about 'Swing low' and that is that there is an English embarrassment with history and heritage and an obsession with understatement.

So an anthem is chosen that is neutral with a facile tune and meaningless lyrics. No 'gloire de la Patrie' here!

Not going overboard

The match itself was an understated, even diffident, English performance as well. To be 10-0 up in six minutes following a storming try by Martin Corry and a fine drop goal by Jonny Wilkinson looked promising. But to go from 23-6 after 34 minutes to 26-22 after 46 made the white-shirted masses very nervous indeed.

At the post match Press conference England coach Brian Ashton said that at that stage the game 'could have gone either way' - and he was right.

Incidentally it is perhaps a sign of how remote the England team and officials are from their supporters that neither Corry nor Ashton mentioned the fabulous support that the travelling fans gave to the team before and during the match.

True both looked shell-shocked and their demeanours were rather morose. 'The mood in the team' said Ashton, was 'pleased, but they weren't going overboard'. The fans had no such reserve - on the tram back to the station the singing was loud and the choice of songs more raucous - as much out of relief as out of joy I think.