LONDON IRISH

USUALLY THE game play has very little to do with the overall feel of our U days out, here. Often we want to convey a sense of what it’s like mixing with other fans; what makes one ground so different to another; the quirks of the place; the passion of the people; the thing that makes a support unique. And really that’s why we headed to Brentford – to understand what London Irish’s new digs offer. But in their first home game of the season in their flash Brentford Community Stadium venue, we happily stumbled into a Premiership cracker like a dizzy drunkard finding themselves swaying at the curryhouse door.

In a hokey-cokey encounter with Sale Sharks, Irish came from 17 points behind to put on a 31-all classic, with tries flying into corners from outside the 22, try-scoring opportunities being wasted as phases stacked up like so many plastic pint pots, and a penalty kick to win it at the death clattering off the upright from more than 55m out. The official attendance at the