HAVING to get on a plane and head across the water to Ireland for this match gave it the kind of European feel that bigger clubs simply take for granted in their respective cup competitions, writes Buccaneer.

Stepping on to the tarmac at a windswept and freezing Dublin airport reminded me just how lucky we are to live in the temperate climes of West Cornwall.

The taxi driver who ran me from the airport to the ground, at Donnybrook, was blissfully unaware of the existence of the British & Irish Cup. He listened attentively as I filled him in (verbally, not physically) but admitted to still being consumed by a burning rage about a Frenchman called Thierry Henry and a handball which wasn't given. He topped that off with his thoughts on the Irish economy, in pure Dublinese vernacular, and some candid opinions on the Catholic Church – remember, this is Ireland.

Donnybrook is a more sought after area of Dublin for people still lucky enough to be able to buy property, choked by traffic but served admirably, if you are a rugby fan, by three stadiums.

Entourage

The new national stadium is under construction and a mile or so from my destination is what is known as the RDS – a more upmarket destination of our chosen venue which was locked, only two hours before kick-off.

With the ground flanked by the clubhouses of both Bective Rangers and Old Wesley RFC I reasoned, correctly, that I would still be able to blag my way in. The rest of the Pirates' entourage had forsaken such challenges and remained in the city, from where tales of up to 300 partying fans were beginning to emanate.

I didn't count that many, but there were a good few in the ground by the time we reached kick-off. The excitable soul who sprinted up and down the touchline with a St Piran's flag held aloft did much to fire the decibel level in the stand, but becoming tangled up in his own flag clearly wasn't part of the script. Then the team came out – and I have to say that I have never heard such raw noise greet the arrival of the Pirates on the field – not even at Twickenham.

I wrote last week that I am a fan already of this new competition and I reckon there are plenty more joining in. Dublin is a good place to watch rugby as any seasoned observer will tell you, and our hosts clearly appreciated the passion for the game brought all the way from Cornwall. It's just a pity that the hunger for success on the terraces didn't manifest itself in a victory on the field, too.

The Leinster team were good, but coupled with seasoned pros were plenty of talented younger players.

Sure, even they could boast a glut of age grade international caps but the Pirates should have put them to the sword. Up front the Pirates dominated although an intermittently creaking lineout did cause some concern. Leinster also had some useful backs but only occasionally did they sparkle.

As a spectacle, it was a tense affair, in doubt right to the final whistle, but I left Dublin, like so many others, deflated and freezing cold.

Coming second is hard to take when you should've come first.