An Ireland fan vents their frustration at the postponed game © Getty Images

We’ve all seen or heard of the Hollywood classic when Harry met Sally, well this weekend gone in Paris we were treated to a Rugby version – When Jamie met Hari.

Rather than two of the top number 8’s in world rugby going into battle, we saw the Irish and Leinster hero ask Imanol Harinordoquy if he fancied a few drinks. A light hearted moment amongst what was one of the most farcical things ever seen in the professional age of Rugby.

A 9pm. kick-off was always questionable, but when the announcement came through the TV at 8:53 that the match was off, it raised more than a few eyebrows. Fans sitting in the Stade de France were alerted to the cancellation by text messages from people watching at home, before finally, some 12 minutes after those watching on TV were told, an official announcement in the stadium came.

The announcement was met with bemusement and disbelief. It had been on people’s minds in the days leading up to the game but when the initial pitch inspection gave the green light everyone thought HUZZAH! Game on. There were little to no indications inside the stadium to say otherwise, but when no national anthems were sang by 8:55 everyone had a fair idea.

It was a nightmare. Initially referee Dave Pearson, was on the receiving end of some abuse from those in the stands before it dawned on the crowd, Pearson wasn’t at fault at all. He was merely acting to ensure player welfare was at a paramount and bravo for that ballsy call. As much as I and most Irish fans would love to blast Pearson, he is totally blameless in this. The total and full responsibility rested on the French organisers.

How was it that this world class, modern, 80,000 seater stadium, which has hosted both the soccer and rugby world cup finals managed to fall victim of some cold weather? How was it that the French Rugby Federation couldn’t be better prepared for this? How could the whole thing be handled so badly? This is Paris, a city famed for architecture, yet their national stadium caused an international embarrassment.

Vincent Clerc had spoke in the week leading up the match about his concerns for the pitch; it was frozen in parts during the game against Italy a week earlier. Surely the ground staff must have had a better idea? Why were pitch inspections held at four and seven pm the day before kick off? Surely an inspection at the same time of kick off, would have given better results as to what would happen on the night?

Anyone who knows the smallest bit about farming could tell you that, in cold weather conditions, when you have a covered area of grass, removing said cover will just make the area freeze over super fast. How can the ground staff of a world class stadium not know this?

There are so many questions surrounding what was an absolute joke last Saturday that you would be forgiven if you complained of migraine trying to get to the bottom of it all. In an even more bizarre move, the FFR held a press conference following the announcement that referee Dave Pearson, had decided the match would not take place. At this press conference Mr. Pearson was nowhere to be seen and no questions were to be asked.

This has not been a good image building exercise for French rugby, granted it’s not quite Mathieu Bastareaud and New Zealand 2009, but it is an embarrassing situation that has left them the subject of snide comments and sneering jokes.

The flip side of the game being called off for Ireland? Having lost to Wales a fixture with France was the least favourite follow up game. The rescheduled fixture is now March 4, meaning Ireland’s next game is a home encounter with Italy, offering a golden opportunity to get a win and build up some confidence and belief ahead of the proposed new date. This leaves the two nations with the daunting task of four games in four weeks. Simply translated this means advantage Wales and England in the hunt for Championship glory.

Oh, and sadly Hari said no to Jamie, another Valentines heart crushed, but at least we have the sequel to look forward to in three weeks time.

Danny Murray - @danjomurray