Bulls preserve unbeaten home record

PLANET RUGBY:THE BULLS' astonishing 40-35 win to preserve their two-year-old unbeaten home record against the Crusaders – the lead changed hands 11 times, and four times in the last 10 minutes – ensured the holders of a home semi-final and left six teams chasing the remaining three places going into next weekend's final round of matches.

With no New Zealand side currently in the play-off places, all top six clash, ending off with the Stormers hosting the Bulls in a Saturday summit meeting, after sixth (Crusaders) host fourth (Brumbies) and third (Waratahs) host fifth (Hurricanes) in what amount to quarter-final shoot-outs. Even John O’Neill couldn’t have scripted it.

Decision time for West Offaly Lions

SIX YEARS in existence, the Ferbane-based West Offaly Lions rugby club will this week hold an egm at which members may well vote to disband and reform across the border in Shannonbridge. The reason? Because they are being frogmarched into the Leinster Branch fold having heretofore happily existed within the umbrella of the Connacht Branch.

Fielding teams from under-8s through to under-18s as well as two adult teams – the firsts won this season’s J2 league – about a year and a half ago the Lions were visited by high-powered Leinster Branch officials. On foot of this, the IRFU decreed they were to be rerouted to Leinster and what’s more Connacht teams were originally told not to play West Offaly teams at the outset of this season.

The embargo was lifted, but the row has driven a wedge inside the club. The majority preference would be to remain where they were first welcomed – ie Connacht – but failing that, they’ll either reluctantly swallow the Leinster pill or start again across the geographical provincial divide.

Watson a chip off the old block

BATH SECURED the fourth and last play-off place in the Guinness Premiership on Saturday with a 39-3 win over Leeds to earn a semi-final away to Leicester. Bath had won one of their first 10 matches, but since Christmas have won 11 out of 12 and the turnaround has been attributed in part to the arrival of Luke Watson.

The 26-year-old South African is the son of “Cheeky” Watson, the Eastern Province player who opted to join a local black club in the ’70s as a protest against apartheid. A chip off the old block, Luke Watson incurred the wrath of officials with comments such as “the problem with SA rugby is that it is controlled by Dutchman”. This week he said: “I’m not the sort of person who is going to be intimidated. I’m not necessarily a rebel . . . but when there is something that is close to my heart, when things aren’t fair, I like to stand up and say I don’t necessarily agree with them.”

Toulouse make double possible

“I AGREE, it is impossible,” Toulouse coach Guy Noves said two weeks ago when asked to respond to those who said a French Top 14-Heineken Cup double was not feasible. “No, really, it is impossible,” he asserted after explaining why. Saturday’s play-off game against Castres was, he said, “preparation” for the Heineken Cup final a fortnight later.

Toulouse made eight changes, won 35-12, and now play champions Perpignan next Friday in the first semi-final. Impossible is nothing? Clermont’s pursuit of their Holy Grail continues after Morgan Parra assumed kicking duties from Brock James (the yips struck again) to steer them to a 21-17 win over Racing Metro and earn a semi-final with Toulon next Saturday.

Manning on the move to Italy

KIWI OUTHALF Jeremy Manning probably signed off his Irish sojourn in the AIB League final on Saturday with a try-scoring farewell, and has confirmed he is bound for the Top 14 or Italy.

Munster have pinpointed a new backrower and prop among potential new recruits after signing the 28-year-old, nine-times capped ex-All Black centre Sam Tuitupou from relegated Worcester in addition to Johne Murphy from Leicester. Apparently though, the IRFU’s all-powerful if publicly-shy Players Advisory Group have stipulated that the prop in question must be, or at least can become, Irish qualified – which, eh, rather limits their options.

Having been released by Worcester, the former Leinster coach Mick Ruddock, whose two sons are in the Leinster academy, has reputedly been linked to a coaching role with Blackrock.