No McDowell card

Planet Rugby: Scotland coach Matt Williams probably won't be sending Irish official Simon McDowell a Christmas card this or any other season.

Williams highlighted, in no uncertain terms, three occasions on which the Scottish national team felt they received the rough edge of McDowell's interpretations.

The third time occurred in the Six Nations match at Stade de France, a game Scotland lost narrowly. McDowell deemed that Scottish number eight Allister Hogg put a foot in touch en route to claiming what would have been the game-winning try.

Television angles were not conclusive but McDowell was unfairly damned because the pictures didn't prove that the player's foot did touch the whitewash. Williams was seething in the aftermath and gave full vent to his feelings.

Imagine then how he would have greeted the information that the television match official (TMO) for Scotland's Six Nations clash with Italy at Murrayfield was due to be one Simon McDowell. The appointment though has been changed and McDowell won't be the TMO, and this despite him receiving a full apology from the Scottish Rugby Union after the Paris incident.

Tait suffers again

Newcastle's Director of Rugby, and former England international outhalf Rob Andrew, was scathing in his criticism of current England coach Andy Robinson with regard to the latter's treatment of young centre Mathew Tait. Robinson gave the then 18-year-old Tait - he turned 19 the following day - his England debut against Wales in the opening round of Six Nations Championship games when the English travelled to Cardiff to face Wales.

Tait suffered an uncomfortable afternoon being carried around like a six pack for most of the game. Andrew accused Robinson of traumatising the young player by introducing him too quickly to international rugby. There was evidence to support Andrew's assertions at Welford Road on Saturday afternoon when young Tait's performance made his Cardiff afternoon seem positively enjoyable in comparison.

Three times the player Tait was marking stepped inside him for tries and on a fourth occasion he simply could not physically prevent another try being scored despite the fact that he made the initial tackle seven yards from the try line. Throw in a couple of sliced kicks and it's possible to understand the poor player's plight. Hopefully he'll bounce back.

Mind you Andrew's not exactly in a position to throw stones. This is the man who decided to field a weakened Newcastle team against Leicester at Welford Road and then watched as his side shipped 80 points plus. Is that the sound of breaking glass we hear?

McCarthy impresses

One player who rose above his team-mates' insipid performances for Newcastle in their drubbing at Welford Road was former Connacht flanker Mike McCarthy. The six foot, four inch back five player offered a superb performance out of touch and in carrying ball around the pitch in his role as blindside flanker.

At 24 years of age he's not exactly over the hill and while Ireland have an abundance of riches in the back row he should not be forgotten. It is the second occasion this column has seen him play this season and he was equally impressive the last time.

Vote for 'Angels'

It seems that they're not only decent rugby players up at DLSP, but that they can hold a note or two. Neil Mitchell, who has been known to hit the pitches up at Kilternan at various grades from J2 down, is a member of a band that have been nominated for a meteor award in the "hope for 2005" category. The vote is open to the public on 2fm.ie or meteor.ie. The band, "Angels of Mons," also includes a former De La Salle Churchtown man in Stephen Robinson and so this column would urge those who can vote to do so. You never know; they could end up like those four blokes from Mount Temple. U2 or something like that.

Referee cocks up

Who'd be a coach, or more precisely, who'd want to swap places with Ulster's Mark McCall over the weekend. The Irish province travelled to play the Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade on Friday night, losing narrowly. However, during the course of the match they were the victims of a blatant cock-up by referee Andy Ireland.

As the Dragons drove towards the Ulster 22, they looked to move the ball right but Ulster second row Matt McCullough, looking to repatriate himself from a previous ruck, got in the way of a pass. If it had been a ruck or a maul then there would have been an offside line and McCullough would, indeed, have been offside. However there was neither, the ball having been played out of a tackle. As a result McCullough couldn't have been offside. However, referee Ireland didn't see it that way and sent McCullough to the bin.

Britz in a storm

Stormers hooker Dawid Britz is at the centre of a drugs controversy which is threatening to derail his franchise's Super 12 preparations. Britz was omitted from the team to play London Wasps the week before last in a warm-up match for the southern hemisphere competition.

It appears the player is alleged to have returned a positive doping A sample at a training camp. Stormers and SARFU management will not comment, sensitive that a B sample needs to be tested to confirm drug taking. Britz is strenuously proclaiming his innocence.

Lewis blameless

Leinster's defeat at the weekend wasn't a surprise, given the team that they fielded, but one person in particular to whom no blame could be attributed is Kieran Lewis. Even though asked to play out of position on the left wing, Lewis continues to show the great ability that makes him one of the outstanding young players in the country. Lewis is good enough to be on the fringe of the national squad and should get a run in any forthcoming A international.