RUGBY DIGEST

More rugby news in brief.

Munster campaign up and running

UNDER-20 - Munster 23, Connacht 13:Munster got their under 20 campaign off to a winning start when they reversed last season's result against Connacht.

At Dooradoyle last night the home side led 20-6 at the interval but Connacht kept the game alive when they had a try by Sean Conneely early in the second half which was converted by Sean Joyce, who also landed two first-half penalties.

Munster had taken the lead with a splendid early try by winger Ronan O'Mahony and they had a second by Danny Barnes. Both were converted by Conor Murray who made the victory secure with his third successful penalty to give him a personal haul of 13 points.

Scorers: Munster - R O'Mahony, D Barnes, try each, C Murray, 3 pens, 2 cons.

Connacht - S Conneely, try, S Joyce, 2 pens, 1 con,

Leinster in  total control

UNDER-20 - Ulster 16 Leinster 27:Leinster outscored their hosts by four tries to one to claim a comprehensive victory at Ravenhill last night.

Ulster took an early lead with a penalty from outhalf Robin Thompson. Michael Noone got the visitors first try when he broke from the back of the scrum and crashed over with Ian McKinley adding the conversion. Thompson kicked a second penalty for Ulster and nudged his side in front with another successful shot after Leinster captain Shane Gahan was sin binned.

Ian Madigan scored a penalty for the visitors and they took a 15-9 lead into the break when winger, Michael Keating finished off a great move.

Centre Rory Pratt went over seven minutes after the re-start and flanker Dominic Ryan sealed victory when he scored from close range before Ulster got a late try from Jonny Shiels.

Ulster take spoils with strong finish

Ulster A 32 Leinster A 16: Three tries in the last quarter gave Ulster A a deserved victory over Leinster at Gibson Park.

Ulster were quick out of the blocks with outhalf Ian Humphreys slotting over two penalties in the opening 10 minutes and he was denied the chance to increase the lead when he had a try disallowed for a foot in touch.

The homeside had lock Mark Wilson sin binned on 31 minutes and Leinster centre Fergus McFadden scored from the resulting penalty.

Captain Stephen Keogh powered over from close range to give Leinster an 8-6 half-time lead.

Winger Niall Morris finished off a good break by Paul Ryan four minutes after the re-start and McFadden increased the visitors lead with another penalty.

Chris Henry barged over for the home side on 59 minutes for a converted try before centre Ian Whitten crossed twice either side of a Humphreys touchdown.

De Villiers apologises for whites remark 

TRI-NATIONS:South Africa coach Peter de Villiers has apologised for last week's comments in response to newspaper reports linking him to an alleged sex scandal.

"Mr de Villiers accepted and apologised for the offence caused and the implications of his emotional suggestion that he might give the job back to the whites," said a statement by South African Rugby Union (SARU) yesterday.

It was issued after a meeting between SARU president Oregan Hoskins and De Villiers, who made the comment after being confronted with newspaper reports of an alleged videotape featuring him having sex with a woman in a car.

De Villiers has rejected the reports and SARU is currently investigating allegations of blackmail surrounding the video.

He threatened to resign from his post as coach, saying the blackmail rumour was part of a "racist plot and that he would give the Springbok coaching job back to the whites."