Compiled by JOHN O'SULLIVAN
Kidney presents
Ireland’s Triple Crown-winning women’s team, who beat Scotland 30-3 to make history, had a special visitor during the week. Ireland coach Declan Kidney came in to present the women with their jerseys ahead of the match.
Kidney’s women’s counterpart, Philip “Goose” Doyle explained: “I rang Declan and he was delighted to come in and present the girls with their jerseys.”
Doyle also revealed what Kidney said to his team. “He told them that there are times to lead with your heart and times to lead with your head. You just have to know when to do so. I think that was shown today.”
Cotter drops the mic and runs
BBC television commentator Andrew Cotter literally had to down tools and run to the bathroom during the Six Nations game between Wales and Italy in Rome, suffering from a severe bout of food poisoning.
The unfortunate 39-year-old Scot literally dropped the microphone and ran during the match, leaving analyst Jonathan Davies to try and hold the fort.
Viewers became aware something was up because of the long silences only punctuated by the odd comment from Davies before the Welshman was finally moved to explain. “I will have to excuse Andrew Cotter for a minute; he’s not feeling very well. Hopefully he’ll be back.”
He never did return, with another Welshman, Shane Williams, forced to use his speed to sprint to the commentary position
After half-time a third Welshman, Huw Llewelyn-Davies, an experienced commentator took over at the microphone, with Davies reverting to his original role.
Cotter, however, recovered sufficiently to take the microphone for Scotland’s game against Ireland at Murrayfield.
Schools draws
It’s just as well Leinster hooker and Saturday’s man of the match, Aaron Dundon, was in the dressingroom at half-time when the draw for the Leinster Schools’ Senior Cup semi-finals was being made because he might have winced on hearing that Newbridge College, who he helps coach, drew St Michael’s College in the semi-finals.
The other semi-final will see Cistercian College Roscrea, conquerors of favourites Terenure College in the last round, try and topple Blackrock College.
LEINSTER SCHOOLS SENIOR CUP
Semi-finals draw: Blackrock v Roscrea, Donnybrook, Sunday, March 3rd, 3pm; St Michael’s v Newbridge, Donnybrook, Tuesday, March 5th, 4pm.
MUNSTER SCHOOLS SENIOR CUP
Semi-final draw: Rockwell College v St Munchin’s College, Clanwilliam, Tuesday, March 5th, tbc; Crescent College Comprehensive v CBC Cork, Thursday, March 7th, tbc.
Number of the week
22
The staggering number of carries that Seán O’Brienmade in yesterday’s game, eight more than the next best Irish player, Luke Marshall, and 16 more than Scotland’s Stuart Hogg.
