Compiled by JOHNNY WATTERSON

Connacht: Good boys of PRO12

CONNACHT MAY be trailing most other teams in the Pro12 race but they are table toppers when it comes to playing clean. Eric Elwood’s side are the least-carded side in the Pro12, with just four yellows to date

The Fairplay League rewards the best disciplinary record, with the team with the fewest disciplinary points (one point for each yellow card, and three points for each red card or an upheld citing). At the end of each season the winning club is given £10,000 to spend on their youth development programme.

Leinster have been good boys, too, and have drawn just six yellow cards so far, twice as good as Munster.

Fit as a fiddle: And son likes fresh air

IT WAS good to see Steven Sykes playing for the Sharks against the Stormers in the Super 15 on Saturday. Despite being injured in Ireland Sykes seems to have made a remarkable recovery and is now as fit as he has ever been.

Leinster coach Joe Schmidt said the South African was crocked right up to the time he left but he appears to have settled in well back home. Sykes explained that his time in Ireland was not the most agreeable, especially the pesky Dublin weather. “The conditions are different over there, it’s going to be nice for my son not to have to go out wearing a snow suit all the time. He’ll be able to go out and enjoy the fresh air,” chirped the contented father.

“I learned a lot while I was there and it was an interesting time for me but it was also a bit frustrating for me at a stage being injured. And then on top of that, I got a concussion.”

Bowe: Takes a knock to his pride

TOMMY BOWE didn’t take his eye off the ball for his two tries against France, where Ireland drew for the first time since 1950. But where was the Monaghan man’s concentration for Morgan Parra’s second penalty of the game for France?

Parra’s kick floated over the bar, where Bowe was diligently placed to catch.

But the ball bounced off the winger’s head much to the amusement of the French crowd behind the goal.

However, with his 24th international try bagged after the inadvertent header, man-of-the-match Bowe will hardly be too displeased with his overall contribution.

ROG facts: Outhalf out on his own

IN BRIAN O’Driscoll’s absence Munster outhalf Ronan O’Gara was the only player yesterday to have experienced an Irish win in Paris. O’Gara was part of the successful team of 12 years ago, when O’Driscoll famously scored his hat-trick in Ireland’s 25-27 win in Stade de France.

But O’Gara is not alone as two others from the current Irish team were also in Paris on that day in 2000.

Anthony Foley, who is coaching the forwards in the absence of South African Gert Smal, was part of the successful team and formed the starting backrow with Simon Easterby and openside flanker Kieron Dawson.

‘Rala’, the baggage manager, who has been part of the Irish team woodwork for longer than most, was also an eyewitness.