A rugby miscellany compiled by John O'Sullivan

Shaken: Venue change

ENGLAND are to play the majority of their World Cup matches in Auckland following confirmation that Christchurch will be unable to stage any games in the wake of last month’s earthquake.

The England squad, who would have been based in the city, had been scheduled to face Argentina and Georgia at the damaged AMI Stadium, as well as a potential quarter-final.

Christchurch’s two knock-out games have already been moved to Auckland and it is understood the Pumas game on Sunday, September 10th, will follow suit.

England are already due to face Scotland at Eden Park in their final pool fixture.

Australia were also due to have been based in Christchurch and their games against Italy and Russia will have to be relocated.

Hines heading for France: Leinster set to lose Nathan

LEINSTER’S Scotland forward Nathan Hines has signed for French side Clermont-Auvergne for next season.

The 35-year-old has signed a one-year deal with an additional one-year option and will join the club after the conclusion of the World Cup in late October.

Hines, who played in the Top 14 for Perpignan between 2005 and 2009, told Clermont’s website: “It is a tough and passionate league which I was keen to return to.

“When I played for Perpignan, we won the shield but I didn’t play in the final, I was in South Africa (with the Lions). That is frustrating, but Clermont have offered me another chance to win the shield.”

Meanwhile, Ulster have signed All Black prop John Afoa on a two-and-a-half-year deal, commencing after the World Cup in New Zealand. The 27-year-old Auckland-based forward, who plays for the Blues Super 15 franchise, is noted for his explosive ball-carrying and giant frame.

He represented New Zealand at Schools, under-19 and under-21 levels. In 2003 he was part of the New Zealand side which won the under-21 World Cup in England..

He has 28 caps for the All Blacks – he made his debut against Ireland – and his last cap came against Scotland during last year’s November Test series.

“ None of us is as smart as all of us.” – Paddy ‘Rala’ Confucius O’Reilly, kit manager to the Ireland team, and his ‘thought for the day’, which he includes on the end of the players’ daily schedule document.

Paddy's Day Good to Scots 

ST Patrick’s Day is an obvious Irish celebration but in a rugby context the Scots would be passionate advocates of March 17th. On that date they won their last two Grand Slam titles, in 1984 and 1990. On the former occasion they beat France 21-12 at Murrayfield with a late try from Jim Calder, while the 1990 triumph will be synonymous with captain David Sole’s slow walk on to the pitch to face England, again in Edinburgh.

The English were strong favourites, having racked up 11 tries and 83 points in their previous three games. But on an afternoon of raw emotion, which began with that slow march out of the tunnel and a passionate Flower of Scotland, Tony Stanger latched on to a chip-kick from Gavin Hastings to touch down en route to a 13-7 victory.

Henry's view: England are North's top bet for World Cup

IT seems England, Ireland’s opponents on the final weekend of the Six Nations Championship at the Aviva Stadium, have caught the eye of New Zealand coach Graham Henry. The English are chasing a Grand Slam, Triple Crown and championship success and the All Blacks coach believes this to be a fair reflection of their potential.

He pointed out: “I think England are developing into a pretty powerful unit, and I think they’ll be very competitive come World Cup time. They’re the best of them (Northern Hemisphere teams) at the moment, but they’ve all got the potential to play well.”

Henry also took time to offer a thought on the modern scourge of the international game, the scrum, the officiating of which is no less a bone of contention in Super 15 rugby.

“The scrum is still a frustration with the number of resets and referees are bailing out of those now and giving free kicks and penalties.

“It would be disappointing if we don’t get the scrum right, because it is a very important part of the game. To finish up with free kicks and penalties instead of scrums is a negative, in my opinion.

“And the dominant scrum seems to be the one getting into trouble and it shouldn’t be.”