All in the scrum

A rugby miscellany

Quinlan must wait for his record-breaking moment

Considering the Limerick Leader, among others, primed Munster’s game against London Irish as Alan Quinlan’s record-breaking appearance for Munster, it was a surprise to see the veteran flanker omitted from the 22 entirely.

Ryan Lamb has a reputation for being flaky, not that this was evident at the Madejski, so Quinlan’s persistent ways seemed perfectly suited for the occasion.

Instead, Munster coach Tony McGahan appeared to opt for the more mobile backrow of Niall Ronan, James Coughlan and Denis Leamy, with David Wallace in reserve and leave the 36-year-old out of the match-day squad for the first time in recent memory.

Ronan may be injured so it appears Quinlan will finally surpass Anthony Foley’s 201 appearances at Thomond Park next weekend when Toulon come to Limerick with their own English outhalf.

Quinlan can then go hunting Jonny Wilkinson.

202 Munster games is remarkable, especially considering he has only 27 Irish caps. At least that’s better than Trevor Brennan’s 13 or Bob Casey’s six outings in a green jersey.

Power balance bracelet all the rage for sports stars

The US Open tennis player, The Ryder Cup golfer, the Cork GAA footballers – the power balance bracelet seems to be slipping onto most major sports stars wrists.

Sure enough, Jamie Heaslip and several other Leinster team-mates had one on at the RDS on Saturday.

It is the latest craze from America and it sounds like a gimmick (but it really does help). Basically, they are holograms designed to work in tandem with your natural energy field to improve power, balance but also flexibility.

From David Beckham to Robert De Niro to Ian Poulter to Jamie Heaslip - Power Balance appears to have arrived.

They are available to buy in Lifestyle Sports and other sports outlets for €35.

Check out powerbalance.com.

Chabal found tweeting on Dublin sideline

Twitters move towards world domination is set to continue now Seb Chabal is tweeting away from the sideline.

“It is true that the Irish are welcoming,” typed the Caveman on arrival in Dublin on Friday.

“I think that for once, we will not play in the rain in Ireland,” Metro-Racing 92 captain Lionel Nallet added on Saturday morning.

But just moments after being replaced in the 52nd minute of Racing-Metro 92’s defeat at the RDS, Chabal (who was predictably the primary target to be smashed by Leinster players all afternoon – especially Isa Nacewa and Jamie Heaslip) tweeted the following: “Beautiful day and great atmosphere at the stadium. Our lack of discipline cost us dear. (Much) to contemplate.”

Former clubs remember  Keane in high-scoring game

MOSS KEANE was remembered on Saturday when in a remarkable twist of fate his two former clubs, Lansdowne and UCC, met for the inaugural AIL fixture on the Aviva Stadium all-weather back pitch.

Lansdowne have compiled a squad littered with current (Stephen Keogh and Dominic Ryan) and former professionals like Kieran Lewis, captain John Lyne and Eoghan Hickey who helped himself to a try, six conversions and three penalties for 26 points in an emphatic 61-13 win.

UCC only trailed 16-13 at half-time but Lansdowne also possess some of the best young talent beneath the surface in Leinster like Jordi Murphy, Tom Sexton, Jack O’Connell, Eoin Sherriff, David Kearney and the slick-passing Irish under-20s scrumhalf John Cooney, who crossed for two tries.

The result puts Buccaneers in an even better light as they managed to beat Lansdowne last week and remain top of Division One B having overcome Bruff 26-18.

* As Joe Schmidt arrived in the media room post match on Saturday his fellow Kiwi backline guru, Simon Mannix, was making a hasty retreat.

“Catch up with you later, mate” said Joe, to which Mannix replied “No you won’t, we’re on the bus at 4pm.”

Sure enough, the Racing coach could be seen speeding for the coast road, toll bridge and on to Dublin airport with a pack of grumpy Frenchmen on board.

Later that night Mannix tweeted: “Back in Paris, the faults in cup games in Europe are expensive.”