PLANET RUGBY:ALL EYES will be on the New Zealand haka at Croke Park next weekend but it is unlikely Brian O'Driscoll and co will be taking their lead from the England rugby league team.
At Saturday's World Cup pool match in Australia, England's players huddled in a circle facing inwards while the Kiwis performed the traditional war dance.
New Zealand's stand-in captain Benji Marshall accused England of being "disrespectful" by turning their backs on the haka.
New Zealand came from 24-8 down to win 36-24 - and Marshall suggested that one of the reasons for their slow start was anger over their treatment by the opposition.
"To be honest, I thought it was a little bit disrespectful - and a few of the boys said that," said Marshall.
"If that's how they want to approach the game, that's their choice. It might upset a few of the boys, and maybe we could have started a bit better and worried about ourselves instead of worrying about them."
Thomond quotes
"They're a class team and they have quality players. They'll have a good game against the All Blacks next week. You have to believe you have a chance, otherwise you might as well not go out there."
- Canada coach Kieran Crowley about Ireland's chances against New Zealand at Croke Park on Saturday.
"Oh yeah, many times. They're (Canada and Ireland) two countries not known for their warm, sunny weather."
- Canadian hooker and captain Pat Riordan on whether he had played in conditions like those at Thomond Park on Saturday night.
"There's lots of things we can do. The sun is going to come up tomorrow. The boys are pretty down right now and they're not very happy with how it feels right now. I'd be surprised if there was a repeat performance. Good teams make you pay. It's not as if it's going to be any different this weekend (Canada play Wales on Friday night). They're not a bunch of bums."
- Canada hooker Pat Riordan.
Crowley takes diplomatic approach
IT'S FAIR to say that Canada suffered the rough end of a couple of decisions by the Italian television match official Guilio de Santis that cost them a couple of tries.
Canadian coach, the former All Black Kieran Crowley, was the epitome of diplomacy in the aftermath when asked about the interpretations, drawing laughter with his final comment, which subtly contradicted his earlier observations.
"I have never met a coach that loses that doesn't think that (he's been hard done by). You guys make your own decisions. I mean in the wash up it wasn't close enough to call it a defining moment.
"That's the way he (the referee) saw it and that's the way that the guy with the technology (the television match official) saw it: a politically correct answer. Canada is not a wealthy union that can pay a fine."
No sell-out at Thomond Park
THERE WAS no announcement of the number of supporters that attended Ireland's 55-0 victory over Canada at Thomond Park on Saturday. There were clusters of vacant seats in both stands, while neither terracing behind the goal was full. Given the heavy rain some of those spectators exposed to the elements failed to reappear for the second half. However, according to the IRFU website the official attendance was 21,500. Thomond Park boasts a 26,000 capacity.
• AN INTERESTING side to the opening throes of Saturday's game was the fact that people were able to pick up snatches of a conversation going on over the stadium's PA facility. Every now and again a couple of voices could be heard and on one or two occasions laughter, before someone realised the microphone was live.
UCD start as favourites
THOSE LOOKING for another rugby outing this weekend might care to pop along to Donnybrook on Friday night where UCD take on Dublin University in the annual Colours match. UCD will start as favourites but Trinity will be hoping a recent training camp in the USA could spur them to success.
The last two stagings have been won by UCD with the two previous matches giving Trinity one win and one draw.
Young guns work in combination
ONE OF the highlights for many Irish supporters at Thomond Park on Saturday was debutant and local boy Keith Earls scoring his first international try with pretty much his first touch. The reaction of his team-mates as, to a man, they went to congratulate him underlined the respect in which he is held.
It was also interesting to note it was the two youngest members of the team that combined for the try; Luke Fitzgerald running a good line to draw the defence before offloading for Earls to crash through a couple of tackles. So what did Fitzgerald say as he picked up his team-mate after scoring? "I can't remember exactly what I said to him other than congratulating him. It was a great way to start the match for him. It's always great to dispel the nerves. It was great for Earlsy to get a try so soon to really settle him down. I am delighted for him."
Okay but did you give him any advice as the senior 21-year-old in the team? "No I just wished him good luck. He's a very good player and doesn't need advice from me."
