Harmony on discipline sought

RUGBY/NEWS ROUNDUP: Attempts to introduce common disciplinary standards in each of the Six Nations will be discussed at a meeting in Dublin on Wednesday, March 13th.

This season's tournament has taken place against a backdrop of various disciplinary controversies. England captain Martin Johnson was selected to play by Clive Woodward against Ireland following his sin-binning in a club match.

On the other hand, Woodward's French counterpart, Bernard Laporte dropped one of his locks, David Auradou, for the game against Wales after he was sin-binned in the Six Nations opener against Italy.

Johnson's inclusion in the England team to play France last Saturday also provoked controversy.

On top of the sin-binning he suffered for punching Saracens hooker Robbie Russell, double Lions captain Johnson was then given a 21-day ban.

But because the Rugby Football Union (RFU) could not organise his appeal before the Stade de France showdown, he was free to lead England although that did not stop France winning 20-15.

In a statement issued yesterday Six Nations chairman Allan Hosie, who will be hosting next week's meeting, said a uniform approach was required.

"I have no wish to pre-judge what may emerge from this meeting," former international referee Hosie said. "However, it is clear that most people now recognise the need for greater harmony."

The six players named in the extended Irish squad earlier in the week, who are unavailable to line out for their clubs this weekend in the third last round of the AIB All-Ireland league, are not considered by Irish management to be seriously injured.

A few of the players, notably Cork Constitution outhalf Ronan O'Gara and Shannon scrumhalf Peter Stringer are on holidays. Concerns about Stringer, who slipped on concrete on the West Stand side of the Lansdowne Road pitch during the match are unfounded.

Both St Mary's College left wing, Denis Hickie, and Blackrock centre Brian O'Driscoll are resting after shipping general knocks during the match. Terenure full back Girvan Dempsey took a knock on the shoulder and is also resting while Young Munster's Rob Henderson is recovering from a long-standing groin injury.

The Irish squad will leave for Italy on St Patrick's Day to participate in the FIRA Under-19 World Cup. Their first game is against Italy, a side they've previously beaten, but team manager Michael Cunningham refuses to take the opening game for granted: "We beat them already but that was in many ways an experimental side. They'll be a different proposition on their home patch. It's the opening match, it will be a difficult assignment and if we win then we probably play New Zealand on the Sunday (24th)," he said.

The first-round matches in Group A, to be played on Thursday, March 21st March, are: New Zealand v Korea, Ireland v Italy, South Africa v Chile, England v Romania, Wales v Georgia, Argentina v Japan, Uruguay v Scotland, France v Russia.

The subsequent rounds in Group A are to be played on Sunday, March 24th, Wednesday, March 28th and Saturday, March 30th.

The first-round matches in Group B are: Canada v Moldavia, Germany v Portugal Ukraine v Taiwan, USA v Holland, Poland v Namibia Lithuania v Paraguay, Morocco v Tunisia, Spain v Trinidad Tobago.

IRISH SQUAD: Stephen Bennett (Lon Irish), Stephen Bradshaw (Garryowen), Killian Coleman (Terenure), Andrew Finn (Sundays Well), Declan Fitzpatrick (Belfast Harlequins), Denis Fogarty (Rockwell), David Gannon (UCD), Fergus Gately (UCC), Conor Geoghegan (UCC), Daragh Geraghty (UCD), Michael Glancy (Dungannon), Ryan Hartigan (UL Bohemians), Brian Hastings (Trinity), Jamie Heaslip (Trinity), John Hill (London Wasps), Edward Hoadley (London Irish), Richard Lane (UCC), Andy Lowe (Belfast Harelquins), Peter McMahon (Lansdowne), Wesley Maxwell (Garryowen), Brendan O'Connor (Garryowen), Shane O'Connor (Cork Consitution), Neil Patterson (Coleraine), Aidan Rees (Highfield), Robbie Shaw (London Wasps), Richard Simms (Edinburgh Uni).