ALL IN THE SCRUM:A soccer miscellany
MARC Liévremont, never one to let sleeping dogs lie, gave an interview last week to French newspaper Le Monde.
In it, the former France coach took the opportunity to have a dig at Graham Henry and Richie McCaw for New Zealand’s lack of grace after winning the World Cup last month.
The problem stems from video footage that came out two days after the final allegedly showing Aurélien Rougerie making contact with the eye area of McCaw.
“Everything is relative in terms of respect. We did not like at all the behaviour of the coach Graham Henry, or the captain Richie McCaw. They also cite the finger of Aurélien Rougerie from a fairly tendentious clip, but when you see the behaviour of McCaw on Morgan Parra particularly . . . I think they could have been more lords.
“They did not have a word about the team of France and in the closing night of the tournament, they only had them for the All Blacks.”
It also turns out, according to Liévremont, that he is not so unpopular in France.
“Yes, although I am hidden for two weeks. I entered a restaurant in Bayonne, people sang La Marseillaise. In the subway, people recognise me, all generations. A lady from North Africa came to see me on the terrace of a café, with her little boy who plays football.
“She said: ‘Thanks to you, my son has taught La Marseillaise.’ I thought it was great! In New Zealand, I saw people wearing a moustache and applauded me, maybe a little stronger than some players – I think some did not like. It probably did not help. While my image, I do not care.”
Coghlan Murray back to best
ENCOURAGING to see the impact of Leinster Academy winger Sam Coghlan Murray on the Colours match last Friday evening as UCD corrected last season’s surprise defeat to Trinity.
Coghlan Murray, despite being born in Australia, was a serious prospect after impressing while at Newbridge College two years ago – to such an extent he was immediately promoted to the Leinster Academy.
However, illness slowed his progress, but that no longer appears to be the case.
Also amongst the try scorers, in UCD’s 31-9 victory, were former St Michael’s College men Rob Shanley and Alex Kelly.
The team is captained for a second season by yet another St Michael’s old boy, Andrew Cummiskey.
McNaughton stepping down
IT became apparent over the weekend that Paul McNaughton is to step down as manager of the Ireland rugby team, breaking up a successful four-year partnership with head coach Declan Kidney (they also worked together for a season at Leinster).
McNaughton, however, is expected to assist in the process of unearthing his own replacement. A valued link between the media, coaching staff and the IRFU, the Greystones club man will have a difficult job recruiting someone better qualified or with the necessary experience.
Kidney, however, will not be seeking a backline expert ahead of the Six Nations to replace Alan Gaffney with the briefs of defence coach Less Kiss, kicking coach Mark Tainton and Kidney himself to be expanded.
But that’s a whole other worrying debate.
Cian call: Heaslip pulls strings
CIAN Healy was a victim of a prank call by FM104's Strawberry Alarm Clockrecently. The mastermind behind this child's play was Jamie Heaslip.
It got very cringe inducing. Healy actually carried himself quite well throughout, laughing awkwardly, while politely refusing suggestions to dance in an advertisement.
When Heaslip eventually came on the phone, he asked Healy: “Who do you think set this up?”
Healy replied: “Probably someone who hates me.”
Healy eventually realised who it was: “Lucky I haven’t decided to sell my soul.”
They finally told him he was live on radio as well.
Doping tribunal: Carroll case
BLACKROCK College RFC player Michael Carroll is due before the Irish Sports Council doping tribunal on Wednesday.
Carroll tested positive for methylhexaneamine (MHA) after the opening Ulster Bank League fixture against Clontarf on October 1st. He has not played for the club since and is no longer first XV captain.
Carroll previously played professional rugby for Connacht and Racing Métro 92 in France.
MHA was placed on the World Anti-Doping Authority (Wada) prohibited list in 2010.
As of January 1st, 2011 it was downgraded to a “specified stimulant” prohibited in-competition only.
Anything up to a two-year suspension is possible, but the South African rugby union exonerated two of their players – Chiliboy Ralapele and Bjorn Basson – for testing positive for MHA after the Irish Test match in Dublin last year. The SARFU concluded MHA was inadvertently included in supplement drinks provided to the whole squad. The stimulant effects of MHA are said to be less than amphetamine and ephedrine and slightly stronger than caffeine.
