Much change, but Colour stays the same

LIKE much else in rugby, circumstances have changed aspects of the annual Colours Match between UCD and Dublin University. Yet this annual encounter is still an important fixture on the rugby calendar and leaves us with one of the better elements that remain from a bygone era.

University rugby has been an integral part of the game and central to its development in this country. And while it is not as strong as it was it is still of considerable significance and importance in the development of young, players.

For almost a half a century the annual joust between UCD and Trinity has had a very special appeal and at Donnybrook this afternoon the 45th Colours Match will be marked by all the commitment and full hearted endeavour that has always characterised this fixture.

Quite a few of the players in action today have been honoured at schools and underage representative levels.

The winners will receive the Compaq Colours trophy presented by the sponsors and Trinity are the current holders. They also go into the match seeking a third successive win and that is a feat the university has not attained since they won four in a row between 1977 and 1980.

In fact, three issues are at stake, the Colours' trophy, AIL third division points and Dudley Cup points.

Circumstances were such that Trinity did not compete in the Leinster Senior League, but despite that, it could be to their advantage that they field eighth players who helped in the win last season.

Only three of the UCD side have experienced the atmosphere and demands of this fixture. They are all in the pack, hooker John O'Sullivan, second row John Ryan, who helped Ireland to win the under 21 Triple Crown last season, and number eight and captain Den is Finn.

There is, too, an international flavour to the UCD team as it includes three New Zealanders and a player from Canada.

Trinity's survivors from last season include four of the back line. They are full back Bryan Quinn, right wing Michael McDonough, who will be playing in this match for the sixth time, centre Colin Murphy, and left wing Jan Cunningham, a regular on the Ulster senior side this season and another who was on the Ireland under 21 team last season and who won an Ireland A cap as a temporary replacement against South Africa A a few weeks ago.

There are four in the Trinity pack who played last year. They are prop John McKee, second row, John Doddy and his partner Robert McMahon and the team captain and number eight William Robb. Doddy played on the blind side flank last year.

With over half the team having played in and won the match last season, that kind of experience could be very important and Trinity in those circumstances will be favoured to make it three in a row. But favouritism has often proved a burden in the past and it could happen again. One thing we can be sure about, the match will not lack anything in the way of total commitment to the cause.