Sweeney answeredWales and Dragons centre Ceri Sweeney had plenty to say off the pitch prior to Saturday's Heineken European Cup clash with Munster at Rodney Parade. He decided to add a little spice to the proceedings by declaring that the Munster halfbacks Peter Stringer and Ronan O'Gara could be easily intimidated.
Sweeney observed: "They can both be intimidated and we saw that for Wales in the last Six Nations game. In the end they had to take O'Gara off."
The Welshman was less eloquent on the other side of the whitewash during his side's 24-8 defeat at home. At the press conference after the game a Welsh journalist asked Declan Kidney whether his team had used the comments of Sweeney and another Dragons player - tighthead prop Rhys Thomas - as a motivational tool prior to the contest.
The Munster coach ventured with a smile: "No, no, sure the Dragons are only the same as ourselves. They were slagging one another off. It's all good banter."
Fair enough at face value but what about one of the Munster players whose "bottle" was questioned? Ronan O'Gara was less conciliatory. "I think he (Sweeney) is entitled to say that. My point of view is that it is not one of the top-quality players saying that, the Michael Owens, Gareth Coopers or Kevin Morgans of this club.
"So for someone like him to say it, well he's perfectly entitled but I think among the top players there is a fair amount of respect."
Before this column, through the chuckles, sends out for a couple of saucers of milk, it should be noted that the earlier suggestion that Sweeney's words were not metaphorically pinned to the dressingroom wall appears inaccurate.
O'Gara confirmed: "The great thing I heard from Deccy (Declan Kidney) is that we like to do our talking on the pitch and I think that is the most appropriate comment of the day."
Confused by Ben
Who is Ben Jackson, that elusive Saracen? And is he any relation to Ben Johnson, another Saracen? And what happened to a Saracen outhalf called Glen Jackson? This column is indebted to the RTÉ radio rugby commentator from Cork Michael Corcoran for help in solving the mystery.
The ERC media guide lists two Saracens players, one called Ben Jackson, the other Ben Johnson - no relation to the sprinter. Coincidentally the two players are the same weight and the same height and share the same birthday. The one called Ben Jackson is also his team's leading scorer.
Demonstrating his encyclopaedic knowledge of rugby - or more accurately that he's had a few pints in the Highfield clubhouse in his time - Corcoran recalled that a young New Zealander named Glen Jackson had played with the club at under-19 and under-20 levels. He thought that the Kiwi had gone on to play for Saracens.
Checking the English club's website solved the mystery. Glen Jackson the Kiwi is the Ben Jackson of media-guide fame. The book had run Ben Jackson and Ben Johnson together coming up with Ben Jackson, who has never existed. Confused? Well Glen Jackson scored Saracens' try against Ulster, played outhalf that night and added the conversion to prove he is a living breathing player - unlike Ben Jackson.
Ulster's fire power
On an equally frivolous point it's hardly surprising Ulster managed to beat Saracens at Ravenhill on Friday night. It's nothing to do with quality, pedigree or home advantage but rather the fact that Ulster are sponsored, according to the name on their jerseys, by Titan Tanks. As everyone knows, you'd always take a tank over an armoured car (Saracen) any day.
Showing Respect
Former Irish rugby stars Victor Costello and Moss Keane were special guests at a lunch to commemorate a presentation from Wooden Spoon UK Rugby Charity to Respect, an Irish charity at St Vincent's Centre, Navan Road, Dublin, that helps 2,300 people with intellectual disability.
A cheque of £50,000 was handed over at the lunch. The money will be used to fit out a bungalow.
Respect was established in 1995 as the fundraising arm of the Daughters of Charity Service for people with intellectual disabilities and has grown over the years through donations, its shop and its schools programme but primarily through events.
It continues to raise funds for a project that has commenced construction and will comprise nine bungalows, day care, catering and a sacred space. The project will accommodate 54 people.
A dip for the crazy
There was always the suggestion rugby players were mad but you might not have expected to find so many lunatics in one place at one time. Still, as Roy Keane might say, credit to Westport RFC - aka The Bulls - who will hold their annual Christmas Day swim on Bertra Beach as usual at 1pm.
According to club spokesman Tommy Cadden: "Anyone with experience walking across hot coals will find this a doddle. Normally temperatures are near freezing or certainly feel like it to those hanging around in a pair of speedos in gale force winds or hailstones.
"All the lunatics, ladies or gents, willing to take part should be on the beach at 1pm sharp to avoid frostbite and other nasty conditions. Let's hope for sunshine."
Davies moves on There will be a familiar face missing at Leinster matches from now on. Frances Davies, hugely popular with the players, has decided to step down as physiotherapist to the Leinster team to concentrate on a new physio clinic she is starting on Dublin's Baggot Street. She leaves with the good wishes of players and management alike.
