Planet Rugby

Carney far from a tyro:Munster's new convert from rugby league, Brian Carney, has experienced the union code since leaving Clongowes Wood College 12 years ago, albeit at junior level with Lansdowne RFC.

Lansdowne's Brian Corrigan was instrumental in getting the Cork-born Wicklowman involved in the Irish Students Rugby League side for a tournament in 1998, where his subsequent performances led to a decorated international career with Britain.

With Mossie Lawlor, Anthony Horgan and Shaun Payne injured, the powerful winger may get an early return to union at Ravenhill on Friday. An Ulster v Munster derby, with David Humphreys testing his positional sense, is as good a place as any for Carney to find his feet.

Bonus of contention

Planet Rugbyhas several times of late been asked why the universally accepted bonus-point system is not used in the Six Nations. Tradition dies hard but if the Heineken European Cup, Super 14 and AIB League method had been in use Ireland would now be Six Nations champions - thanks in part to the bonus point gained in the 20-17 defeat by France on February 11th. The final table would have Ireland on 19 points, France on 18, England on 13, Italy on nine and Wales and Scotland on five.

Questionable practice

Match officials have come in for strong criticism during the Six Nations, even Chris White - unofficially the world's best referee - apologising after denying Wales an attacking lineout at the end of their defeat in Rome. It wasn't entirely White's fault, of course, the TMO having told him time, "I have time."

In the England-Scotland game, the Irish TMO Donal Courtney received flak for awarding the Jonny Wilkinson try when there had clearly been a foot in touch, though it remains unclear if he was asked only about the grounding of the ball.

This seems to be a recurring problem. A TMO examines only what the referee asks him too.

Take the decision to award Elvis Vermeulen a try on Saturday, which resulted in France winning the Six Nations title. The South African referee Craig Joubert asked Ireland's Simon McDowell only, "Can you give me a reason not to award the try?" The television replays were inconclusive so McDowell was probably unable to answer the question in the affirmative.

Courtney, touch judge in the same game, also made an intervention that led to Sean Lamont being sinbinned for a late tackle. Thing is, the transgressor was his younger brother Rory. But Joubert, despite protests from the Scots, sent the wrong man off the field.

Sense and censorability

The World Association of Newspapers (WAN) and a coalition of leading news agencies formally protested this week against restrictions placed on press coverage ahead of this year's Rugby World Cup in France, citing a "serious breach of freedom of the press".

WAN told IRB CEO Mike Miller they would explore legal options and inform event sponsors of "the very clear loss of exposure from which they will suffer owing to these restrictions".

The problem is the IRB decision to limit publication of World Cup photos through the internet, including newspaper websites, to a maximum of five per half and two for extra time.

There are also restrictions on how photographs can be used in print publications, the common practice of superimposing headlines and captions on photos being banned if they obscure advertising in the images.

The IRB said it needs to protect commercial contracts with licensees who pay for the rights to show the events live. But the soccer body Fifa rowed back on similar restrictions for the 2006 World Cup after negotiations with WAN.

WAN also protested against an IRB statement implying it might charge newspapers for the right to attend and cover events. "We are astonished by the barely veiled threat in your letter to start charging newspapers for just attending major tournaments," said the letter to Miller. "This . . . reflects a profound lack of knowledge of what constitutes media freedom."

The ball is back in the IRB's court.

Holwell not gone away

Remember David Holwell? The former Leinster outhalf went back to New Zealand three years ago supposedly to retire and take over the family beef farm.

Just when it looked like his parents could retire, when his contract with the Wellington Hurricanes expired at the end of last season, the Auckland Blues coach David Nucifora persuaded Holwell to take up a one-year deal as cover for Luke McAlister and Isa Nacewa.

"I am just there in case of injury or to fill in when he (Nacewa) needs a rest. I am just there to help out because this team needs to develop a number 10 for the future," he said recently.

Still only 32, Holwell contributed 16 points in the Blues' six-try demolition of the Lions at the weekend. It looks like a chapter remains to be written in this sporting biography.