A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Aussies get rub of green
It seems the Australian travelling party had more than a few fellows well versed with the Ireland rugby scene. Quite apart from Alan Gaffney, who coached Munster and Leinster and is assistant to Australian supremo Eddie Jones, Drew Mitchell, who spent time staying with Leinster under-21 fullback Ross McCarron, the Aussies also employed Munster masseur Dave Revins.
Damian Mednis (Queensland), the Cork-based Munster fitness coach, was approached by Australian management looking for a masseur while the Wallabies were in this country. Mednis immediately nominated Revins, who is highly regarded among the Munster players.
The latter spent the week in the Australian set-up. The "Renovator", from Glanmire, Co Cork, lists Donncha O'Callaghan, Ronan O'Gara and Anthony Horgan among his regular clients.
Mednis's recommendation was of course endorsed by Gaffney, and Revins joined up with the tourists on Tuesday at their Portmarnock headquarters.
We all know who'll have the bragging rights when Munster get together again after Saturday's final November series Test match between Ireland and Romania at Lansdowne Road.
Mal in effortless style
It appears Malcolm O'Kelly is about to improve his sartorial image. The Ireland secondrow has just signed a deal with the Kartel clothing company, where he joins golfer Padraig Harrington.
O'Kelly's first assignment as "brand ambassador" is to showcase the Kartel 2005 Formal collection. The blurb maintains: "This range encompasses an extensive selection of clothing for the style-conscious man. Inspired by the cool of winter, the collection embodies effortless style and classic tailoring to give a quietly confident look whatever the weather."
You can just hear his team-mates saying the same thing to the big lock whenever he dons his new civvies.
Celts cut TV bonanza
It seems the Celtic League have managed to negotiate ongoing television rights for the tournament with BBC Wales, SRC and Setanta Ireland, a deal believed to be worth in the region of €1.5 million. Now if the organisers could only find a main sponsor they could be credited with securing the short- to medium-term future of the tournament. The deal could be signed by the end of the month.
Sri Lanka survive brawl
Sri Lanka were too good for Kazakhstan in the return leg of a 2007 Rugby World Cup Asian Qualifier in Colombo but, to put in mildly, the match was littered with some overly robust exchanges. According to rugbyenews.com, Sri Lanka not only bridged the deficit of six points over Kazakhstan (who won the first game 25-19 at Almaty) but went on to beat the visitors by 24-12 after leading 18-5 at the interval.
"There were some ugly incidents on the field towards the end of the first session after Sri Lanka's right winger Sanjeewa Jayasinghe was brought down just inches from scoring. Fists were thrown and even feet were used. It ended with the Japanese referee red carding Kazakhi right winger Ivan Galushkin.
"Sri Lanka did very well, with the forwards countering much bigger opponents. They won a fair share of possession, using their backs to run the ball.
"Kazakhstan were leading 5-3 when the violence erupted. Once the police had moved in to control it, Sri Lanka's left winger Pradeep Liyanage touched down near the corner flag following up a chip by outhalf Asanga Rodrigo.
"Following a Sri Lankan penalty goal, wing Sanjeewa Jayasinghe went over near the corner flag in the final seconds of the first half.
"After the turnaround, two more penalties saw the home side doing it easily. When Kazakhstan finally got their forwards rolling they scored a late consolation, but it was too little too late.
"Sri Lanka join Arabian Gulf, Korea, Japan, Chinese Taipei and Hong Kong in the next stage of Asian qualifying."
Breakfast briefings
Rugby fans in Kerry and Waterford have an excellent opportunity to learn about life as a professional rugby player when Munster Rugby host their annual breakfast briefings in Tralee and Waterford. The get-togethers go to different counties each year. This time they'll be co-hosted by Tralee RFC and Waterford Chamber of Commerce on November 23rd and 24th.
The purpose of the briefings is to outline what is involved in running a professional rugby team and allow supporters take part in an open discussion with the management and players on all aspects of the professional game. Proceeds from the events will be donated to the Alzheimer's Society of Ireland.
The breakfast briefings include a brief presentation titled Running a Professional Rugby Team by the Munster Rugby CEO, Garrett Fitzgerald, followed by a question-and-answer forum with Munster's director of rugby, Declan Kidney, and several senior players.
The briefings will take place in the Manor West Hotel, Tralee, next Wednesday and the Tower Hotel, Waterford, the following day from 8am to 9.30am. Tickets are available from Musgrave Park (021-4323563) and Waterford Chamber of Commerce (051-872639).
Rugby speak
"He's not like one of those old-style props you had to carry around in a wheelbarrow."
- New Zealand's scrummaging coach Mike Cron talking about England's Andrew Sheridan.
"I think that the conditions will be a factor on the day. If it's a dry day I'd expect Australia to win by 10 to 15 points but if it's wet and windy then it'll be a lot tighter."
- This column is going to give Leinster backs coach David Knox's bookmaking skills a great deal more respect after this pronunciation prior to Saturday's Test at Lansdowne Road.
