Playing the name game

PLANET SIX NATIONS:THERE IS no truth in the rumour that Tiger and Elin Woods have named their second child, a son, Charlie Axel, in homage to former Shannon, Munster and Ireland number eight, Anthony "Axel" Foley.

The latter is a keen golfer, usually playing without a mask off his handicap, but it is his prowess in the Tiger Woods game, available on the X-Box or PlayStation consoles, that made him virtually unplayable during his days with the Ireland rugby squad when he would take on and beat all comers. Now in his non-playing role with Munster, there is the scary prospect that he’s possibly even better at both versions of golf.

D'Arcy prefers to look forwardTHERE WAS a certain poignancy to the reaction of the Ireland players when Gordon D'Arcy crossed for Ireland's third try last Saturday at Croke Park. To a man they headed to congratulate the Leinster centre.

It was a year ago this month that his sporting world was shattered, along with his forearm, in making a tackle on Italian outhalf Andrea Masi in the 26th minute of the Six Nations opener against Italy at Croke Park.

Three operations and 11 months it took before he was able to return to competitive rugby. In fairness to D’Arcy he refused to dredge through the misery on his time out of the team when invited to by journalists in the wake of the French game, preferring instead to focus on the here and now.

WALES' VICTORYover Scotland on Sunday has moved them to a highest ever world ranking of fourth, behind New Zealand, South Africa and Australia.

Positive reading for IrelandTHIS COLUMN once again plumbs the depth of statistics ahead of Ireland's Six Nations Championship match against Italy in the Stadio Flaminio in Rome on Sunday.

From an Ireland perspective the head-to-head matches since Italy were admitted to the tournament in 2000 makes for very positive reading.

Ireland hold the records for the most tries, highest score and biggest winning margin of the series. The biggest total racked up by Ireland, though, was when they managed a 61-6 win at Thomond Park (2003) in a World Cup warm-up match.

That day they scored eight tries, a feat they were able to repeat in the Six Nations game in Rome two years ago. Ronan O’Gara (30) hold the series record for most points scored in a match between the nations. Denis Hickie managed eight tries in eight appearances against the Italians.

Maggs on move

FORMER IRELAND international centre Kevin Maggs has come to a mutual agreement with Bristol to terminate his contact. Maggs won his first Ireland cap against New Zealand in 1997, going on to be one of the most popular members of the Ireland set-up during his time there, noted especially for his thunderous defence and muscular ball-carrying. He played in two World Cups and won 70 caps.

Then again . . .

JUST IN case any Ireland supporters are tempted to get carried away after last weekend’s great win over France at Croke Park, a selection of the statistics from last season’s match between Ireland and Italy at Croke Park – the Irish won 16-11 – make for interesting reading.

Ireland missed more tackles than their opponents (8-5), made more unforced errors (17-13) and conceded more free-kicks (3-1), while successfully completing fewer tackles (90 per cent-94 per cent). On a more positive note, the home side made more line breaks (7-2) and offloaded more often in the tackle (10-3), something they will hope to replicate on Sunday.

Paper talk

“Rather than thinking about the 2011 World Cup (Nick Mallett) should concentrate on the present. Mallett admitted he hadn’t even considered (Paul) Griffen but maybe now it is time to take a step backwards.”

– Italian newspaper Gazetta dello Sport offers some advice to Nick Mallett about the Mauro Bergamasco fiasco. The Italy coach appeared to take heed.