The World is Oval

Compiled by Johnny Watterson

And then there were four

We are greatly indebted to Eddie O'Sullivan for killing stone dead the constant references to the Sofitel Seven, who were the players that at one stage had not been selected onto the match-day 22-man squad. It then became the Sofitel Six, and as we wondered whether it would be the Sofitel cinq, the coach waved his magic wand. Brian Carney, Stephen Ferris, Bryan Young and Alan Quinlan, aka "The French Four", have yet to make the bench in this World Cup.

Timing is everything

Given how things are proceeding, Brian O'Driscoll could do with some of Michael Jones' luck. Samoa coach Jones was explaining to the post-match news conference what had gone wrong against Tonga, when a piercing alarm sounded and an announcement in French and English repeatedly urged everyone to evacuate because of a "technical hitch".

SOS for number 10

A cautionary tale for Irish bagman "Rala". When Stephen Larkham failed to start in the match against Wales on Saturday, and Berrick Barnes became the replacement outhalf, there was the slight issue of jersey changes. Barnes could not fit into the number 10 jersey filled for so long by the taller, leaner Larkham.

Frantic efforts began at 7.45am on Saturday (when it was decided Larkham would not play) to find an alternative number 10 jersey for Barnes from the Australian base in France. After a flight across the English Channel and special courier ride from Cardiff airport, the jersey just made the 1.20pm deadline (for the 2pm start to the match). Had the jersey SOS not been successful Barnes would have pulled on a number 23 top.

On the wrong line

The crowd gathered outside The Blarney Stone Irish pub in Bordeaux had a lot to shout about last Sunday as Kerry tore into Cork at Croke Park. But the loudest cry of all was when the tow-away truck drove past the swollen bar heading towards the pound with a black Audi on the back bearing an 07 D registration. Cue the general hilarity and the "Decco must have porked the car on the focking lines mon and orsed off to the Heino Village" Ross O'Carroll Kelly impersonations.

Weather watch

Paris has clouded, it's raining in Bordeaux. Perhaps the decline in weather towards something more Irish will have the desired unsettled effect on France.

Quotes of the day

"Bon Pour Le Moral"

- A headline in a local paper Sud Ouest and beside it the score of France 87 Namibia 10.

"Peter Stringer has been the heartbeat of this team before and he will be again. He's just not on top of his game."

- Eddie O'Sullivan after dropping the Irish scrumhalf yesterday.

Facing facts

Denis Hickie gave a brutally honest interview yesterday after Andrew Trimble was preferred to him for this week's game.

Hickie admitted that he was devastated about being left out and added that it was now possible that he would never play for Ireland again. Not the way to go for such an enduring talent over the past decade.

All Blacks go grey

New Zealand players will not be wearing black shirts at a World Cup game for the first time in 12 years when they face Scotland on Sunday.

As the home team, Scotland have chosen to wear their traditional dark blue jerseys for the match at Murrayfield, meaning that New Zealand will have to don their silver-grey second strip to avoid a colour clash.

Scotland will take due note of the standard of play produced by the minor nations when they meet Romania at Murrayfield tonight.

SCOTLAND: R Lamont; S Lamont, S Webster, R Dewey, C Paterson; D Parks, M Blair; G Kerr, R Ford, E Murray, N Hines, J Hamilton, J White (capt), A Hogg, S Taylor. Replacements: S Lawson, C Smith, S MacLeod, K Brown, C Cusiter, H Southwell, N Walker.

ROMANIA: I Dumitras; C Fercu, C Gal, R Gontineac, G Brezoianu; I Dimofte, L Sirbu; P Toderasc, M Tincu, B Balan, S Socol (capt), C Petre, F Corodeanu, A Manta, O Tonita. Replacements: S Florea, R Mavrodin, C Ratiu, A Tudori, V Calafeteanu I Tofan, F Vlaicu.