The World is Oval

Compiled by Johnny Watterson

NZ run up €18,000 tab

Munster All Black Doug Howlett and some of his team-mates reportedly ran up a NZ$33,000 (18,000) tab in the hotel's foyer bar before the poodle-coiffed winger was arrested for damaging cars at a hotel near London's Heathrow airport.

"There were about five to seven players drinking in the bar. They looked as if they were pretty down in the dumps after they lost and they ran up a £12,500 (€17,883) bar bill over several hours," a hotel staff member told the Daily Telegraph.

"It wasn't just them, it was other members of the squad as well and it included food. They were behaving themselves while they were in the bar, but then for some reason, a couple of them decided to go outside and that was where it all kicked off."

Howlett has issued a video-taped apology saying: "I am sorry for what has happened. I am embarrassed that the events of one evening have led to me being in this situation. It was a little bit of tomfoolery."

Third semi for Catt and Co

Four players will equal the record for RWC semi-final appearances when they take the field for this weekend's matches. England's Mike Catt and France's Raphaël Ibanez and Fabien Pelous will play their third RWC semi-finals at the weekend. South Africa's Os du Randt is expected to be named in their starting XV for their match v Argentina on Sunday and will also play his third RWC semi-final.

Catt played against Ibanez and Pelous in the RWC 2003 semi-final.

Christophe Dominici is on the bench for France's match, but will also make his third RWC semi-final appearance if he gets on.

No positive tests returned

Rugby World Cup Limited has announced the France 2007 Anti-Doping programme returned no positive tests for the pool stages and all four quarter-finals. In total 176 tests were conducted, with two players per team tested at all 44 tournament matches to date.

"The anti-doping programme for RWC 2007 has been the most extensive in the history of Rugby World Cup," said IRB anti-doping manager Tim Ricketts. "The tournament testing programme has comprised four tests from each match and an out of competition blood testing programme, the first for a RWC."

The IRB are to consider the further implementation of blood tests and while no analysis procedure for human growth hormone exists, samples will be stored at the WADA accredited laboratory in Paris until such a test is available, which WADA predicts will be within the next 12 months.

Quote of the week

"I don't think there should be any radical changes, we have put time and effort into this team. I think it could be over-reactive if they change Henry, he's a great coach, and (you) don't become a bad coach overnight."

- No, it's not Eddie O'Sullivan but Zinzan Brooke, the former All Black and winner of the 1987 World Cup.