World Cup diary

A round-up of today's other stories in brief

Media meltdown: as Lievremont feels the heat

THE only comparison in an Irish context for Marc Lievremont's worsening relationship with the French media is what Mick McCarthy experienced at the 2002 World Cup.

And we all know that got very messy.

After the comprehensive defeat to the All Blacks on Saturday, Lievremont was asked if France can still win the World Cup.

“Go to hell with your question. The goal was and still is to qualify,” was his reply.

Of course, defeat sends France into the Northern Hemisphere side of the draw. “I really regret the detestable atmosphere that we have at these press conferences,” said a calmer Lievremont 24 hours later.

“I am sorry that we cannot work together in a climate of confidence and have exchanges that are useful for both sides. For a long time I hoped this would be the case but manifestly it is not. Often I come out (of the press conference) annoyed and upset because I sense this atmosphere.”

The same thing can be said of many French people’s reaction to his constantly altered selections.

Vasily Artemiev's schooldays: but for IRB regulations he could have been on the other side yesterday

FOR those familiar with Leinster schools rugby or UCD in the AIL, Vasily (formerly Vasya) Artemiev's try against Ireland will come as no surprise.

Let's go back to The Irish Times coverage of the 2003 Junior Cup final: "Gonzaga sink on Artemiev rock," read the headline.

"Whatever young Vasya Artemiev goes on to achieve in life, he won't easily forget yesterday's game at Donnybrook, nor will those in the 4,500 crowd present who were fortunate to witness one of the great schoolboy individual performances at the venue," John O'Sullivan wrote.

"Artemiev scored three tries, none of the social welfare variety . . . he sped through the cluttered corridors of midfield, subtlety changing angles and pace for the first two while for the third he sashayed past five players on a slaloming run."

This description could have been rewritten to describe his try yesterday when he broke the line before stepping past one-time schoolboy rival Rob Kearney.

Skip on to 2006 and Artemiev, having just won his second senior cup and already represented Ireland Under-19s, was denied a place in the World Cup squad in Dubai due to an IRB regulation which ruled that "the parental home is likely to continue to constitute the student's permanent and primary home." Artemiev was a boarder in Blackrock but his parental home was Moscow.

Despite his enthusiasm to represent Ireland, backed by parents, Artemiev still possessed a Russian passport.

If Leinster had offered Artemiev a full contract, dual citizenship would have been the next move, but he returned to Russia, before reappearing on the IRB Sevens circuit.

The Northampton Saints will profit from his pace and agility later this season.

Relief and worry: Contepomi and Lomu in contrasting world

"Maybe it's the benefit of being the captain. It was a very tough decision to make. Wayne Barnes, fortunately he had his back to me."

– Felipe Contepomi (right) on the decision not to penalise him for offside in the last throes of the Pumas 13-12 defeat of Scotland.

"All I can say is my husband is stable and until we know exactly what's wrong, we are not prepared to comment."

– Jonah Lomu's wife, Nadene, after the legendary All Black winger was admitted to hospital in Auckland