A rugby miscellany JOHNNY WILKINSON:

Shingler's case: Connacht's two signings keep wary eye on developments

THE STEPHEN Shingler case rolls on and on and on . . . But its resolution could have implications for Connacht’s signings Matthew Jarvis and James Loxton, both former age-grade internationals with Wales, who are not eligible to play for Ireland under the current International Board (IRB) laws.

The Irish province signed the two on the basis that they would be eligible for Ireland because they had not represented Wales at ‘A’ international level.

Shingler (right) played under-20 for Wales too but now wishes to play for Scotland. He claims he’s eligible to make the switch but others say he’s not and the whole thing is an IRB mess.

Some countries have their under-20 side designated as their second senior team and others have their ‘A’ sides and Sevens. How can an under-20 side be senior when they play in a Junior World Cup?

Shingler could be the final act in a messy, fudged, unsavoury squabble that has been rolling on for over a year now. The IRB ‘believe’ him to be tied to Wales.

* JONNY SEXTON had to adjust his kicking more than usual yesterday because Firhill is such a tight pitch. That’s because the Stadium is a primarily a football ground located in the Maryhill area of Glasgow. Rugby Union and Rugby League is also, obviously, played there. As of 2010 it has been the home ground of Partick Thistle FC as well as Glasgow Warriors. Past ground-sharing agreements have also seen Firhill act as a temporary home for football clubs Clyde and Hamilton Academical.

It has been home to Partick Thistle since 1909 after the club had been forced to vacate their previous home at Meadowside a year earlier. The main stand was constructed in 1927, a year before the ground hosted its only full international fixture against Ireland.

* FERGUS McFADDEN kicked two penalties and two conversions in Leinster’s hard-fought Heineken Cup win. While the centre has been a regular place kicker in the absence of Jonny Sexton (he takes the kicks when Ian Madigan is playing at outhalf), his four yesterday were his first points of this season’s Heineken Cup campaign. The Kilkenny-born 25-year-old has kicked 51 points this season but all in PRO12.

Faint hopes: Beck stars as Italians are hit for six

TWO TRIES from Ashley Beck kept the Ospreys faint hopes of a Heineken Cup quarter-final place alive and boosted his own hopes of a call-up to the Wales Six Nations squad later this month. Beck also picked up the Heineken man-of-the-match award for his performance as the Ospreys hit their Italian visitors for six to pick up their first try bonus point of the season in all competitions.

But it was Ireland’s Tommy Bowe (right) who got the six-try romp started with a third minute interception from 60 metres out. Bowe’s bolt for the line takes him closer to the ERC Elite Award target of 25 Heineken Cup tries. His score took his tally to 22 and he could have got another in the second half when he carried two Benetton Treviso defenders with him over the line only to hear the TMO rule out the try.

“We have a saying on the board ‘live by the sword, die by the sword’. It hasn’t cost us and we can learn from winning rather than learn from losing.” – Harlequins coach Conor O’Shea after narrow win over Gloucester