North end ready for Italy

The IRFU will this week receive a full engineer's report into the remedial work needed if the terracing at the Havelock Square end of Lansdowne Road is to be reopened in time for the Six Nations Championship.

Although the union's chief executive Philip Browne was yesterday reluctant to pre-empt that report, all the indications are that the North Terrace will be refurbished in time for the opening home game against Italy on February 4th.

As things stand it is unclear whether the union will recoup the losses on gate receipts for the November internationals arising from the North Terrace being closed - believed to be in the region of €470,000 - after the fire which damaged the terracing the night before the All Blacks game. Likewise, the cost of the refurbishment which will now need to be carried out.

"These are two separate issues and we're endeavouring to ascertain what is covered and what isn't covered," said Browne yesterday. The remedial work required for the north terracing to be opened up for Ireland's three home games in the Six Nations, could cost around €100,000.

In any event, the possibility of requesting the GAA to open Croke Park as early as this season's Six Nations in light of these "special circumstances" , is not even on the agenda.

"The GAA have been very clear about this and we appreciate that clarity," said Browne.

While the North Terrace work is another bill which the union could have done without, it would not be so prohibitive as to leave that end of the ground closed, even if it will only be a short-term investment pending the long overdue redevelopment of the ground.

To that end, Browne confirmed that the proposed application for planning permission for the new 50,000 all-seater Lansdowne Road "may well be delayed until the first week of January", explaining that: "residents are concerned about it being lodged over the Christmas period."

Scotland scrumhalf Chris Cusiter faces a further frustrating wait to find out the extent of the knee ligament damage he suffered against the All Blacks.

The 23-year-old was forced to limp off after 20 minutes of the battling 29-10 loss on Saturday.