Compiled by Gerry Thornley.
Army invades Biarritz poll: So where will the Red Army be heading to for Munster's Heineken European Cup quarter-final against Biarritz on April 3rd - the 12,667 capacity Parc des Sports Aguilera in Biarritz or the 32,082-capacity Real Sociedad's Estadio Anoeta in San Sebastian?
Biarritz president Marcel Martin has unsurprisingly ruled out bigger alternative venues in France, namely Toulouse (which is three hours away and in "enemy" territory) or Bordeaux. However, moving the game to their Basque neighbours in Spain is still being pursued.
That Real Sociedad are due to host Osasuna in the Primera Liga on the same day is not seen as an insurmountable problem, as they could be persuaded to move their game forward by 24 hours in return for Biarritz paying a rental fee for the European Cup quarter-final. As reported here, there are potentially greater logistical difficulties, namely cross-border broadcasting, anti-doping regulations, player insurance and so forth.
In an effort to ascertain the mood of their own supporters, the Biarritz website conducted a poll offering the choice of keeping the game in Biarritz or moving it to San Sebastien.
The rough English translation of the poll posted on the Biarritz website was:
Q. Should the quarter-final of the H Cup be played in San Sebastian?
A1. No, I prefer Aguilera even if there is a smaller stadium.
A2. Yes, it is important to get closer to the Basque country.
A3. Yes, the stadium is bigger and the support would be bigger for the BOPB.
A4. No, that would be an Irish advantage.
A5. No opinion: only victory is important.
When word of this poll filtered through to the Munster supporters' website, it prompted members of the Red Army to take a leaf out of Fianna Fáil's book and vote early and vote often. Sure enough, Biarritz removed the poll from their website by Friday afternoon, by which point 81 per cent had voted for the game to be held in San Sebastian. Over 340 people had voted on Friday morning. They must have got suspicious!
Who qualifies anyway? Confusion still reigns over the convoluted qualifying routes to next season's European Cup via the Celtic League. The IRFU have stated that they reserve the right to nominate Munster, Leinster and Ulster, regardless of where they finish, and this has implications for whichever team may reach the play-off place against the third-ranked Italian side which the ERC has also offered to the "highest ranked non-qualifier" from the Celtic League.
If, for example, Ulster finished below Connacht, and the IRFU nominate Ulster ahead of them, will Connacht be entitled to enter that play-off against the Italians by dint of Ulster finishing above the fourth-ranked Welsh side and third-ranked Scottish side? Might the Welsh or Scots object to such IRFU cherry-picking? The IRFU/Celtic League want clarification from the ERC. The ERC say it is a matter for the Celtic League to resolve, and ideally before their next board meeting on February 2nd. But as a result of the latest in-fighting in Murrayfield, last week's proposed meeting of the Celtic League board has been deferred.
Ideally, the IRFU would like Ulster, along with Munster and Leinster, to finish above Connacht. If the westerners were also to finish above either Cardiff or Llanelli, and above one of the Scots, they would by rights qualify for the play-off, at which point, contrary to reports yesterday, the union's chief executive Philip Browne confirmed yesterday that "if Connacht finish above the fourth-ranked Welsh side and the third-ranked Scottish side then we would be delighted for them to go forward to that play-off, unless there were any objections from our Celtic cousins, which I don't see why there would be."
As from next season, with the possible scrapping of the Celtic Cup freeing up three more league weekends, it is proposed that the League will determine qualification for the European Cup without any ambiguities.
Browne also confirmed that were Connacht to win the European Challenge Cup they would also qualify automatically for next season's European Cup. That could create complications regarding Ulster's rights to that aforementioned play-off, depending on where they and Connacht finish in relation to the Scots and the Welsh in the Celtic League. But let's not go there.
Toulouse lose ground: The pick of the weekend's games in the French top 16 saw Perpignan rediscover the comforts of home after their embarrassing European Cup exit at the hands of Edinburgh last week by beating Toulouse 18-16 at the Stade Aime Giral in Saturday's televised game.
Trevor Brennan put in a few trademark big hits in his hour on the field after being restored to his long-time position of blindside flanker, but Toulouse struggled in both the lineouts and the scrums in a bruising affair. However, the club's and France's injury woes continued when centre Yannick Jauzion was taken off with a suspected torn thigh muscle which is liable to rule him out of France's Six Nations opener at home to Scotland and possibly the following week's trip to Twickenham.
Biarritz, Munster's Cup quarter-final opponents, had a routine 20-9 win away to bottom placed Auch while Stade Français continued to look the form team with a 29-12 win away to Pau which keeps them joint top with Bourgoin.
Dallaglio rules Lions in: Lawrence Dallaglio has not emulated his long-time English sidekick Martin Johnson by ruling himself out of contention for the Lions' tour to New Zealand.
In an interview with the Daily Telegraph, Dallaglio said "Put it this way, I wouldn't let anyone down I can assure you of that. I know what it takes and I know what I have to offer. If I'm fit and playing well then I'm most certainly available. If Clive feels he has no need to look outside the international crop, then fine. If he does, then he won't have to look too far will he?"
Italians warm up: Ireland's opening Six Nations opponents, Italy, will prepare for that game in Rome on Sunday, February 6th with a warm-up match against a "World XV" in Catania next Saturday which will comprise the best foreign players the Italian Super 10 league has to offer.
Manuel and Denis Dallan have both been left out of John Kirwan's 30-man squad for the warm-up match because of injury, although Gonzalo Canale is in the team despite being on the physio's list. Former captain Alessandro Troncon has returned from his long-term knee injury. Sergio Parisse and Andrea Lo Cicero are expected to be fit for the Ireland game.
