The Offload: Justin Harrison far from a plank in the commentary box

Harrison no plank on the mic

Justin Harrison, the former Australian international secondrow, once labelled a “plank,”, “plod” and an “ape” by former England and Lions scrumhalf Austin Healy as a result of a famous spat during the 2001 Lions tour is now a highly regarded rugby commentator. The two former players who once faced each other on the pitch are now to be found working behind a microphone.

Harrison has established a reputation for his sharp, insightful commentary in his work for Stan Sport from whom Sky have taken the feed for the Australian based matches in the Rugby Championship, won by New Zealand despite a final weekend defeat to South Africa.

Healy’s contribution for BT Sport is more likely to polarise opinion amongst viewers, particularly for those who refuse to separate the player from the commentator in terms of annoyance factor. He certainly hasn’t lost any of the chirpiness that he displayed in his time as a player.

Harrison’s input at the weekend certainly enhanced the enjoyment of the two matches with his sharp, articulate analysis in describing Australia’s victory over Argentina and the Springboks last gasp victory over the All Blacks. He wasn’t averse to making the wrong sort of headlines off the pitch (cocaine, fighting) during an at times troubled playing career, three years of which was spent in Belfast.

Munster huff and puff before blowing the Stormers away

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Ulster make light work of Zebre to notch second win

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Australia see off Argentina to seal third straight win

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Munster enjoy big opening night of positives as Thomond roar returns

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The former Wallaby, who incidentally is the last Ulster man’s senior captain to lift a trophy (2006 Celtic League), is one of a 10-strong team that includes two women in anchor Roz Kelly and former dual code international star Allana Ferguson, alongside former players like David Campese, Tim Horan, Drew Mitchell and former All Black Andrew Mehrtens amongst others.

Despite the cast of thousands everyone manages to get a word in what can be very much a ‘matey approach.’ Harrison though doesn’t subscribe and is very good at breaking down the technical and tactical side of matches for the viewer. He certainly isn’t a ‘plank’ or a ‘plod’ when it comes to his contribution with the microphone.

Quote of the week

"Congrats to Nigel, our new attack coach. He has got us humming." New Zealand born Cole Forbes, who scored two tries for the Glasgow Warriors in their victory over the Sharks paid tribute to Nigel Carolan, the former Connnacht backs and Ireland Under-20 head coach.

Number of the week

1 - South Africa's victory over New Zealand, bringing the All Blacks winning run of 10 matches to a halt, has seen Jacques Nienaber's Springboks return to the summit of the world rankings.

Red flag results for Wicklow

Wicklow RFC’s promotion to the Energia Women’s All Ireland League has led to a couple of red flag results in the opening two matches. Jason Moreton’s young team that includes promising Leinster fullback Ella Roberts were beaten 63-0 at home last Friday week by an Old Belvedere side that included a liberal sprinkling of international talent.

The visiting team also included Hannah Tyrrell at outhalf, back playing rugby again - she has retired from international rugby - following her brilliant performances for the Dublin Women’s GAA team that lost to Meath in the All Ireland final. Belvedere scored 11 tries on a night when Wicklow received an unvarnished appraisal of what might lie ahead.

It can’t and won’t have prepared them though for what happened when they visited Railway Union on Saturday evening. Wicklow were beaten 142-0 as Railway racked up 24 tries and 11 conversions. The nature of the defeats requires little elaboration but what is deeply troubling is the chasm in standard within what is supposed to be the elite division.

Old Belvedere and Railway are two of the best teams and along with UL Bohemian and Blackrock College will be contesting overall honours but for Wicklow, Ballincollig (a brilliant win on debut at this level but the team they beat 14-13, Suttonians, lost 50-0 to Blackrock the following week) Suttonians, Cooke, Malone and Galwegians some tough outings lie ahead.

No one benefits one iota from the shellacking that Wicklow have suffered; it’s not character building or forming. It’s simply a young team - five were part of their Under-18s last year - that don’t deserve to and shouldn’t be subjected to those types of beatings at this point in the development cycle. Results of this nature are counterintuitive when trying to broaden the playing base in Irish women’s rugby.

All go for coffee lover Keith Earls

It is a busy time for Munster, Ireland and Lions wing Keith Earls away from the day job on the rugby pitch.

The 34-year-old international, who played for Munster in their 34-18 win over the Stormers in the United Rugby Championship at Thomond Park, launched his coffee business Earls Eleven14 Coffee Roasters Limited on International Coffee day, last Friday.

Later this month he will release his autobiography Fight or Flight, written in conjunction with respected journalist Tommy Conlon. It is apposite that a rugby player should get involved in the coffee business considering the amount of their downtime that is devoted to finding the best brew both domestically and on their global travels.

Fellow Ireland international Bundee Aki is a bit of a connoisseur and has been responsible in the past for ensuring that coffee machines are in situ with Connacht, Ireland and most recently the Lions, while Cian Healy is another who is passionate about coffee.

During the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan, Colin Harmon from 3fe who is a good friend of Healy’s sent over 50kgs of coffee beans and organised for a machine to be delivered to the team hotel. In the first week of the tournament the squad went through 10kgs. All of this suggests that amongst Earls’ best customers in his new venture will be his provincial and national squad teammates.