A round-up of today's other sports news in brief ...
Rubini to start for Italy
RUGBY: Italy coach Nick Mallett has handed uncapped Giulio Rubini a starting berth for tomorrow’s Six Nations game against Wales in Rome.
The Parma utility back replaces Mirco Bergamasco at number 14, with the latter shifting to centre.
Mallett has made one other change from the team which lost 26-6 against Scotland at Murrayfield, with Carlos Nieto replacing Martin Castrogiovanni in Italy’s starting XV.
ITALY(v Wales at the Stadio Flaminio in Rome tomorrow): A Marcato (Treviso); G Rubini (Parma), G Canale (Clermont Auvergne), M Bergamasco (Stade Francais), M Pratichetti (Calvisano); L McLean (Calvisano), P Griffen (Calvisano); S Perugini (Toulouse), L Ghiraldini (Calvisano), C Nieto (Gloucester), S Dellape (Toulon), M Bortolami (Gloucester), A Zanni (Calvisano), M Bergamasco (Stade Francais), S Parisse (Stade Francais, capt). Replacements: F Sbaraglini (Benetton Treviso), M Castrogiovanni (Leicester), C A Del Fava (Ulster), J Sole (Viadana), P Canavosio (Viadana), L Orquera (Brive), R Quartaroli (Cariparma).
Cullen declines place
ATHLETICS: Mary Cullen has declined a place in the World Cross Country in Amman, Jordan, later this month, although there will still be some Irish representation, writes Ian O’Riordan.
National champion Keith Kelly has been selected for the senior men’s race, provided he recovers from an ongoing knee injury, and will be joined by national runner-up Mark Kenneally. Linda Byrne is also selected as the sole women’s representation, as national champion Maria McCambridge focuses on the Paris Marathon. Cullen’s next outing will be Sunday’s 5km road race in Dublin, sponsored by KBC Asset Management – which has a noon start outside the Mansion House, with entries taken up until 11.0 on the day.
Hennessy makes four changes to Ireland team
WOMEN’S RUGBY: Ireland women’s coach Steve Hennessy has made four changes to the side that was defeated by England two weeks ago.
Jeanette Feighery comes back into the starting line-up on the right wing in place of the injured Grace Davitt. Shannon Houston has been promoted from the bench to inside centre, with Helen Brosnan moving to the replacements.
Cooke team-mates Lauren Day and Laura Nicholl make their first appearances in a match day squad in this year’s Championship.
“The England game was tough, but we played a great first half and are focusing on that performance,” said Hennessy.
“While we were obviously disappointed with the end result we took a lot of positives from that game. We have a good record against Scotland, but we won’t be underestimating them. We have prepared for a tough physical game and are ready for it.
“We are aware this is a vital game, a win will automatically qualify us for next year’s World Cup and put us in a great position for the final week of the Championship where it will be all to play for.”
IRELAND:N Briggs: J Feighery, L Cantwell, S Houston, A Davis; J O'Sullivan, T Rosser; F Coghlan, Y Nolan, G Bourke, C Mahon, O Brennan, L Austin, S Ryan, J Neville. Replacements: J Limbert, L Day, K O'Loughlin, D Clarke, L Beamish, L Nicholl, H Brosnan.
Roy takes stage in Paris-Nice
CYCLING: French rider Jérémy Roy (Française Des Jeux) won yesterday’s fifth stage of Paris-Nice in Vallon Pont-d’Arc, beating breakaway companions Thomas Voeckler (BBox Bouygues Telecom) and Tony Martin (Team Columbia — Highroad).
Ireland’s Nicolas Roche came in as part of the main bunch, some two minutes and 33 seconds behind Roy. He was a solid 29th on the stage.
Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step) continues to lead overall heading into today’s tough sixth stage, a 182.5 kilometre race to the summit finish of La Montagne de Lure. He has a slender six second lead over Juan Manuel Garate (Rabobank), but his biggest threat is likely to come from the 2007 Tour de France winner Alberto Contador, currently 36 seconds back in fourth. Roche is 97th overall.
