Compiled by JOHN O'SULLIVAN
Seven up: Leinster A cruise to easy victory over Leeds
Leinster A cruised to a 47-18 victory in their opening British and Irish Cup match against Leeds Carnegie at Donnybrook on Saturday evening, scoring seven tries in the process.
The province, beaten in the semi-finals last year, were much too strong for the English visitors, scoring tries through Jordan Coughlan, Brendan Macken, Jack Conan, Sam Coghlan Murray, Darren Hudson, Leo Auva’a and Fionn Carr. Noel Reid kicked three conversions and two penalties.
Auva’a, who had been on the bench for Leinster’s Heineken Cup match against the Exeter Chiefs earlier that afternoon, started at number eight, while Isaac Boss, Jordi Murphy and Carr, who were among the replacements at the RDS, came on in the second half at Donnybrook.
Boss got some valuable game time having been sidelined for almost two months through injury.
British and Irish Cup champions Munster A also made a successful beginning to their defence with a 26-22 victory over Plymouth Albion at Brickfields.
Corey Hircock grabbed a brace of tries, Ian Nagle crossed for another and the outstanding JJ Hanrahan added the remainder of the points.
Felix Jones made a successful return to competitive rugby following injury.
Roger Wilson made a successful return from a long-standing hamstring injury for the Ulster Ravens as they thumped the Bridgend Ravens 49-19 at Deramore Park.
However, the Connacht Eagles could not make it a quartet of victories for the Irish provinces as they lost 18-14 to Newport at Rodney Parade.
Man of many parts: Keatley credited with lineout work
Lies, damn lies and statistics is an oft-quoted phrase used colloquially to cast doubt on those who underpin their argument with numbers. It certainly sprung to mind with some of the Opta Index match statistics that were furnished in the wake of some of the Heineken Cup matches at the weekend.
One in particular caught the attention and that was that Munster fullback Ian Keatley took a couple of lineout wins for Munster, the second highest number recorded for the Irish province in their defeat against Racing Metro at the Stade de France.
Now we're aware that Keatley filled a variety of roles on the day, starting at fullback and moving to outhalf following an injury to Ronan O'Gara but we don't actually think his duties extended to securing lineout ball.
The surviving members of a Uruguayan club side, Old Christians, played a match this weekend, postponed for four decades after their plane crashed in the Andes.
They spent 72 days before being rescued and were forced to eat human flesh to survive.
The remarkable exploits of the group inspired a best-selling book and a number of films (Survive 1976, Alive: The Miracle of the Andes, 1993). .
The match between the Old Christians (Uruguay) and Old Grangonians (Chile) finally took place in Santiago last Saturday.
Pedro Algorta, 61, a survivor who played in the match explained before he took the field: "About this time on that day we were falling into the Andes.
"Today we're here to win a game."
Fans shirty over deal
The New Zealand Rugby Union's decision to sign a five-and-a-half-year shirt sponsorship deal with global insurance company American International Group (AIG) is only the second time a sponsor's name will adorn the famous All Black jersey. It has provoked an adverse reaction amongst supporters. Steinlager was emblazoned on the playing strip during the 1990s.
AIG, are no strangers to high profile sports sponsorship having had their name on Manchester United's jerseys from 2006-2010. The All Blacks will wear the logo for the first time against Australia in Brisbane on Saturday.
