HARDLY A breath has been taken and the Cup is offering up hard pitches to tired limbs. The season's longevity may well take its toll as much as anything.

Talk to the players and they will say the early rounds are a trial so quickly after the league has finished. Still, they are there and willing. A glint of silver on the horizon is enough to purge the mind, as much as the legs, of battle fatigue.

The pick of the weekend in Leinster is Blackrock's game against St Mary's at Stradbrook tomorrow, with Terenure's home tie against Old Belvedere today the only other division one pairing of the round.

Having sent out a team midweek which was hardly recognisable, St Mary's were relieved in the end to slip past Railway Union at Park Avenue.

Suttonians (the division four winners) are hoping that they will be able to test Bective Rangers to the same degree as Railway did St Mary's. Suttonians' meeting with the division two side is one of a number fixtures that may throw up surprises.

Dublin University will also hope to shake off the clothes of division three and stretch Old Wesley at College Park while their student neighbours at UCD will endeavour to make the step up to division two standards when they host Skerries in Belfield.

. In London, Saracens yesterday confirmed South Africa's World Cup winning captain Francois Pienaar as their player coach.

Pienaar joined the London out fit in mid season, but Saracens' hopes of qualifying for Europe have taken a jolt on the back of three straight defeats.

Mark Evans retains his director of coaching title, and chief executive Mike Smith explained: "Francois will be coach of the first team, while Mark will have a much wider brief."

. Geoff Cooke, former England and Lions manager, is taking up his first full time rugby post by becoming chief executive at league two side Bedford from July. He has signed a four year contract at the club where he has been involved on a part time basis for nine months.