Planet Rugby: The IRFU in conjunction with AIB break new ground by hosting the first "club international" next Friday fortnight, when Ireland play Scotland in Donnybrook, less than 24 hours prior to the RBS Six Nations clash between Ireland and Scotland at Lansdowne Road.

The idea is to give a chance to club players who are not contracted, or have not been contracted for three years, to show what they can do.

Munster under-21 and Buccaneers coach Geoff Moylan coaches the side, and the former Munster captain and Ireland secondrow Mick Galwey is team manager. City of Derry's Gerald McCarter is assistant coach.

Word on the street is RTÉ have chosen to televise this match rather than the under-21 game against Scotland the same day.

Kearney plays it cool

So you'd like to surf on the crest of fame? Like to be recognised? Love to be the envy of all the other lads in Kielys?

Of course you would but could you pass the test? The Leinster website occasionally opens its super-highway lanes to punters and puts up a player to answer their questions. Last week the Leinster flyer Rob "Swoon" Kearney was in the hot seat.

Here's a brief sample of what the player is subjected to.

Q: Were Transport for London - the people who run public transport in London - correct in their decision to withdraw the Routemaster buses (the red double deckers with a platform at the back) or should they have kept them for their tourist value?

RK: Ask Big time Heaslip, he feels rather strongly about this topic (and never argue with a number 8).

Q: Should the French adopt the more common style of bottling wines by having the grape variety on the bottle or should they stick to their appellation names and rely on people knowing what they are getting?

RK: Wine is wine at the end of the night. (Preferably screw-top).

Q: Dear Robert, do you go to Mass and if so who is your favourite priest and who do you think is the second-best-looking player in Irish rugby? I would be grateful if you could sign my cap, love. Thanks, Jenko.

RK: Yes, Jenko, I try to go to Mass as often as possible, Fr Doogle Maguire and Ted Crilly are my two favourite priests. It's a toss-up as to who is my favourite. And I've a question for you - who do you think is the best looking?

(We have views on the latter, but rumour and innuendo being what they are . . .)

Costello calls home

The former Leinster and Ireland number eight Victor Costello was back in Ireland last week, having agreed to do a gig in Reynards, the late-night watering hole in Dublin, with John O'Shea and the charity GOAL.

As you may be aware, Victor retired from professional rugby last year and is currently living in Naples, Florida, where he gets airborne practically every day, working toward getting his commercial flying licence.

So if you happen to find yourself in or around Naples and observe a twin-engined plane dive from 6,000 down to 2,000 feet, stay there for a couple of minutes and then climb back to 6,000 feet, don't be unduly alarmed. That's will be Victor getting his phone into position to receive text messages with the rugby results from friends back in Ireland.

Clamour for coach's call

Following referee Dave Pearson's decision over the Tommy Bowe touchdown - or non-touchdown - against Italy, Patrick Carter from Hudson, USA has entered the debate - a little late perhaps but with a suggestion gleaned from watching American football.

Patrick cites the "coach's challenge", which is used in gridiron matches. Under this system, the head coach can challenge a questionable call or play. The referee then reviews the play on video and either upholds or overturns the original call.

If the decision is upheld play continues and the challenging coach's team is penalised by losing a time-out. If the coach is correct play resumes based on the revised call and no time-out is charged.

Patrick continues, "If Pierre Berbizier (the Italian coach) had this option the two questionable tries might not have been awarded and the moral defeat Ireland suffered might have been more substantial."

In fairness, we're not so big on importing from the USA. Look what happened Wales's Ian Gough last week when he sacked Scott Murray off the ball.

Corry eyes Croker

England captain Martin Corry, who writes a column in The Guardian newspaper, last week pointed out the England team always visit the venue 24 hours before match.

"There is nothing worse than changing before a test, coming out of the dressing-room and saying, 'Er, excuse me, which way is the pitch?'"

Corry continues, "Everybody knows that certain stadiums can feel significantly different when full. I've never played against Munster at Thomond Park but facing Ireland at Lansdowne Road is a good example of how a passionate crowd can alter the atmosphere. If I am still around next year, I'd also love to experience a big game at Dublin's Croke Park, which looks a great venue."

And so word of the GAA HQ has spread. Thing is, Ireland players might take note - otherwise they could find themselves red-faced, asking directions to the pitch.