Planet Rugby:In case you thought you were spending too much to keep your website updated, the IRFU have probably gone that little bit further. According to their own accounts, the governing body spent €459,413, €719,032 and €561,279 on their website over the years 2002-03, 2003-04, 2004-05, for a grand total of €1,739,724 over the three years.
That figure is significantly more than their marketing budget for the same period or their public relations and communications budget.
Fine to spend the money but those who notice such things, ask that perhaps the website could be updated between international matches, which didn't happen with the players' statistics in the week between the game against South Africa and Australia.
Either that or the IRFU didn't give out caps for the game against the Boks!
Rolland loss, Lewis gain
In every cloud there is a silver lining. Former Irish player and current international referee Alain Rolland tweaked his calf muscle running the line for England's first Test against South Africa eight days ago, Rolland was then appointed to referee the second Test this weekend between the two teams but was forced to withdraw because the calf injury was still not right.
As a result of Rolland's bad fortune, however, Corkman Alan Lewis was awarded it, as it was he who replaced the former at Twickenham. Mind you, he won't thank Sky Sports for their dissection of the Mark Cueto try. Ouch!
Webb Ellis born to run
Those with a nose for history will know that had William Webb Ellis defied death, he would have been 200 years old on November 24th. There are all sorts of theories doing the rounds about who did or did not decide to pick up the ball and run with it but one thing is certain, Webb Ellis, like the All Blacks, had his own interpretation of the rules.
A plaque at Rugby School bears the inscription: "This stone commemorates the exploit of William Webb Ellis, who with a fine disregard for the rules of football as played in his time, first took the ball in his arms and ran with it."
Thomas Hughes (author of Tom Brown's School Days) was once asked to comment on the game as played when he attended the school (1834-1842). He is quoted as saying: "In my first year, 1834, running with the ball to get a try by touching down within goal was not absolutely forbidden, but a jury of Rugby boys of that day would almost certainly have found a verdict of 'justifiable homicide' if a boy had been killed in running in."
Boo boys were off Keyes
A quick straw poll in the press box about Lansdowne Road crowd behaviour could not reveal many incidences of an Ireland team being booed after an international match. The exercise was carried out having listened to the crowd at Twickenham in the aftermath of England being beaten in their second Test against South Africa on Saturday.
The English team and coach Andy Robinson were roundly jeered by supporters as they left the pitch.
But one incident in 1992 did generate a bout of booing from the crowd at Lansdowne Road when Ralph Keyes' highly effective but unadventurous tactic of kicking the ball dead was misunderstood by the supporters. In those days the result was not a scrum back as it is today but a drop out. The kick kept Scotland in their own territory but generated an uncharacteristic bout of booing from the confused supporters.
Young and old on hand
Yesterday's mascots at Lansdowne Road indeed got lucky to be the last in the old stadium. Jack Jacob, who is in second class in Gaelscoil na Deise in Waterford city, and Stuart Murless, who is in sixth class in St Michael's College, Dublin, became the last pair to run out on the old turf, with captain Brian O'Driscoll.
At the other end of the spectrum Paddy Nolan bid a sad farewell to the grounds. Paddy, who lives locally, has been a steward at the ground since 1961 and in latter years would be familiar with the media as the man who gave out the programmes in the press room.
Paddy began his stewarding career in the open stand around from the old Lansdowne Pavilion and would have seen most of the international matches over a 45-year span.
During half-time yesterday, the big screen in the ground showed a retrospective on the greatest moments in the stadium's history, while the Irish team remained on the pitch at full-time to take part in a final farewell.
After 128 years of rugby played at the venue, it's not at all a bad memory for the two youngsters to take home with them.
Quotes of the week
"As the old adage goes, this was one small step for man, one giant leap for the Springboks. This was a memorable win for us today."
- Springbok team manager Zola Yeye opens his side's press conference after Saturday's win over England with a comment that drew a few puzzled looks.
"That dreaded 10 minutes before half-time sums up all four of our autumn internationals. We kept giving the ball away."
- England coach Andy Robinson trying to explain England's third defeat in four autumn internationals.
"The franchises in New Zealand have employed judo coaches for the last two years as part of their training week. We have started using it this month. Neil Adams, the new national Welsh judo coach, has been involved with us - and it has been enlightening to say the least."
- Wales coach Gareth Jenkins on what they have to do to catch up with the All Blacks.
