It is a useless bit of trivia but this column would like to know when Johnny Davis scored two tries in a match marked by another player called Johnny Davis. The answer is last Saturday when Blackrock College hosted Dungannon at Stradbrook.
Davis versus Davis
Blackrock's Johnny Davis, the Castleknock-educated, Meath minor footballer who previously played for Shannon in the AIB League, grabbed a brace while playing on the right wing. The man he faced, Dungannon's Johnny Davis, playing on the left wing, is the former schools' international who spent the last year playing in Australia.
No plain sailing
The old maxim that sometimes it is better to travel in hope than to arrive is something to which a certain party of parents of Leinster players would not subscribe. Due to set off on the first sailing from Rosslare to Fishguard in Wales last Saturday morning to arrive in time for Leinster's Celtic League game against Bridgend at the Brewery Field they discovered the sailing was delayed.
Undaunted, they hung around and several hours later boarded the ship but faced a race against time. To compound matters the crossing took longer than expected and they arrived at the Brewery Field 10 minutes after the match finished. There was time only for a quick chat before facing the journey home. No doubt the parents in question should have first dibs on the video.
Quiz winners
This column received thousands, okay it was about 80 or so, entries to last week's quiz, a selection of questions taken from one produced by Blackrock and Leinster scrumhalf Benny Willis. Some of the answers were very entertaining, if not always correct and it is very heartening to see the plea-bargaining and attempted extortion of some of the respondents. This column is not in a position to give out any match tickets for international games so stop asking and instead marvel at the Irish Times merchandise that is available to the winners.
First, the answers - and we're not going to repeat the questions for anyone who didn't buy last week's newspaper.
Asking that all entrants furnish a name and address was not a suggestion but a requirement so unfortunately for those that didn't, their hopes were dashed.
1. Maggie; 2. Auguste Rodin; 3. Higgins, TC, Rick, Zeus, Apollo; 4. A home run in baseball; 5. Forrest Gump, Philadelphia; 6. The Letter E.
The winners are: Anthony Ryan, Adrian Byrne, Ross O'Connor and Darren McGurran.
Fiji at full strength
The suggestion that Fiji were due in Ireland without several of their better-known players appears to be unfounded as the Fijians, supported by the International Board (IRB), expect to choose from a full side for the Test match at Lansdowne Road. Discussions between the Japan Rugby Union (JRU) and New Zealand Rugby Football Union (NZRFU) and their respective clubs have ensured the players have been released and Fiji will be able to select a full-strength squad for the tour, which includes internationals against Wales, Ireland and Scotland.
Pio Bosco, CEO of the Fijian Rugby Union (FRU) admitted: "The Fijian Rugby Union (FRU) is very grateful for the assistance given by the IRB, JRU and NZRFU in our efforts to get our overseas-based players released for the tour. FRU is also very aware of the generosity of Wales, Ireland and Scotland rugby unions and indeed the IRB by providing the funds to enable the Fiji team to tour. The least FRU can do to reciprocate is to send a very strong team. To do this it is essential that FRU invokes IRB regulations 9 (the law governing player release) strictly, which it did."
In the squad is sevens genius Waisale Serevi, who plays for Mont-de-Marsan in France, Fero Lasagavibau, the Northlands flier, inside centre Seremaia Bai of Southland and Japan-based Api Naevo. Still absent are Rupeni Caucaunibuca, Vula Maimuri and Marika Vunibaka, who are injured and Otago's Aisea Tuilevu who, Laurie Mains, the Highlanders' coach, says opted not to tour.
Fiji Squad: Forwards: Bill Cavubati (Masterton, Wellington, NZ), Richard Nyholt (Queensland University, Aus), Isaia Rasila (Nadroga), Paula Biu (Nadroga), Greg Smith (Waikato, NZ), Jioji Soqoiwasa (West Subiaco, Perth, Aus), Bill Gadolo (Suva), Emori Katalau (Narbeth, Wales), Simon Raiwalui (Newport, Wales), Sisa Koyamaibole (Toyota Shokki, Japan), Ifereimi Rawaqa (Lautoka), Kele Leawere (East Coast, NZ), Api Naevo (Kaneka, Japan), Alifereti Doviverata (Yamaha, Japan), Seta Tawake (Suva), Kitione Salawa (Nadi), Alivereti Mocelutu (Neath, Wales).
Backs: Sami Rabaka (Nadi), Jacob Rauluni (Rotherham, England), Joseph Narruhn (Hino, Japan), Nicky Little (Saracens, England), Waisale Serevi (Mont-de-Marsan, France), Seremaia Bai (Southland, NZ), Warren Hughes (Suva), Epeli Ruivadra (Tailevu), Vili Satala (Harlequins, England), Seru Rabeni (Otago, NZ), Isaac Mow (Suva), Fero Lasagavibau (Northland, NZ), Norman Ligairi (Southland, NZ), Atonio Nariva (Namosi).
England make pitch
In order to elicit help for their bid to stage the 2007 World Cup in England, Francis Baron (left) , the chief executive of the English RFU will host a media conference in the Berkeley Court Hotel on November 8th to answer questions about the proposed bid and to drum up support. The English RFU are in a direct confrontation with the French Rugby Federation to win the nomination for staging the event. The French have enlisted the support of soccer international Zinedine Zidane and former rugby legends Jean Pierre Rives and Serge Blanco as part of their campaign.
Russia advance
Russia all but assured themselves of a place in the répechage when they ran out 36-3 winners over a young Spanish side at the University of Madrid Ground yesterday. The second leg takes place to decide the European representative on November 9th at the Monino Stadium, about 30 kilometres outside of Moscow.
Spain's chances of overtaking the Russians must now have plunged into the realm of unrealistic theory.
All that really kept Spain in the game was the large number of penalties conceded by Russia. The Spaniards were smaller, less fit and were not as well organised as the Russians. Spain's only game plan seemed to be to stand deep and throw the ball wide, making easy pickings for the Russians behind the advantage line.
Spain played at the last World Cup but it looks like Russia, who Ireland beat in Krasnoyarsk earlier in the campaign, will go forward to yet another stage in the convoluted qualification process for the finals in Australia next year.
Papua New Guinea surprised the Cook Islands over two legs and will go forward to face Tonga over two legs, the winners of which will meet Korea for a place in Australia.
