Today's other stories in brief

Ospreys get a move on

Given the stance by the French clubs over next season's Heineken European Cup it's hardly surprising they seem a little distracted by European matters.

After last week's European game between Stade Français and the Ospreys, the Parisians' trainer Fabrice Landreau was asked what had changed the patterns of the game in favour of the Welsh.

" . . . Le carton jaune de du Plooy nous a réellement handicapés puisque les Irlandais en ont profité pour marquer deux essais," said Landreau.

His response referred to a yellow card handed out to Stade's secondrow Boela du Plooy that changed the game, allowing the Irish, to score two tries in the player's absence. The strange thing was there isn't an Irish team in the pool so he couldn't have mixed up one side with another.

Unfortunately for the Welsh side, the Ospreys just missed out on making it to the play-offs, despite a victory over Sale Sharks at Edgeley Park in their last pool match.

Stade, in the meantime, did progress to the quarter-finals - to face Leicester Tigers - and we can only hope they eventually encounter some real Irish players that they can give out about.

Tigers cherish Irish cubs Given Leicester's victory over Munster at Thomond Park on Saturday and the influence of the English club's Irish-born players in that win it's apposite to revisit a few words spoken by Tigers coach Pat Howard when this column caught up with him in Leicester last week.

He was very complimentary about his Irish charges and singled out several for special mention. "You spoke about Shane Jennings. It's a real pity he's going back. He's been fantastic. We'd welcome him back with open arms because his work ethic has been outstanding.

"He came in with the right ethos, he's worked hard and made a great impression as a consequence and he's been picked more often than not. I hope that he gets everything out of playing in Leinster that he needs to."

Regarding Frank Murphy, Howard enthused: "I've started picking him ahead of Scott Bemand. Frank's got different qualities. His pass is very good. He's very much an example of the classy Munster halves that are going round at the moment, (Peter) Stringer, (Eoin) Reddan at Wasps and (Mike) Prendergast in Bourgoin.

"Munster are exporting some very good half-backs. He's done a great job. I think he's settled in very well kept his head down and worked hard.

"We're really impressed with him.

"We are more than happy to help out these players. John Murphy also played against Munster (in the first game). He was fairly well an unknown. Those two guys have done well here. Ian Humphreys; I played with with in a Steele Bodger game a few years ago and made the decision to bring him across because he had some talent. It has taken a little while to come about. He's not bad.

"We are a bit of a nursery for Irish rugby in many regards. We don't necessarily go and buy the biggest names. We've got some young guys and they have performed well for us.

"The Irish kids have very high skill levels, maybe due to your schools system which is strong. I played with Wanderers years ago and I appreciate there is a big emphasis on the schools system. The kids that come through are skilful. Frank Murphy, John Murphy, Ian Humphreys are skilful blokes.

"Physically they are not as big as some of our other players but in terms of skill level, very good."

Quinlan back for Saints

Irish fans will have noted the return of centre David Quinlan following a broken hand. The former Blackrock and Leinster centre has been on the sidelines for about six weeks with the problem but came back to start in Northampton's European Cup match against Biarritz at Franklin's Gardens yesterday. He was joined in the side by former Connacht secondrow Christian Short.

Those wondering about another man from the west of Ireland, secondrow Damien Browne and Ulster-born centre Séamus Mallon, should know they are lining out for Northampton's A side. Things aren't going too well recently there as they were on the receiving end of a thumping from their Leicester counterparts, in what equates to a local derby in these parts.

Gavin Hickie and Johnny Murphy were members of the successful Tigers team.

Rugby speak

"We need consistency with refereeing in the Heineken Cup. It was completely different to refereeing in the Guinness Premiership with offside and killing the ball. When you play 16 against 15 it is not easy. I know he is an international referee but today he had a bad day."

- Sale Sharks coach Phillipe Saint-André criticises Irish referee Alain Rolland.

"I would never criticise the ref. They have a job to do and make decisions as they see fit. Alain Rolland is one of the best referees in the world."

- Ospreys coach Lyn Jones takes a different view of Rolland's performance.