A selection of rugby stories from around the world
South Korea hammered
If South Korea thought things were bad in the first leg of the repechage final for a place at this year's World Cup in Australia, where they lost 75-0 to Tonga in Seoul last week, they must have feared the worst for last weekend's second leg in Nuku'alofa. The South Koreans worst fears were realised when Tonga ran in 17 tries in a 119-0 victory.
Amazingly outside centre Pierre Hola converted every one of them at the Teufaiva Stadium to guarantee their progress to Pool D with New Zealand, Wales, Italy and Canada as the 19th team of 20 to make it to the finals. The Tongans led by 56-0 at half-time. They scored eight tries in the first half and another nine in the second half.
Hola's tally of 17 conversions is second only to Simon Culhane's 20, which he kicked for New Zealand against Japan in Bloemfontein during the 1995 World Cup. Culhane scored 45 points that day - Hola scored 44 on Friday, which included two tries. Eleven of the Tongan team scored tries.
In the second repechage match Spain play the USA in Madrid on April 12th with the second leg in Fort Lauderdale on April 27th. The winner qualifies for Pool B.
Leinster ticket competition
Once again readers of this column demonstrated their excellent knowledge of rugby matters if the response to last week's competition is to be judged. Congratulations to Ian Lynam, who wins two stand tickets for Leinster's Heineken European Cup quarter-final against Biarritz at Lansdowne Road on April 12th for correctly stating Paddy Wallace and Darragh Holt scored the tries when Ireland defeated France 18-0 in the FIRA under-19 World Cup final in 1998.
This week's competition is also for two stand tickets for that match. Which Leinster player won his 50th cap for Ireland against Wales at the weekend?
Email your entries to josullivan@irish-times.ie.
Schools' final trivia
On matters associated with this year's Leinster Schools' Cup final this column received an interesting email from Paul MacWhite, who correctly pointed that the last time the decider ended 3-0 was when CBC Monkstown beat Castleknock in 1976. A brother of the former schoolboy international Mark MacWhite, who was forced to miss the 1976 final through illness, Paul pointed out one further coincidence between the two finals. St Mary's, beaten by Terenure in this year's final, didn't concede a try in the competition, while the 1976 final losers, Castleknock, managed the same feat.
Just for the record Castleknock's cup run in 1976 read: 9-3 v St Mary's; 3-3 v De La Salle Churchtown; 18-0 v De La Salle Churchtown, 10-0 v Clongowes; 0-3 v CBC.
Ireland A ticket chance
Once again this week we're offering a double opportunity to win a prize, this time tickets for the A international at Donnybrook on Friday night (7.0). Those who haven't got a ticket for the Grand Slam decider against England at Lansdowne Road on the Sunday might consider a trip to Donnybrook instead.
The Leinster Branch, who host the game on behalf of the IRFU, have offered two stand tickets to the winner of the competition. To be in with a chance to win all you have to do is answer the following question. Ireland only play four matches at A international level this season. What country decided not to compete? Entries can be emailed to Leinster@irishrugby.ie with the winner announced on www.leinsterrugby.ie tomorrow morning.
Tickets for this game are on sale in the following outlets - Spar Donnybrook; Magee of Wicklow Street; Club, Grafton Street; Elvery's outlets including Dawson Street, Suffolk Street, Blanchardstown and Fonthill.
Rugby speak
"I'd take a one-point win the other way tomorrow."
- Ireland senior assistant coach Declan Kidney demonstrating remarkable prescience in a quick conversation after the under-21 game at Ebbw Vale on Friday. Ireland lost the under-21 game 20-19 but 24 hours later at the Millennium Stadium Kidney's wish was to be fulfilled in a 25-24 Irish victory.
"The hand of Maradona on the wing for Ireland."
- Former Leinster and Bective Rangers and current Ebbw Vale coach Mike Ruddock on Ireland wing Justin Bishop's late intervention at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday when he appeared to knock the ball on in saving a certain try.
Grand slam humour
Given the week that's in it this column thought we'd be a little politically incorrect and pass on a joke that's doing the rounds ahead of Sunday's Grand Slam and Six Nations Championship decider between Ireland and England at Lansdowne Road.
An English family of rugby supporters head out one Saturday to do some Christmas shopping. While in JJB Sports the son picks up an Irish rugby shirt and says to his sister, "I've decided to be an Ireland supporter and I would like this jersey for Christmas." His sister, outraged by this, promptly whacks him round the head and says, "Go talk to your mother." Off goes the little lad with the Irish rugby shirt in hand and finds his mother. "Mum?" "Yes son?" "I've decided I'm going to be an Ireland supporter and I would like this shirt for Christmas." The mother, outraged at this, promptly whacks him around the head and says, "Go talk to your father." Off he goes with rugby shirt in hand and finds his father. "Dad?" "Yes son?" "I've decided I'm going to be an Ireland supporter and I would like this shirt for Christmas." The father is outraged and promptly whacks his son around the head and says, "No son of mine is ever going to be seen in that!"
About half an hour later they're all back in the car and heading towards home. The father turns to his son and says "Son, I hope you've learned something today?"
The son says, "Yes dad, I have." "Good son, what is it?". The son replies, "I've only been an Ireland supporter for an hour and already I hate you English b*******."
