Other stories from the world of rugby
Mustchin ponders familiar foe
FORMER ULSTER second-row Matt Mustchin admits it will be slightly strange taking on the country of his birth, New Zealand, if he is selected for Scotland this week. The 31-year-old played the New Zealand at under-16 and under-19 before moving abroad. He joined Ulster in 2003 before moving to Edinburgh in 2005 and last June qualified to play for the Scots under the residency rule.
He played in both summer Tests against Argentina. Mustchin admitted: "It will be strange if I get in the 22 to face the All Blacks; the anthems, facing the haka and playing against them. Beating the All Blacks is definitely achievable, if we do everything we know we can do. For a game this big the preparation is the big thing. That has to be right to give every player a chance of performing."
Canada coach points to flaws despite victory over Portugal
CANADA DEFEATED Portugal 21-13 at Stadio Universitaire in Lisbon on Saturday to get their European tour off to a winning start. They play Ireland next Saturday at Thomond Park before taking on Wales and Scotland.
The Canadians and Portuguese had only met once before, last summer in the lead-up to the 2007 World Cup, a game they Canucks won easily.
This time the winners fielded a relatively inexperienced side that will be bolstered by the arrival of several front-line players ahead of the Irish game.
Canadian coach Kieran Crowley, while satisfied with the win, admitted afterwards that he was frustrated at not getting enough possession.
"Portugal really took it to us in the second half and we really didn't have that many opportunities. I think our defence was great and really kept Portugal out of the game, but we needed the ball more if we wanted to really open the match up."
Pumas pounce
FORMER FRENCH international scrumhalf Fabien Galthie is to join Argentina's coaching staff as a technical adviser. Galthie, who coached Stade Francais until deciding to step down earlier this year, will begin work with the Pumas next week ahead of their clashes with France (November 8th), Italy (November 15th) and Ireland (November 22nd).
He admitted: "The opportunity to work with the Argentina is a new adventure for me and poses and interesting challenge."
Clermont sent out message
EVEN THOUGH the Heineken Cup has been put to bed until next month it was interesting to note the recent results in the French Championship from an Irish perspective. Munster meet Clermont Auvergne in back-to-back games in December and the French side looked to be turning around a lacklustre start to the season with a 22-6 win over leaders Stade Français.
The Parisian club - they are in the same European pool as Ulster - have led the French T14 from day one, but in torrential rain in the Clermont-Ferrand, Stade fell to their second consecutive defeat after Toulouse ended their nine-game winning streak (in Europe and France) last week. Guy Noves side replace Stade at the top of the standings.
Castres, who play Leinster in successive European games in December, stay second from bottom after another home defeat, to Montpellier (31-26). Montauban, also in Munster's pool, thumped a dismal Toulon 42-20 at home.
O'Driscolls making an impact
IRELAND CAPTAIN Brian O'Driscoll's extended family continues to thrive in Irish rugby circles.
His cousin Cillian Willis has already made an impact since switching from Leinster to Ulster during the summer and for now seems to have won his battle with Irish international Isaac Boss for the starting berth.
Last Saturday another of O'Driscoll's cousins, Marcus O'Driscoll, enjoyed a prominent role in Shannon's 40-20 win over Blackrock College.
The Dublin-born wing scored one try and made another for Richie Mullane while performing very capably in other facets of the game.
Barclay stays focused on Ireland goal
THE SUGGESTION that a couple of former Ireland underage internationals could line out for the US Eagles against Uruguay at the Salt Lake Stadium next Saturday could prove a little bit wide of the mark.
Kevin Sheahan, a member of the Ireland Under-20 Grand Slam winning team (2007), may take up Nigel Melville's offer to play for the land of his birth but the suggestion is that former Clongowes and current UCD tighthead prop Ben Barclay will turn down the offer on the basis that the former Irish underage international still has ambitions to play for Ireland.
