SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP: Lost in the euphoria of Ireland's victory over England in the Six Nations Championship match at Twickenham was the absence of the presentation of the Millennium Trophy, for which the two nations compete.
The trophy, commissioned to celebrate the Dublin Millennium in 1988, should have changed hands at the post-match bash but, much to the embarrassment of the English Rugby Football Union (RFU), they completely forgot about the ritual.
There were no sinister motives; it was just a simple oversight, and in fairness to England it's not as if the trophy has had a regular home in the IRFU cabinet since its inception. The last time Ireland prevailed in the annual clash was 2001, when they thwarted England's Grand Slam hopes at Lansdowne Road. They also got their hands on the trophy in 1993 and 1994.
The commemorative trophy has been dispatched to Dublin and is now in the possession of the IRFU, complete with effusive apologies from their English counterparts.
MILLENNIUM TROPHY WINNERS
2004: Ireland 19, England 13 Twickenham
2003: Ireland 6, England 42 Lansdowne Road
2002: Ireland 11 England 45 Twickenham
2001: Ireland 20 England 14 Lansdowne Road
2000: Ireland 18 England 50 Twickenham
1999: Ireland 15 England 27 Lansdowne Road
1998: Ireland 17 England 35 Twickenham
1997: Ireland 6 England 46 Lansdowne Road
1996: Ireland 15 England 28 Twickenham
1995: Ireland 8 England 20 Lansdowne Road
1994: Ireland 13 England 12 Twickenham
1993: Ireland 17 England 3 Lansdowne Road
1992: Ireland 9 England 38 Twickenham
1991: Ireland 7 England 16 Lansdowne Road
1990: Ireland 0 England 23 Twickenham
1989: Ireland 3 England 16 Lansdowne Road
1988: * Ireland 10 England 21 Lansdowne Road
* Ireland played England twice in 1988, losing 35-3 at Twickenham, but the first game for the Millennium trophy took place in Dublin in April, a month after the match in London.
Meanwhile, the Connacht team shows four changes to that which lost to The Borders last weekend for Saturday's Celtic League game against Leinster at the Sportsground (2.30). Coach Michael Bradley was able to bolster the side by including centre Darren Yapp, who trained with the Ireland squad, and hooker Bernard Jackman, who also worked out with the national side at Citywest.
Former international wing Matt Mostyn returns after injury. The fourth alteration sees the return of former Ireland under-21 scrumhalf Conor O'Loughlin. He will be hoping for a victory on Saturday that could be the first leg of a family double: his father, Ray, is coach to the St Saran's, Ferbane team that will take on Sligo Grammar School in the Connacht Schools Senior Cup final at the Sportsground next Tuesday.
A decision about two places on the bench will depend on fitness reports. John Fogarty and Henry Bourke will vie to back up Jackman at hooker, while Bradley will choose between Paul Neville and Tom Carter as back-row cover. The Connacht Branch continue to encourage youngsters to attend these matches and will admit all children free of charge.
Leinster have delayed naming their side until today. Victor Costello has been included in the 22-man squad, returning after international duty to replace the luckless Aidan McCullen, sidelined for the mandatory three weeks following the concussion sustained in the Cardiff game.
Peter Coyle still hasn't recovered sufficiently from an arm injury, while Enda Bohan is expected to line out for Lansdowne at the weekend.
Ulster coach Alan Solomons has also deferred selection for their trip to take on the Celtic Warriors at the Brewery Field until he can ascertain the fitness of the five players training with the national squad. There are two changes to the squad that beat Munster so convincingly last weekend, with David Humphreys and Roger Wilson restored to active duty.
Humphreys missed the game while on duty for Ireland at Twickenham, while Wilson was sidelined for the Munster match because of injury. Séamus Mallon and Warren Brosnihan drop out of the match 22 as a result.
Munster are also expected to confirm their team today for their visit to Rodney Parade and a clash with the Mike Ruddock-coached Gwent Dragons.
CONNACHT: M McHugh; M Mostyn, D Yapp, S Moore, C McPhillips; E Elwood, C O'Loughlin; D McFarland, B Jackman, P Bracken, D Browne, A Farley, M Swift, J O'Sullivan, M Lacey. Replacements: J Fogarty/H Bourke, A Clarke, M Carroll, P Neville/T Carter, M Walls, D Hewitt, W Munn.
LEINSTER (from): J Lyne, D Blaney, S Brophy, J Moran, B Blaney, B Gissing, C Potts, A Kearney, V Costello, D Dillon, N Ronan, S Crawford, B O'Meara, B O'Riordan, M Leek, F Contepomi, C Warner, J Downey, G Brown, B Burke, J McWeeney, J Norton.
ULSTER (from): N Best, S Best, G Longwell, R Moore, M Mustchin, R McCormack, M McCullough, N McMillan, M Sexton, P Shields, A Ward, R Wilson, N Doak, K Campbell, B Cunningham, D Humphreys, A Larkin, P Steinmetz, S Stewart, J Topping, P Wallace, S Young.
