"He asked to be judged on the World Cup, then once it didn't go well he said: `I have a con- tract to fulfil'." - Will Carling puts the boot in on current England coach Clive Woodward's remarkable facility for moving the goalposts when defining his job spec.

"I was afraid to go into a pub in Limerick during the week." - Garryowen out-half Killian Keane describes a sobering seven days from the time the club lost to St Mary's last Saturday week.

"What I am determined to do is get rid of this versatile tag. I want to be able to earn selection for England in two or three positions on merit." - Austin Healy, the Leicester scrum-half/wing/out-half shows a lack of verbal dexterity in discussing his plight.

"People will be selected because of how they are playing, not on the back of their reputation. I won't tolerate resting on laurels. From now on things will change." - New French coach Bernard Laporte lays down the law.