Today's other stories in brief
The Hogan Stand
The Hogan, Cusack and Davin stands were named after three crucial figures in GAA history. The only remaining terrace, Hill 16, was extended over the former Nally Stand site in 2004. Paddy Nally, like Michael Cusack and Maurice Davin, was a founding father of the association.
The Hogan Stand was named in 1924 after the former Tipperary football captain who was shot dead when British Police Auxiliaries and Black and Tans interrupted the Dublin v Tipperary game at Croke Park on November 21st 1920 - a date that became known as Bloody Sunday.
The occupying forces were acting in reprisal for the assassination of 14 British intelligence agents, known as the "Cairo Gang", earlier that morning.
It's believed some of the hit squad, under the command of Michael Collins and Richard Mulcahy, utilised the 5,000-strong crowd gathering around the ground.
Thirteen people were murdered, while another footballer, Jim Egan, was also shot but survived. The British then searched the crowd. One revolver was discovered. Three more republicans were arrested later that day, tortured and then shot, while trying to "escape" from Dublin Castle.
Foreign games
Rugby is not the first non-Gaelic game to be played in Croke Park. The stadium was actually known as the Jones Road sportsground before the GAA renamed it after Archbishop Thomas Croke of Cashel in 1913. Croke was one of the original GAA patrons.
That same year they procured the stadium outright from the journalist Frank Dineen for £3,500. Dineen turned a profit of £250 from his 1908 purchase.
In the 1990s the GAA welcomed gridiron to Dublin as Notre Dame played the Navy (twice) and the Chicago Bears faced the Pittsburgh Steelers in the "American Bowl". History? Last Saturday night is as good a place as any to start. Almost 82,000 witnessed Dublin's second-half collapse to Tyrone - the first game played under floodlights at Croke Park.
The GAA ensured a foreign sport doesn't have the privilege of experiencing a night match before they do. Fair enough.
Return of Chabal
Name: Sebastien Chabal. Age: 29 Position: Number eight. Height: 1.87m (6ft 2 ins). Weight: 115kg (18st).
Primary strength: Breaks through defensive lines like a Panzer tank.
Regained the favour of Bernard Laporte after several years in the international wilderness, despite being the most effective ball-carrying forward in the Guinness Premiership.
Irish link: Sale were the best team in England last year when they came to Thomond Park seeking to confirm their status. Eleven minutes into the game Ronan O'Gara dropped the ball down Chabal's gullet. Paul O'Connell made the initial hit. Donncha O'Callaghan held the Frenchman up as Anthony Foley, John Hayes and Marcus Horan arrived to drive him 15 metres downfield. Then Denis Leamy and Peter Stringer arrived to trample over his prone body. The psychological war was over.
Chabal crossed for two tries in Rome on Saturday to confirm his status as the in-form forward in the Northern Hemisphere so a repeat of the Munster trick would be helpful on Sunday.
How will you recognise him? Well, Sebastien has a flowing black mane that any female would be proud of and only a Frenchman could get away with.
Walsh's history
Sunday's referee Steve Walsh has a history of disciplinary problems. The 34-year-old was suspended by the IRB for abusing Shane Horgan during the Lions match against Taranaki in June 2005.
Walsh's reaction to the official Lions complaint and eventual suspension brought a new phrase into Northern Hemisphere vernacular. "I have to cop it sweet. That's the way it is and I have to get on with my life."
He also had a run in with former English fitness trainer Dave Reddin during the World Cup in Australia.
Walsh began refereeing at 16 after a spinal injury due to a birth deformity forced him to quit rugby at 13.
Last Sunday's referee Kelvin Deaker and Malcolm Changleng will patrol the line. Despite some shocking decisions during the Lions tour (he is a Kiwi), Walsh is actually one of the better referees on the IRB list. He has a sense of humour as well, as shown with an interview on a New Zealand rugby website.
Most embarrassing moment? "Awarding a try after a maul had crashed over the goal-line only to see a defender running over the 22-metre line with the ball in his hands."
If it wasn't rugby I'd love to officiate: "Women's volleyball."
