Compiled by Gavin Cummiskey

Key battle - the backrow

Analysis by Matt Williams

"The difference between France and Ireland can be narrowed down to the backrow contest. Ireland came out second best with Simon Easterby's performance levels dropping considerably from the Welsh match.

"This is not a great English backrow; Martin Corry is a good player but Joe Worsley and Magnus Lund have yet to prove their worth in the Test arena. They look ordinary without the ferocity of the injured Lewis Moody. Worsley is an above average club player but lacks the ability to make an impact at international level.

"David Wallace is the key cog in Irish backrow as he provides an attacking platform that nobody in the English pack can replicate. The question is can they contain him?"

Jutge not lucky for us

Joel Jutge is familiar to most Irish rugby supporters. In fact, the 40-year-old former Colomiers and Cahors scrumhalf is familiar to rugby supporters around the globe. He's been in the middle of nearly all the big ones - including New Zealand v South Africa.

But is Jutge a lucky referee from an Irish perspective? On recent evidence, no.

He was in Thomond Park when Munster's proud unbeaten home record was taken by Leicester last month; at the Madejski Stadium when Ulster's European aspirations again collapsed on the road; at Murrayfield when Leinster slipped up to Edinburgh in October.

Then there was the Neil Back slap in the closing stages of the 2002 final at the Millennium Stadium when Jutge, in his defence, was on the other side of the scrum.

Oh, lest we forget, he was keeping up with the play when Brian O'Driscoll was dumped by Keven Mealamu and Tana Umaga with just a minute on the clock of the first Lions Test in 2005.

But there is always time to make amends.

RTÉ outbid again

In another blow to RTE's rugby coverage package, Setanta Sports announced yesterday they have procured exclusive rights to the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand. Setanta already outbid RTÉ for this year's tournament in France. TV3 have the terrestrial rights for Ireland games.

Live coverage begins on September 7th when host nation France face Argentina at the St Denis Stadium.

New deal for D'Arcy

The next big fish the IRFU needed to reel in before his contract expired was Gordon D'Arcy. Yesterday they announced a three-year deal with the 28-times-capped former Clongowes Wood College schoolboy.

"This is another important contract secured by the IRFU and Leinster Rugby and is part of the IRFU's long stated policy of keeping our leading players in Ireland," said IRFU chief executive Philip Browne.

"Gordon is an integral part of both the Leinster and Ireland teams and we are delighted that he has followed both Brian O'Driscoll and Ronan O'Gara by agreeing a new contract to remain with his province.

"His decision is another endorsement of the IRFU structures in place that are designed to keep our leading players with their provinces and ensure that they are available for the Ireland team."

Ford in the know

Brian Ashton was once a season ticket holder; Jason Robinson became a household name in their colours long before he switched codes; Andy Farrell was their greatest captain, making his debut when just a 16-year-old. Wigan Rugby League club have done a lot to bring English rugby union out of its post World Cup doldrums.

Perhaps the most significant jewel in the English crown this week is former Irish defence coach Mike Ford, whose knowledge of Irish players' nuances could prove priceless.

Ford also had a spell at Wigan in a career that yielded 10 caps for Britain.

Croke Park mascot

Bill McMickan and Fiona Geoghegan have written to the IRFU for 10 years requesting the opportunity for their son Charlie to be a mascot at an international match.

All well and good but these parents don't mess about: Charlie currently plays for the Buccaneers under-11s.

"They rang us in 1997 and told us to keep writing letters but that was the last we heard of it until last Tuesday," said Fiona.

"We never expected it to be the game at Croke Park."

After Charlie takes the field with Brian O'Driscoll tomorrow, the family will watch proceedings from the Hogan Stand.