BYRON Terence Kelleher; reverse a couple of letters in the first name and Brian Terence Kelleher could be half-back on any football team still standing in the Cork football championship this weekend.

NOT TOO long ago, things weren’t looking good for Doug Howlett. Though long established on the All-Blacks side, when Graham Henry picked a squad to go on a reconditioning programme — a squad seen as a definite World Cup indicator — Doug was a shock omission. Few were more surprised than the man himself.

TUESDAY evening, my first day in Marseille following the All-Blacks for the 2007 rugby World Cup, and we’re notified that they will be training at Stade Jean Bouin the following morning at 9.30am, and that we may have ‘vision access for the first 20 minutes.’

WITH Tana Umaga sitting out Saturday’s game, all Irish eyes are now likely to focus on Keven Mealamu, but the All Black hooker is relishing the prospect of running out at Lansdowne Road to what will probably be a hostile reception.