WHAT odds Munster and Leinster topping their respective Heineken Cup pools of pain only two weeks ago when both were experiencing difficulties with form and injuries.

MUCH more of this andMartin Johnson is going tohave to start doing something really drastic. Like making repeat offenders stand in the corner or send a note home to their parents or club coaches with the words ‘must do better’.

We’ve got still more anger directed at the broadcast media. This time, it’s RTE’s News Room getting a couple of deserved brickbats. There’s genuine anger at the haphazard approach to crowd safety after big games in Croker. Cork fans seem more puzzled than angry with their footballers and management for the way they collapsed against Kerry in the All Ireland senior football final. And referee David Coldrick? Opinion on his handling of the big game is divided 50 / 50. Probably a sign that he got it just about right.

“THE idea of retiring is like killing yourself,” said Rolling Stone Keith Richards in BBC 2’s exclusive Newsnight interview last night.