Don Revie would have loved modern professional sport. It seems remarkable now, in these days of hi-tech performance analysis data, that the late Leeds United manager was derided in the 1960s and 70s for preparing his dossiers on opposition teams.

The gauntlet has been thrown down by Ireland’s assistant coach and now the boss must name a team to deliver the promise of expansive, free-wheeling rugby in the bid to exact revenge over Wales at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday.

USA coach Eddie O’Sullivan appears to have hammered home the message that emotions must not ground his Eagles when they take on Ireland on the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

EOIN REDDAN made GAA headquarters his stage on Saturday and was one of the few positives from another nightmarish day for Irish rugby.

IF versatility was one of the buzzwords used by coaches this week in the context of picking a 30-man squad for the World Cup, then Gavin Duffy’s ability to play at 10, centre, wing or full back marks him out as shoo-in for next month’s tournament in France.

IF the aim of this two Test tour of Argentina was to examine a player’s credentials and temperament for the Rugby World Cup in France, then Connacht’s Gavin Duffy has been one of the success stories in Latin America.

EOIN REDDAN, called up to the Irish bench for the Murrayfield clash on Saturday, is a realist.

Galwegians 19 St Mary’s 13

Galwegians 17 Blackrock College 18

Galwegians 25 Lansdowne 24

Leinster pair David Quinlan and Ben Willis and hooker Glen van der Wyver are the three additions to the Blackrock outfit that will travel across town for the Dublin derby against St Mary's College on Saturday.

GALWEGIANS could and should have been comfortably out of reach at half-time in their AIL meeting with Cork Con, but in the end, the better team won the opening AIB League encounter of the year at Crowley Park on Saturday.

ONLY three of the Cork Constitution team that lost to Shannon in the AIB League final in May are included in the side for the opening game of the new season against Galwegians at Crowley Park, Galway, tomorrow.

Galwegians put paid to the outside chances of Blackrock College nailing a top four finish when they struck early and late to see off the challenge of Shane Byrne and company and Crowley Park.

Clontarf were pushed all the way by Galwegians in this AIL clash at Castle Avenue this afternoon.

Galwegians regained top spot in the First Division of the AIB League with a