The complications involved in travelling to South Africa so early in the upcoming PRO14 season are already evident for Leinster coach Leo Cullen.

There is a tendency among wine enthusiasts to constantly refer to the beauty of vineyards and wine regions, but some of this I think comes from the fact that we feel so at home in these magical places that produce our favourite sustenance.

Less than 10 years ago, South Africa looked on the cusp of a glorious period. Instead it is in danger of throwing it all away through misstep after misstep, writess Kyran Fitzgerald.

Tadhg Furlong has plenty to celebrate in his own right after being a first start for Ireland but he is also backing Test debutant Quinn Roux to shine in tomorrow’s second Test against South Africa.

Declan Murray is looking forward to taking on Mark English in the men’s 800m at the GloHealth National Indoor Championships in Athlone this weekend and make amends for a questionable lane infringement call at the Athlone International last Wednesday. 

In the aftermath you may have missed it, but the remarks bear revisiting.

Ireland U-20s 27 England U-20s 12

Ireland bid to defeat England at the third time of asking this season when the sides faces off in the IRB Junior World Championship fifth place play-off in Western Cape Stadium tomorrow (4pm, Irish time).

Ireland U20s coach Mike Ruddock has rung the changes for his side’s must-win IRB Junior World Championship pool finale against Italy today but a win may not be enough to reach the last four in South Africa.

Ireland’s hopes of reaching the IRB Junior World Championship semi-finals will rest on the team that broke their hearts in South Africa last night.

Incoming Munster coach Rob Penney was left with an unwanted distinction yesterday after he oversaw New Zealand’s first ever Junior World Championship defeat.

Ireland U20’s final group game at the IRB Junior World Championships has been switched to Cape Town.

England U-20 20 Ireland U-20 15

Mike Ruddock intends to keep his victorious Ireland U20 side on an even keel following their sensational win over hosts South Africa by concentrating minds on Friday’s must-win IRB Junior World Championship pool clash with England.

IRB Junior World Championship Pool B: South Africa u-20s 19 Ireland u-20s 23

ALONG with spices such as vanilla, coffee is catnip for humans, a sort of mildly psychoactive cup that cheers.

WINE fans may seem to have an odd attitude to sweetness, dismissing some popular wines as being far too sugary, while exulting at many of the far sweeter ‘dessert’ wines.

World 800 metres champion Caster Semenya has confirmed she will return to competitive action on June 24 in Spain.

South Africa coach Peter de Villiers has named 12 uncapped players in his first squad since taking charge of the Springboks earlier this year.

Noland was eased in the betting for the Arkle Trophy by Ladbrokes but kept at much the same by most other bookmakers following his victory at Sandown on Friday.

The ICC today announced that the Women’s World Cup qualifier event, scheduled to be staged in Lahore, Pakistan from February 18-24 2008, will now take place in South Africa instead.

Slavonic Lake defied relative hurdling inexperience and a price tag of 40-1 when taking the opening St. John Ambulance “Caring For Life” Handicap Hurdle at Wetherby.

Mobaasher is on course to run at Aintree next week before connections target the €110,000 Ballymore Properties Champion 4-Y-O Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival.

The first ever drug testing at the World Amateur Golf Championships has resulted in no positive findings.

Players at the World Amateur Team Championships starting in Stellenbosch on Thursday have been reminded that drug testing is to be carried out by the South African Institute for Drug-free Sport.

Stacy Bergman fired a three under par 69 to give South Africa a four shot lead over Sweden going into the final round of the 2006 Women’s World Amateur Golf Team Championships at Stellenbosch, South Africa, October 18-21.

Kelli Shean of Cape Town and Ashleigh Simon of Johannesburg each shot three-under-par 69s to propel South Africa into the lead by three strokes over Germany after the second day’s play at the 2006 Women’s World Amateur Team Championship. Stellenbosch, South Africa.

Irish champion Tricia Mangan (Ennis), Claire Coughlan (Cork) and Martina Gillen (Beaverstown) will represent Ireland at the Espirito Santo Womens Amateur World Cup at Stellenbosch, October 18-21.

HOME favourite David Frost showed there is no substitute for experience after registering a course-record 65 in the first round of qualifying for the 2005 Open Championship.

AUSTRALIA have their best squad of the year available for today’s Tri-Nations opener against South Africa because they can choose from 26 fit players, says coach Eddie Jones.

JAMES NOLAN faces his moment of truth when he lines up for the heats of the 1,500 metres at the World Indoor Championships in Birmingham this evening (5.31pm).

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, the embattled ex-wife of Nelson Mandela, staged yet another political comeback today when she was re-elected to the top flight of South Africa’s ruling party.

South African President Thabo Mbeki was re-elected leader of the African National Congress without opposition today in a vote seen as a reaffirmation of his policies.

Surprise surprise, but South Africa’s famous native grapes — Steen (Chenin Blanc) and Pinotage (South Africa’s own chameleon-like hybrid of Pinot Noir and Cinsault) were completely missing from a brace of bottles I sampled recently.

Anti-apartheid hero Allan Boesak, whose reputation was crushed by fraud and theft convictions, walked out of prison today, smiling broadly and continuing to protest his innocence.