Ireland 20 Tonga 22

SO another obstacle overcome with only a modicum of discomfort: yet another goal conceded from a set-piece. Scolari must be very grateful indeed to Lampard as his amazing strike may have distracted the supporters enough to realise that the game itself was yet another insipid display against inferior opposition.

TOMORROW night in Thurles Gerald McCarthy and Ger Loughnane stalk the sidelines once again, while Joe Dooley and Davy Fitzgerald will also cross swords.

CROKE PARK may postpone the introduction of the new disciplinary playing rules at club level until 2010, but preparations for their roll-out at inter-county level are on target.

ITALY’S stuttering World Cup campaign showed no sign of improvement last night as they struggled to an unconvincing Pool C win over brave Portugal at the Parc des Princes.

ON a human level, you had to feel for Steve Staunton on Wednesday night.

CHELSEA are English football’s answer to a cold shower.

“THIS community has had more than its fair share of tragedy, so people really don’t know what to do any more.”

SIMON RAIWALUI, the Saracens and Fijian lock, captain of the Pacific Islanders, will be forever grateful for the opportunity to play against Wales, Scotland and Ireland on a whistle-stop tour of northern Europe.

NEWCASTLE claimed a fine 1-0 win in Palermo to move to within touching distance of a place in the third round of the UEFA Cup.

SO where does the true Ireland lie after a clinical and superbly-drilled performance against an under-strength South Africa?

THE story of Munster’s march on Europe is familiar to us all. It has been captured through the medium of print, radio, television and most recently three specific books.