Irish infantry cover the country in glory

ROTORUA was great while it lasted but the smell from the sulphuric geezers is something I am glad to have left behind.

Not alone are the Tier 2 sides getting a raw deal on the match scheduling front at this World Cup, but poor old Russia were billeted at the Holiday Inn on the entrance to the town where the smell akin to rotten eggs is at its worst. Ireland, meanwhile, were conveniently placed on the lakeside end where the odours were less intoxicating.

On week three away from home with the laundry bag packed to the brim, one’s initial suspicions were which one of the all-male travelling party had hygiene issues.