Compiled by JOHNNY WATTERSON
Leinster and Munster fans: Set the pace
Leinster drew 17,236 fans to the RDS on Saturday night for their game against Cardiff, while Munster attracted 14,738 for their Friday night game against Italian side Zebre.
Most teams now struggle to keep up with the Dublin and Munster-based franchises.
Leinster sold between 13,000 and 14,000 season tickets this year, compared to Cardiff, who sold just 2,000 season tickets.
Just 3,000 fans turned up for Treviso’s home game and 3,754 for Edinburgh’s match. Over 5,000 went to watch Dragons at home, while Ospreys drew 8,231 for their win over Connacht.
Props up: Bent links up with Ireland straight off the plane
Ulster prop Declan Fitzpatrick (right) will join the Irish camp this week along with tighthead Michael Bent, who is Ireland qualified through his maternal grandmother. Bent, who has signed for Leinster, has been playing regularly for Taranaki in New Zealand and arrived in Ireland yesterday.
He will link up with the Ireland squad for training tomorrow. Several other players picked up knocks over the weekend and other additions have been made to the initial 31 man training squad announced ahead of the Guinness Series of games against South Africa, Fiji and Argentina.
To cover the minor injuries four backs come in with Ulster trio Craig Gilroy, Paddy Jackson and Paul Marshall joining Connacht wing Tiernan O’Halloran in the Ireland camp. Due to a knock that Rory Best took in the Dragons game, Seán Cronin has also been added to the squad.
Ireland Squad Additions: Seán Cronin (St Mary’s College/Leinster); Craig Gilroy (Dungannon/Ulster); Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster); Paul Marshall (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster); Tiernan O’Halloran (Buccaneers/Connacht); Michael Bent (Leinster); Declan Fitzpatrick (Belfast Harlequins/Munster).
Springboks: Travelling light
Injured players that had been part of the Springbok squad this year, but were not considered for selection have taken a fair-sized rump of talent out of the Springbok squad due in Ireland shortly.
Teams are contracted to bring strong sides so we only assume that the players remaining behind are truly injured. They are Coenie Oosthuizen, Bismarck du Plessis, Tiaan Liebenberg, Andries Bekker, Siya Kolisi, Jacques Potgieter, Pierre Spies, Johan Goosen, Frans Steyn and Bryan Habana (above).
Furthermore, Schalk Burger, Juan Smith and Heinrich Brüssow, who have not been part of the recent South African sessions, are still out.
That’s a Baker’s dozen not on the plane.
