PLANET RUGBY:OKAY, SO it's Christmas time but if the Dublin-based rugby fan can steal a few hours away from the festivities, or shopping, he might drop into Donnybrook this afternoon for a look at what lies beneath the professional surface of the current structures.
A Leinster development side are expected to provide Ireland Under-20s coach Allen Clarke with the kind of physical challenge they can expect in the Six Nations and into June's IRB Junior World Cup in Japan.
Many were involved in Leinster A's defeat of Munster last week, with flanker Seán O'Brien impressing in a 17-11 win. Mercifully for the under-20s, the Tullow flanker will not be taking names today. Interestingly, two stand-out forwards from last year's CBC Monkstown schools team, Shane Grannell and Michael Noone, are included in the provincial pack.
Clarke tells us to expect plenty of ball-in-hand rugby from his less than physically imposing charges this season. Kick-off today is 4pm.
LEINSTER DEVELOPMENT XV: F Jones; S Monahan, F McFadden, K Tonetti, N Morris; J Power, P O'Donohoe; R Murphy, J Harris-Wright, R Burke-Flynn; C McInerney, S Grannell; K McLaughlin (capt), P Ryan, Mi Noone. Replacements: J Hagan, R Sweeney, J Dever, D Moore, C Aherne, E O'Malley, AN Other.
Ulster abstain
"CHRISTMAS WILL be very quiet for me and the rest of the boys, when you get an opportunity to play in the Christmas game all the festivities have to be put to one side and I guess we sacrifice having a big Christmas to play rugby."
- Ulster forward Matt McCullough prepares for next Saturday's visit of Michael Cheika's men to Ravenhill — Sometimes you have sympathy for a pro rugby player's curtailed lifestyle.
Downey try seals it for Northampton
WITH IRISH teams on a break from the Magners League, the All-Ireland League in one of its five dormant periods and the Ireland squad in a pre-Six Nations training camp, we must look to the Wild Geese for news.
Former Leinster and Clontarf centre James Downey's try helped Northampton to a 23-13 victory over Harlequins. Eoin Reddan played over an hour in Wasps' 33-24 scalping of Saracens as they got their season back on track ahead of the vital European showdown with Leinster at Twickenham next month.
Bob Casey keeps the Irish representation alive at London Irish, they beat Gloucester 42-12, while Geordan Murphy may be frustrated with not being released to join the international camp but he kept his name in lights by crossing for a try in the Leicester Tigers 20-3 mauling (get it?) of Newcastle.
Troncon big hit on 'rugbydump'
IT SOUNDS a little crude but the best website to kill time at your desk (during lunch break of course) has to be \
This gem of a site has Youtube clips of pretty much every notable occurrence in the world of rugby union - with a special emphasis on the uglier incidents the game invariably produces from time to time.
For some reason Alessandro Troncon's haymaker on fellow scrumhalf Peter Stringer from the 2001 Six Nations encounter retains pride of place on the home page.
Troncon was red-carded for his actions, which resulted in a three-week ban for the punch which sent Stringer to the floor clutching his face.
What the clip fails to show is the welcoming smiles a dazed Stringer received on return to the Ireland dug-out from Alan Quinlan, Anthony Foley and Mick Galwey.
The Shannon grafters obviously sensing an opportunity to "console" their club-mate.
Artemiev must take Russia route
INEVITABLY VASYA Artemiev was tagged with the nickname "Moscow Flyer" but it appears, after being unable to initially secure Irish status, the former Blackrock and Irish schools winger will return to his birthplace to play international rugby.
Artemiev has been showing well for UCD this season in the All-Ireland League and is expected to join up with his comrades as they pursue qualification for the 2011 World Cup .
A hugely efficient finisher, Russia could do a lot worse when heading to Portugal for the February 7th Test match.
