Other rugby stories in brief
Pack push PBC past St Munchin's
The Ryan triplets, Evan, Gavin and Darren, were in action for St Munchin's but their presence could not prevent an 8-5 win by PBC in a hugely entertaining and forward-dominated Munster Schools Junior Cup quarter-final at Clifford Park yesterday.
PBC went in front with a penalty by Eamon Mills after eight minutes.
But St Munchin's moved in front when persistent pressure was rewarded with a well-taken try by Conor Barry after his forwards drove over.
The crucial PBC try came 14 minutes into the second half. Again it was engineered by the pack.
From a ruck ball several players drove for the line but each time they were held out just short.
Eventually, the ball was moved left and winger Brion O'Sullivan crossed over in the corner.
PBC: S Glynn; M O'Leary, R Cullinane, C Bannon, B O'Sullivan; E Mills, M Kelleher; B Scott, D Malone, S Randles; G O'Mahony, D Hartnett; R Murphy (c), R Caplice, A Hudson. Replacement: J O'Callaghan for D Harnett 36 mins.
ST MUNCHIN'S: C O'Donnell; C Woods, B Drew, S Madden, A Ruschitzko; C Barry, D Ryan; S Gavin, B McNamara, A Tuohy; E Ryan, G Ryan; M Corbett, B Danagher, P Curtis. Replacement: D McNamara for M Corbett 58 mins.
Referee: P Roche (IRFU).
Coláiste Iognáid turn on the style
Favourites Coláiste Iognáid advanced to the semi-finals of the Connacht Schools Senior Cup with a comprehensive 25-5 win in difficult conditions at the Sportsground yesterday.
The Galway city school led by just 3-0 approaching the break before Aaron Conneely got their opening try in a game where referee Roy Gibson took the teams off the field for five minutes because of a hailstorm.
The Oranmore school's hopes were dashed just after the break when the speedy Finn Gormley broke for a try to put Coláiste Iognáid into a commanding 15-0 lead.
They added further tries from Shane O'Meara and Evan Keane before David Hansbury had a late consolation try for Calasanctius.
COLÁISTE IOGNÁID: C Conroy: K Russell, V Hurley, E Griffin, F Gormley; D Clifford, S O'Meara; S Kelly, E Shaughnessy, S Feeney; F Moyles, E Keane; A Conneely, E McKeon, S Conneely. Replacements: K Dunne for Moyles, 20mins; C Murphy for Clifford, 58mins; N O'Maolain for O'Meara, 58mins; T Flaherty for Kelly, 58mins.
CALASANCTIUS COLLEGE: G McInerney; C Egan, C O'Flaherty, E O'Flaherty, M Monaghan; B Daly, N Mooney; D Grealish, K Egan, G Fahy; K Folan, C Graham; K Killcoyne, F Shelly, D Hansbury. Replacements: G Grealish for Mooney, 41mins; H Croake for E O'Flaherty, 64mins; D Maher for Daly, 67mins.
Referee: Roy Gibson (ARCB)
Skipper Parisse wary of 'cunning' Ireland
Italy captain Sergio Parisse has said his team will not be fooled by Irish trick"traps" in Saturday's Six Nations Championship opener at Croke Park.
The Stade Francais number eight, who this weekend will skipper his national team for the first time, says Italy have fallen foul of Ireland's craft before.
And although the 24-year-old admits to making mistakes against Eddie O'Sullivan's men in previous years, he is confident his team-mates will cope better this time round.
"The Irish are cunning and always try to make you lose your nerve," said Parisse.
"Last time, I myself had some problems with (scrumhalf Peter) Stringer. He was great in making me fall into traps.
"But now, and not just because I'm captain, I will not make any more mistakes.
"No-one will be able to trip us up - we will be cool and think only about playing rugby."
Parisse also backed coach Nick Mallett's decision to go for an untried halfback partnership for the game, with Pietro Travagli and Andrea Masi wearing the all-important number nine and 10 shirts for Italy.
Masi - a centre by trade - will be making his first Test start at outhalf but his captain believes he is up to the challenge.
"Masi has great qualities as a man and a player," he added.
"I am sure there won't be any problems because the squad will do their part and put him in the conditions to work at his absolute best without any risk of making a mistake."
