"That was wonderful. We were very, very lucky to meet the Pope."

- Arguably the most affable player on the Irish squad Jeremy Davidson (an Ulster protestant) demonstrating a degree of ecumenism that does more for Irish rugby than the IRFU's entire public relations machine combined.

"International rugby is incredibly clean because it is so fast and there is no time to get embroiled in anything off the ball."

- Perhaps stretching credibility itself, Martin Johnson returns from a five-week suspension all gung-ho about clean play.

"You'll never see me in a pantomime."

- Lennox Lewis taking a pop at one of the softest targets in the game, Frank Bruno.