Planet Rugby: According to rugbyenews.com, the bickering in South African rugby looks set to continue after last week's decision to award the fifth Super 14 franchise to Free State and Griqualand West.
The black rugby stronghold of Eastern Cape was expected to get the nod because of the country's lingering post-apartheid issues, though the Eastern Cape teams have struggled in the Currie Cup.
But SARU may be forced to review its decision after the minister of sport, Makhenkesi Stofile, voiced his discontent.
Men in the middle
A Frenchman, an Australian and a South African will take charge of the Lions' three Tests against New Zealand this summer. Joel Jutge will officiate in the first Test, at Christchurch on June 25th; Australian Andrew Cole will be the man in the middle when the Lions and the All Blacks clash at Wellington on July 2nd; and Jonathan Kaplan takes charge of the third Test, in Auckland on July 9th.
Three Irish referees - Alain Rolland, Donal Courtney and Alan Lewis - will also be in action this summer, Rolland officiating for The Tri-Nations game between Australia and South Africa in Perth.
The men who will preside over Ireland's two-Test series against Japan this summer are Nigel Owens and Nigel Whitehouse.
Deans the real deal
Leinster's trawl around the world for a new coach might, we hope, take them to New Zealand and a potential conversation with Robbie Deans, the former All Blacks assistant coach.
Deans has an impressive curriculum vitae, having won two Super 12 titles, and is highly regarded as an innovative backs coach to boot.
Leinster would have to pay top money for him - if they could persuade him to come in the first place - but he's exactly the calibre of coach they should be trying to get.
There is no shortage of speculation about who is in the running for the position.
Former London Irish coach and Springbok international centre Brendan Venter is reputed to have been approached. John Kirwan, Lynn Howells (the former Welsh forwards coach), Kevin Putt, Alan Solomons and Dean Richards are others reported to be interested.
Team of the Season
The AIB/Irish Times Division One Team of the Season will be announced in the last Planet Rugby column of the season next week, the final XV being the result in part of the suggestions of you the readers after we asked you last week to pick your team from the list of players below.
Indeed if you have not yet made a contribution, there is still time to do so. The closing date for entries is 6.0pm today, and you can log your selected team by email (aibleague@ogilvy.com).
As explained last week, from the list provided, you should pick a fullback, two wings, two centres, an outhalf, a scrumhalf, two props, a hooker, two secondrows, two flankers and a number eight - without necessarily differentiating between left and right side. In other words, you can pick two right wings, two outside centres or two tighthead props. We just want the best two under each heading.
The 10 readers to pick the team that most closely resembles the one decided upon by The Irish Times rugby writers will be invited to attend the League finals as a guest of AIB and The Irish Times. The prize consists of two tickets for the AIB finals' day lunch, two stand tickets, and overnight accommodation in Dublin.
Candidates for the AIB/Irish Times Team of the Season:
FULLBACKS: Ross McCarron (UCD), John Lacey (Shannon), Andrew Finn (Garryowen).
WINGS: John Cleary (Galwegians), Niall O'Brien (Clontarf), Scott Young (Ballymena), Ted Robinson (Buccaneers), Paul McKenzie (Belfast Harlequins), Fiachra Baynes (Lansdowne).
CENTRES: Brian Tuohy (Shannon), WP Strauss (Belfast Harlequins), Tom Allen (Galwegians), Conrad O'Sullivan (Cork Constitution), Andrew Trimble (Ballymena), Andrew O'Neill (Blackrock College)
OUTHALVES: Ian Humphreys (Belfast Harlequins), Richie Murphy (Carlow), Eoghan Hickey (UCD).
SCRUMHALVES: Pat McCarthy (Cork Constitution), Jerry Hurley (Garryowen), Andy Matchett (Belfast Harlequins).
PROPS: Padraig Brennan (Carlow), Bryan Young (Ballymena), Declan Fitzpatrick (Belfast Harlequins), Tony Buckley (Shannon), John Wickham (Clontarf), Eamonn Bracken (Buccaneers).
HOOKERS: Nigel Conroy (Shannon), David Blaney (UCD), Rory Best (Belfast Harlequins).
SECONDROWS: Ryan Caldwell (Dungannon), Simon Crawford (UCD), John Duffy (Clontarf), Tom Hayes (Shannon), Shane O'Connor (Cork Constitution), Henry Head (Ballymena).
FLANKERS: Niall Ronan (Lansdowne), Kevin Croke (UCD), David O'Brien (Clontarf), Chris McCarey (Belfast Harlequins), Stephen Keogh (Shannon), Peter Malone (Garryowen).
NUMBER EIGHTS: David Quinlan (Shannon), Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University), Paul Neville (Garryowen).
Ouch . . .
"Leinster forwards were not up to it. I can think of five or six French teams who could duff them up."
- Leicester coach John Wells assesses the Leinster pack in an interview last weekend.
