Michalak takes the bun and runs with it: It seems there are no lengths to which the marketing people will not go to sell a product. One example is the humble hamburger.

There is a massive marketing campaign in Paris at the moment on billboards, television and even modes of transport suggesting the wonderful taste of the Anelka and Michalak hamburgers.

As you've no doubt worked out, the Bolton and French international soccer star Nicolas Anelka and the Toulouse and French rugby union outhalf Freddie Michalak have lent their names to the effort.

Purely in the interest of research, this column decided to have a closer look at this nouvelle cuisine and based on a comprehensive - five seconds, because it was a long queue - study of the ingredients went for the Anelka burger. It contains a green pepper sauce along with the beef pate, tomato, cheese and lettuce.

The Michalak burger promises a fine blend of three cheeses.

Interestingly the buns that accompany both burgers come stamped with the players' signatures and playing numbers: 39 in the case of Anelka and 10 for Michalak.

Those Irish supporters travelling to the Stade de France next Friday can sample these delights in a fast-food restaurant on the axis of the east and north stands, along the rue Henry Delaunay.

The large Anelka - it comes with coke and fries - is €6.80.

Eating and drinking in the seven-euro demi:Speaking of food, there is no shortage of Heineken outlets around the Stade de France, all four sides of the St Denis stadium being catered for lavishly.

But be warned, the goods don't come cheap and the menu is rather limited. It's very much a case of what would you like with your baguette: chips, a hot dog or something that this column couldn't decipher or recognise?

Those with a thirst would probably be better off slaking it somewhere else as a 'demi' - with a head that you could walk across without sinking - will set you back about €7.

Georgians aiming to do talking on the pitch:It seems that Georgia are trying to keep their game plan under wraps ahead of their game with Ireland tonight in Bordeaux. Yesterday the Lelos cancelled two proposed media conferences - at 5pm and 9pm. Perhaps the pitch is where they're hoping to be most eloquent.

Hydration no problem for Argentina showdown: You may be beginning to pick up a theme to this particular edition of The World is Oval - but for those Irish fans planning a trip to watch Ireland's final Pool D match, against Argentina at the Parc des Princes, a couple of local watering holes will be of particular interest.

The first, called La Stade, can be found on Rue Commandant Guilbaud (it borders one side of the stadium) and is owned by the French internationals and Stade Français front row teammates Sylvain Marconnet and Peter de Villiers. It is a bar-cum-restaurant.

The second establishment can be found just off the Avenue du Parc des Princes and belongs to another couple of French internationals, Christophe Dominici and Christophe Juillet.

We'll bring you the actual addresses of both bars and the nearest metro stops in the week of the Argentina game.

Quotes of the day . . .

We have to be very clear with our goals. We have to forget we are going to face the best team in the world. We'll have to face as if it was any other rival. We've been preparing for this match since March.

- Portugal assistant coach Daniel Hourcade on the mental preparation for facing the All Blacks.

Don't put your heads down now; it's better to start from low down and get up there than from up there and going down.

- The fortune-cookie reaction of the centre Seru Rabeni to the negative feedback from the Fijian public following the country's narrow win over Japan.