Ireland now look unlikely to qualify for the Under-21 World Cup semifinals following their opening pool game defeat to France on Friday night. Mark McDermott's side conceded 14 points in as many "rsthalf minutes in front of 7,000 home supporters in Issoire and eventually went down to a 26-8 defeat, despite a decent second half performance.

Ireland now face Argentina on Tuesday at 4pm and a victory against the young Pumas is essential if Ireland are to earn a top eight ranking at the end of the tournament. But it won't to be easy, as the Argies lost by just four points to a highly fancied South Africa in their opening game yesterday.

BATTLE OF WILLS LIKELY OVER CULLEN'S FUTURE

It's not looking good for Christian Cullen's future at Munster. The former All Black's full back is in New Zealand right now on holiday following two summers of visiting European holiday destinations but even though he's expressed a strong desire in the local press to continue with Munster next season, it still may not happen.

It's believed Munster have made a request to the Players Advisory Group (PAG) to offer Cullen a short term contract for next season but the powerful IRFU screening body don't appear to be in the mood to sanction an extended stay in Cork for a player who's been in the physio's room for almost half of his spell in Ireland. Munster will undoubtedly make another submission to keep the full back, especially since a whole host of backs, namely Mike Mullins, Rob Henderson and Gary Connolly, have departed the province since the end of the season. It could be an interesting battle of wills between the Munster Branch and the IRFU in the coming weeks.

SPEARING OK BUT NO QUEUE-JUMPING

They're pretty hard on their rugby players over in New Zealand, particularly their off-the-field antics.

A letter in the New Zealand Herald on Wednesday chided All Black captain Richie McCaw for skipping the queue in a Wellington nightclub a few weeks back. Meanwhile in yesterday's Waikato Times, the paper's editorial took a dim view of some of the All Blacks' after-hour antics in recent weeks. "Tana Umaga's handbag incident, and other late night alcoholfuelled episodes involving our top sportsmen, give the impression they also have too much spare time on their hands." You can't even skip a queue in peace in this country.