TWO OUT OF THREE AIN'T BAD FOR MUNSTERS Young Munster are as proud a Limerick club as you'll find and they've found a couple of new records to keep their many supporters happy over Christmas. Paul O'Connell, a committed Munsters' man, was the last Irish international to score a try at the old Lansdowne Road against the Pacific Islands, while a couple of week's back Clem Casey, a former Young Munster player now turning out for Lansdowne, became the last club player to score a try at the old ground. All Young Munster are short now is one of their former men to score the last try at Lansdowne Road this afternoon, but after trawling through the histories of the players likely to appear for either Ulster or Leinster, it seems they won't get the hat-trick. Pity.

GREAT MOMENTS IN IRISH RUGBY NUMBER 15 . . . Rugby returns after the First World War In September 1914, barely a month after Britain declared war on Germany, IRFU president Frederick Browning ruled that all club games and representative matches would be suspended until after the war.

Only school matches were played during this period, and while the end of the war in 1918 saw a number of unofficial provincial competitions take place between clubs eager for a competitive game, the full rugby program wasn't restored until and start of the 1919/20 season.

Ireland started their Five Nations championship campaign with a game against England at Lansdowne Road. Despite a brave showing, Ireland lost 14-11 and went on to lose 19-0 to Scotland, 28-4 to Wales and 15-7 to France. All in all, it was a depressing season for Ireland but at least they were back playing competitive rugby.

THE LAW LIBRARY David Humphreys' cheeky try against London Irish a couple of weeks back had us scrambling for the law book. It appeared that because the referee hadn't yet indicated to his touch judge that Humphreys was going to kick at goal, the out-half was perfectly entitled to tap the penalty and run to the corner as London Irish dozed under the posts. But if you examine Law 21.4 (b) of the game, and consider the fact that an Ulster runner had already brought a kicking tee onto the field, it appears that the referee was incorrect in awarding the try.

That particular law states: "If a kicker indicates to the referee the intention to kick a penalty kick at goal, the kick must be taken within one minute from the time the player indicates the intention to kick at goal. The intention to kick is signalled by the arrival of the kicking tee or sand, or when the player makes a mark on the groundf" Lucky, lucky Ulster then.

WHAT WON'T HAPPEN IN RUGBY THIS WEEK The IRFU's well intentioned idea to sell various fixtures of fittings from Lansdowne Road goes up in smoke in the minutes after the Leinster and Ulster game "nishes at the old venue. Thousands of supporters power their way onto the pitch despite the best efforts of the 30 stewards on duty, digging up the surface and placing the sods of turf in plastic bags. But that's not all.

After both sets of players strip the dressing-rooms bare, from the hooks on the wall to the toilet bowls, a crowd of journalists are seen ripping up the antique benches from the press box and carrying them out under their arms as they head down to collect a few after match quotes in what was the reception area.

RUGBY POSER f Who's the current coach of the Young Munster senior side?

MOUTHING OFF. . .

"A few year ago I would have said I wouldn't want to be the head coach, but now I wouldn't rule out applying for it in a few years time."

Niall O'Donovan (right) tells Rugby World magazine that he just might be interested in taking the Ireland job when Eddie O'Sullivan packs it in "I love Dublin. A drop of the black stuff in one of those lively pubs and bars, Irish hospitality and fantastic rugby . . . it doesn't come much better than that."

Former English prop Gareth Chilcott drooling in an advert for English travel agency