RUGBY: The French coach Bernard Laporte had to issue a humble apology after criticizing the fans who got on Frederic Michalak’s back during Saturday’s win over Ireland. Laporte had branded the supporters as “pieces of bourgeois s***, I would have thrown them out of the stadium.” By Tuesday he had backtracked, but the interesting thing is that the original comments, made at the post-match press conference, were not translated into English for the benefit of the Irish media. Wonder why? Thankfully there were a few fluent French speakers among us. Not moi by the way.

SOCCER: The look on Mick McCarthy’s face was priceless when Jermaine Jenas missed a last minute chance to seal three points for Spurs at Sunderland on Sunday, just seconds after Waterford’s Daryl Murphy had equalized for the Premiership’s bottom side. “If that had gone in it could have been the final nail in the coffin for me,” Mick told Sky afterwards, and I think we all know exactly what he meant. Thankfully he lived to fight another day.

BOXING: The Granny Rule is the buzz phrase in Irish soccer right now as Steve Staunton prepares to name his first squad, and it’s also heading for boxing with British hero Ricky Hatton anxious to exploit his Irish background as he attempts a breakthrough in America. Mind you it was his great grandmother who came from these shores, so he might just be stretching it a little bit.

SOCCER: The former Liverpool manager Bob Paisley was dead 10 years on Tuesday night as the Reds entertained Arsenal at Anfield. Patricia, my Liverpool-mad friend in Manhattan, will know that Paisley led the Merseysiders to 19 trophies as boss including three European Cups and six league titles. How they could do with a manager like that now!

SOCCER: The quote of the week came from Bobby Robson, the new right hand man to Irish boss Steve Staunton. Speaking ahead of the fixtures meeting for the forthcoming European Championship qualifiers Robson said he would he happy if “we get four-tenths of what we are looking for.” That’s two-fifths to you and me!

GAA: These are worrying times for Mayo fans due simply to the fact that their charismatic captain Ciaran McDonald has yet to appear for training, never mind a National Football League game. Mayo boss Mickey Moran is confident his man will come back but the jury’s still out I’m afraid.