Bits'n'Pieces : Irish Rugby

Woodward to name Lions coaching team tomorrow ... Cronje joins 'Quins ... Springboks scrumhalf injury crisis ... Thompson likely to miss Canada ... Johnson tips O'Driscoll to captain Lions ...

Clive Woodward will announce the British and Irish Lions coaching team tomorrow in Cardiff. The expectation is that Eddie O'Sullivan will be joined by Andy Robinson and Phil Larder and there will be a secondary team looking after the midweek side. This is likely to include Ian McGeechan, with support from Llanelli's Gareth Jenkins and Ireland's Mike Ford ...

Geo Cronje has joined Harlequins from the Blue Bulls. He will stay with 'Quins until the end of the season with an option for a further season after that. With the arrival also of All Black Simon Maling, 'Quins are seriously addressing a lack of forward power that has afflicted them badly ...

South Africa have suffered a series of scrum-half injuries that is likely to leave them short of back-up on their tour here. Bolla Conradie, Neil de Kock and, now, Enrico Januarie have suffered injuries that make them unavailable, leaving Fourie du Preez their only front-ranking scrumhalf ...

Steve Thompson is likely to miss England's match against Canada on November 13th. The hooker damaged his ribs playing against Sale and is out for between two and three weeks ...

Martin Johnson has tried to put a hex on the Irish this year by declaring that he reckons this is Ireland's best chance in a long time to win a Grand Slam and that Brian O'Driscoll would be his choice to lead the Lions ...

Centre Chris Farrell had a NatWest 6 Nations debut to remember as his man-of-the-match performance helped Ireland to a 37-27 bonus point win over Wales at the Aviva Stadium.

Ireland skills and kicking coach Richie Murphy spoke to Irish Rugby TV about Dan Biggar, Liam Williams and Leigh Halfpenny and the attacking threats they will pose for Ireland at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday (kick-off 2.15pm).