Stuart Olding ( Picture http://bit.ly/1tvZKc0)
Leinster had Edinburgh at home on Friday night. Can I just ask the Scots, would you mind not picking on our foreign stars? Ben Te’O is out for six weeks with a broken arm, and Kane Douglas went off too, although hopefully that’s not that serious. It wasn’t a vintage performance, but they got the job done with a 5 ties and the bonus point. With so many changes, and quite a few players with very little game time, too eager to show their skills, it was very disjointed. Dominic Ryan shone, and I think Michael Bent is coming into his own, able to play on both sides of the scrum, and getting better with regular starts. I’m also a fan of Mick McGrath, I think he’s going to be a regular starter soon.
Connacht found the Ospreys too much to handle, but still scored a try, and didn’t give away a bonus point, so not too shabby.
Munster came away with a win in Cardiff, fair play to them for hanging on until the end, but CSI Wales have confirmed a robbery took place. The Welshmen were all over the Munster scrum, should have a penalty try, but the win and the loss was all in their hands. Munster really just had to defend a bit and let Cardiff hand over the penalties, and then put in about 5% effort to get the win at the end. Munster suffered from lots of changes to the team, they still have that backbone of steel though that carried them through. Cardiff, with a bit more composure, will start winning soon.
I didn’t see the Ulster match, but they won conformably enough, and their never ending supply of excellent backs keeps rolling, with Olding getting a double, but also picking up a season ending injury.
Finally, the Wallabies Barbarians match was really good, going right down to the wire. Cooper and Genia are not quite up to speed, but it was tries galore, played in a spirit you don’t really see anymore. And Nick ’Badger’ Cummins got a try!
Guinness PRO12
Saturday , November 1
Cardiff Blues 24 - 28 Munster
Scarlets 28 - 13 Zebre
Ulster 23 - 6 Newport Gwent D'gons
Friday , October 31
Leinster 33 - 8 Edinburgh
Ospreys 26 - 11 Connacht
Glasgow 17 - 9 Benetton Treviso
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