Barry Daly
It was a happy weekend for the Irish teams, especially not Leinster. They didn't really get going until the last 15 minutes, and it was too little too late in the end. What's worse is that the Cheetahs weren't exactly amazing, but they did the basics well, which is more than you can say for Leinster. Leinster had problems stopping them on the gainline, and also in getting over the gainline themselves. Discipline was poor. Barry Daly had a good night, as did Conan, but it was pretty average fare from everyone else. They spoilt my Friday night, AND my Saturday morning - I knew something was wrong as soon as I woke up! Here endeth the lesson - don't send young inexperinced teams to Bloemfontein becasue you could be embarrassed.
Watching the Munster match, which I'd recorded, didn't put me in any better mood, in fact exactly the opposite. Munster got pretty comprehensively outplayed, apart from a few purple patches. They couldn't impose themselves on the game, their defense seemed strangely passive, and coughed up a red card. They need to add some Stander and Murray!
Finally, I watched the Connacht match, and really felt the sucker punch of the last minute score from the Blues. Connacht are still getting to grips with the new coaching strategy, and in fairness, how does any rugby get played in the sub hurricane wind they play in? John Muldoon is the angriest man in rugby, they need a bit of luck to get their season going and put a smile on his face.
Saturday 23rd September
Connacht 15 17 Cardiff Blues FT
Southern Kings 17 43 Zebre FT
Scarlets 28 8 Edinburgh FT
Friday 22nd September
Cheetahs 38 19 Leinster FT
Benetton Rugby 16 6 Ospreys FT
Glasgow Warriors 37 10 Munster FT
Ulster 52 25 Dragons
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