Weekend Round-Up
Munster 39 - 13 Benetton Treviso
Connacht 6 - 18 Leinster
The rugby kicked off on Friday evening with Ulster paying a visit to Glasgow. Blowing a small fortune (and not that small either) on South African beef hasn’t quite paid dividends for the Ulstermen yet. These are the tight games you want to be winning unless you want to stay in the also rans. Edinburgh at home are always a tough proposition though, and seem to have shaken off their early season wobbles. I’m still waiting for that BIG Ulster performance.
Munster then turned on the style to ease past Treviso at Thomond Park. They paid them due respect by fielding a full strength squad, and Treviso showed some good flashes including a well worked try. The try of the match for me was Keith Earls try, with O’Gara diving on the ball in midfield, immediately popping it to Wallace who threw a long pass to Earls one half who sprinted in from there. Wallace is a national treasure, the way he reads the game is outstanding, he is an outstanding flank and handles the ball like a back.
On Saturday evening Connacht welcomed Leinster to the showground. Last season Connacht were unbeaten by the Irish provinces at home but they forget to pack their ‘A’ game this week. The end scoreline might have flattered Leinster a bit but Connacht didn’t bring the physicality or the determination to send Leinster home empty handed. Remember to pack the PAIN next time lads! I was kind of hoping to see someone from Connacht make a point about not being in the Ireland but that didn't happen unfortunately. And I lost out to an X-Factor takeover so missed the last try :(
Leinster definitely dropped down a gear since their heroics at Wembley, and I want to see their backs really ignite. Sexton can at least bang over the kicks to turn narrow losses into wins. Richardt Strauss was man of the match and no more than he deserved.
Exiles
Exeter 9 - 12 London Irish
London Irish ground this one out and stay top. Not the pummeling I was expecting but you can’t argue with four points. The Aviva Premiership result of the weekend has to be Wasps 10 - 37 Northampton , that’s some stonking for Wasps, and Saints back to the form that they haven’t been able to show in the Heineken Cup.
Finally, here’s a round-up of the try’s from Round 2 of the Heineken Cup: http://rugbydump.blogspot.com/2010/10/best-tries-of-heineken-cup-round-2.html
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