Sean O'Brien Image from http://bit.ly/f8MF5a
Leinster 43-20 SaracensDublin had decent weather all last week, then on Friday night it all changed. Vertical rain, gale force winds – all that was missing was a bit of plague and pestilence as the elements got biblical on ireland’s ass. But for 80 minutes at the RDS, the sun shone, babies laughed, fair maidens danced at the crossroads and Leinster got biblical on Saracens asses. I can scarcely remember such a complete performance from Leinster – they weren’t perfect, but they made Saracens look distinctly ordinary. Let’s not forget either that D’Arcy, Heaslip and Kearney were kicking their heels in the stands. The revelation was the depth of class Leinster now possess, with players like Madigan, O’Malley, Dominic Ryan and Richardt Strauss all strutting their stuff. Sean O’Brien was in a class of his own, on attack, on defence, and it’s going to be seriously difficult to leave him out of the Ireland team now. Saracens had a slim mathematical chance of progressing which they obviously didn’t rate – and playing 19 year old Owen Farrell at fly half was probably the best sign of that. Leinster have to be serious title contenders at this stage as they book their seat in the quarters.
Ulster 9-6 Biarritz
My pesky children and a sense of fair play which characterises Leinster supporters meant I had to surrender the TV for this one. Awesome result for Ulster leaving them in a tie for first in pool 4. On paper Biarritz should have won this one hands down, and Ulster have it all to play for next weekend.
Bayonne 35-21 Connacht
The Ulster match was round about where my results went pear shaped this weekend. Connacht came roaring back into the competition. They aren’t going to win their group but they did Quins a massive favour anyway. Go Connacht! I don’t mind being wrong like this.
Toulon 32-16 Munster
This wasn’t a great match to watch, from an Irish perspective anyway. Munster never really got going, they were being tackled backwards, worked over in the scrums, and bashing it up in midfield to little effect all afternoon. Then on top of that you had the Sky commentary team salivating and going into ecstasies every time Wilkinson or Sackey touched the ball. It wasn’t Dave Pearson’s finest hour either but in fairness his harsh yellow card for O’Gara didn’t affect the result at all. Toulon played well, Munster didn’t. Personally I don’t think it’s ‘The end of an era’ that everyone was solemnly announcing. What, so they’re going to change ‘Stand up and fight’ to ‘All you need is love’? Munster are like the Terminator, this is like a flesh wound, and next season they’ll be back. The biggest problem for me at the moment is their lack of creativity in midfield. They could seriously do with Jean de Villiers back. Wouldn’t fancy being in London Irish’s shoes next weekend.
London Irish 24 - 12 Ospreys
This put the nail in the coffin of my punditry as Irish came right at exactly the wrong time for the Ospreys. Hopefully this is a turning point for the men from the Madejski Stadium and we’re going to see them kick some ass in the premiership. Some heavy soul searching is going to needed by the Ospreys, it’s not talent they are lacking that’s for sure.
This was Northampton laying down the law in Edinburgh
Round up of the restWasps came unstuck in Glasgow – i saw them in a warm up game and thought they were going to go far this season, but apparently not. Good win for Exeter chiefs, and biggest loser – great if you’re dieting but not if you playing rugby – goes to Petrarca as they went down 54 - 0 to Sale.
Heineken Cup
Cardiff Blues 14 - 9 Castres
Northampton 37 - 0 Edinburgh
Clermont Auvergne 28 - 17 Racing Metro 92
Bath 55 - 16 Aironi Rugby
Ulster 9 - 6 Biarritz
Leinster 43 - 20 Saracens
Benetton Treviso 9 - 44 Perpignan
Scarlets 18 - 32 Leicester
Toulouse 17 - 3 Newport-Gwent D'gons
Toulon 32 - 16 Munster
London Irish 24 - 12 Ospreys
Glasgow 20 - 10 Wasps
Amlin Challenge Cup
Agen 17 - 28 La Rochelle
Brive 52 - 3 Cetransa El Salvador
Sale 54 - 0 Petrarca
Newcastle 0 - 6 Montpellier
Cavalieri Prato 16 - 48 Harlequins
Bayonne 21 - 35 Connacht
Exeter 17 - 6 Bourgoin
Rugby Parma 16 - 12 Bucuresti
Rovigo 7 - 55 Gloucester
Stade Francais 32 - 10 Leeds Carnegie
The Yellow card from Pearson was harsh, but to be fair to him he did ask his Line-o if it should be yellow or not and the answer was (incorrectly) yes. Sky Sports seem intent on alienating fans of all sports with the Bias. I ended up turning the commentary of for the Munster game and again when watching the round shaped ball game later on involving Manchester United who, it appears sponser Sky Sports. At least that's the assumption one muct make such is the natureof their favouritism.
ReplyDeleteAnother good read.