The RDS was bathed in sunshine when the Ulstermen came to town. Well it was in the second half when I tuned in anyway. What I saw was hugely competitive and physical Ulster pounding away at a committed Leinster defense. Not very successfully it has to be said. They could really do with a few game breakers in mid field, and then they are going to be a complete team. Leinster just have more tricks in their bag – the can defend at ease for long period, but when they get into the zone they make it count. Luke Fitzgerald sprinted in for a blistering try, looking as good as he’s ever looked again, while Mr Relatable, Fergus McFadden delivered in the first half. Leinster’s scrum creaked a bit, but they made quite a few substitutions through the match so that didn’t help. That was a comprehensive victory over one of the form teams in the league, so job well done. The only concern will the sight of BOD and Richardt Strauss hobbling off, SOB got roughed up a bit, and Reddan seemed to come on pretty early.
I caught the first half of Munster v the Ospreys and it always looked to me like Munster were going to win it. They’re not as patient as they used to be, they were camped down on the Ospreys line for ages, but little errors seemed to stop them from dominating the match like they should have. Two tries from young centre Danny Barnes sealed it for them. The Ospreys looked disjointed and rarely threatened to do anything except brain themselves against the Munster defence. So it’s going to be an all Irish final at Thomond Park in two weeks time.
Aviva Premiership
Saturdays' Tigers/Saints match was the only whole match I watched all weekend. The stand out moment of the match was Manu Tuilagi heavyweight blow to Chris Ashton’s head. Now Ashton isn’t one of favourite players, but hat’s off to him for getting up at all in the first place, and more than that carrying on playing. There’s no place for that in rugby, and if the officials had seen the punch would have been a straight red for Manu. The Saints are an abrasive team, with players like James Downey, and Dylan Hartley always pushing the line. Tigers gave back as good as they got, and that just about shut the Saints down – i didn’t really notice Ashton (apart from his one sided bought with Manu) and Fodden was pretty quiet too. The intensity of the match was fantastic, but it wasn’t the greatest spectacle in the world. The Tigers march on.
I didn’t see Saracens/Gloucester, but four penalties and a two point win isn’t really going to scare the Tigers is it? The Aviva seems to be about being the biggest and the toughest team, and the Tigers the biggest, baddest meanest muthas in the whole damn championship.
Super Rugby
A few shock results here – Cheetahs and Lions not crap after all! The Lions got an overseas win against the Brumbies, and believe me, overseas wins (or any kind of win for them) are as rare as rocking horse poo. Mark their fly half Elton Jantjies as a player to watch. His sublime handling skills set up two fantastic trys. And the Cheetahs kicked the Crusaders arses! i’d have been less surprised to see Dan Carter and Ritchie McCaw announce their engagement.
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