Munster steal the show for Ireland

He's the man ( picture http://bit.ly/10IFq6W )

Leinster got things going for Ireland with a smashing performance against Wasps. This is Leinster! Their defense wasn’t 100% - I think a unfamiliar centre partnering had a lot to do with that – and Wasps have some attacking ability in their backline. But this is the form that wins you cups – when you can attack, and the opposition trembles in their boots! Madigan just ran through their whole team. Add in some great loose forward play, a stellar return from D’Arcy, and now a home semi – this is what we want! I like Christian Wade though – doesn’t he want to move to Ireland?

The main thing that was emphasised in Ulster’s loss to Saracens, is that Chris Aston is a gigantic knob. He really is peerless in this department. Ulster had a bad day at the office at Twickenham. They came with a bad gameplan – you don’t try and outmuscle a team stuffed with Saffers. Outwitting them is generally simpler. They just got bulldozed by Saracens, wacked in the lineout and monstered at the breakdown, with the scrum being the only area that had parity. They just never got out the blocks, they had butter fingers, it was hard to watch really. No lack of effort, but they were just smothered by Saracens.

It was the Munster’s turn to peg things back for Ireland, with a rousing second half comeback, picking up the game by the scruff of the neck and having their Munster way with it. Paul O’Connell was imperious, at the lineout, with ball in hand, the engine of the victory, ably assisted by the loss trio who just bossed Quins off the park. We could have done with that energy in the 6N. They stood up and fought alright!

Out of the 8 remaining teams, five are French, two Irish and one English. We punch way above our weight!
Heineken Cup
Sunday , April 7
Harlequins 12 - 18 Munster 
Toulon 21 - 15 Leicester 
Saturday , April 6
Clermont Auvergne 36 - 14 Montpellier 
Saracens 27 - 16 Ulster 
Amlin Challenge Cup
Saturday , April 6
Bath 20 - 36 Stade Francais 
Friday , April 5
Perpignan 30 - 19 Toulouse