Ireland 4, Europe 0!

 (picture http://bit.ly/1b4nQyf)

I didn’t catch the Connacht match but they got a great win away at Zebre.

Leinster was next up for Ireland, who played some good rugby, some average rugby, then watched with interest as Castre imploded, and took full advantage. Julien Tomas gets the muppet of the month award for his yellow card for three crooked feeds. In fact, he can keep the award, someone is going to have to outdo themselves to win it off him. Leinster’s scrum is improved beyond recognition, we have 4 props now, 5 even, which is a pretty amazing turnaround. Our lineout was pretty average though, and the running rugby is still stuttering. But a good win at home nonetheless.

Ulster, meanwhile, were getting  a great away result at Montpellier. I didn’t see it, but that’s a massive result for them, from the form Irish province – they must have the best chance of bagging an HC for Ireland.

Finally, it was Munster’s turn to have a go at a strange looking Gloucester side. They put them away well in the end, but they, like Leinster, are missing a few gears. Great match for Peter O’Mahoney, but I’m, still not convinced with how Munster are trying to play. DOC, for instance, is not, and never will be a wing.
I also caught bits of the Toulouse Saracens match, where the English Galacticos slipped up when they surely had that one in the bag.

And huge  credit for Cardiff for sticking it to Toulon – maybe some of their stars are starting to show their age a bit, and Cardiff ran them into the ground eventually.

Quins battled hard with no return again, and Glasgow got their show on the road.

Finally, the all conquering All Blacks wrapped up their season with another good win, but Australia did themselves proud too.  Of concern will be that they’ve shipped 60 points in the last two matches.

Heineken Cup
Saracens  16 - 17  Toulouse    
Leicester  34 - 3  Benetton Treviso 
Cardiff Blues 19 - 15 Toulon 
Zebre 6 - 33 Connacht 
Leinster 19 - 7 Castres 
Munster 26 - 10 Gloucester 
Scarlets 26 - 26 Racing Metro 92 
Montpellier 8 - 25 Ulster 
Northampton 27 - 16 Ospreys 
Perpignan 31 - 14 Edinburgh 
Clermont Auvergne 23 - 13 Harlequins 
Glasgow 20 - 16 Exeter