Ross Molony
I watched Glasgow host Connacht on Friday, in a game of two halves. Glasgow were completely dominant for 46 minutes of the matches, getting ALL the decisions, and racing away to a handy lead. Connacht were dropping the ball, seemingly infringing at every ruck, and just out of the game. But then one scrum turned it for them, it was like Glasgow scrum v tank, Connacht scored a try from that, and then the fight back was on. Many scrum penalties later, and a bit of a fight back from Glasgow, the match ended in a one point win for Glasgow, but Connacht managed to get two points out of the match.
At the RDS, expectation was high after a poor result for Leinster last weekend. And the crowd sure got entertainment value, the match was close until the last 5 minutes, the win wasn’t all that convincing, but the promise is there. Josh van der Flier got MOTM and deserved it, every time he got the ball he made good ground. But for me the best player was Ross Molony, what a sensational debut from the young player, already calling the lineouts! Leinster have needed a some depth in lock, and what better place to get it than from the academy – he has future international stamped all over him. Gary Ringrose also totally looks the part. Isa put in a good performance, except in his kicking off the tee, which will come with time. Leinster showed a welcome return of the style that brought them so much success – just in flashes – but the kind of play that’s hardly been seen since Joe departed. And the scrum is looking vey solid.
Didn’t see the Ulster match, but they filed to fire by the sound of things.
Finally, Munster grabbed a last minute win, with the very man, CJ Stander, going over to score an awesome try. Munster have a totally amazing pack now – Stander, Copeland, Chisolm, Foley, Ryan and O’Donnell will be hard to cram into the same team, but that sort of firepower will win them games. Bleyendaal offers them something different at fly half, but I think he needs a bit of work on his kicking game, some of it was pretty aimless. Behind him, Felix jones is just imperious in the air, he’s so unlucky to miss out on the World Cup.
Friday, September 11
Newport Gwent Dragons 13 - 0 Zebre
Glasgow Warriors 33 - 32 Connacht
Saturday, September 12
Scarlets 22 - 12 Ulster
Benetton Treviso 24 - 27 Edinburgh
Leinster 23 - 15 Cardiff Blues
Sunday
Ospreys 18-20 Munster
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