Firstly, sorry for being a bit late with this, I was stuck in an airport in Norway for most of Sunday!
Just to let you all know, as I know it’s important to you all, that Norwegian rugby is alive and well after beating Denmark to the first time ever!
Wish their airports were working as well!!
Luck changes for all teams
So a complete turnaround for our ERC teams this week.
Ulster go down late in Edinburgh, Munster get some valuable points difference against Treviso and Leinster return to form, with a important win away to Brive.
Add to this the fact that all the other results in our teams groups had major effects on their positions.
Ulster kicking themselves
Ulster will be kicking themselves after that defeat.
Something that they have worked so hard to sort out this season, discipline, let them down badly in the second half.
They had done more than enough to see them through this game but Edinburgh did what they do very well, they stayed in touch on the score board and when Ulster handed them the chance they took it.
Add to this the fact that Stade just pipped Bath at the home and Ulster’s woes continued, although the losing bonus point could prove vital.
Munster score 7 tries but still questions remain?
Ok yes, Munster got things going again with a 7 try win over the Italian travellers but still there are question marks over where the team are in the form book at the moment.
A couple of things spring to mind, it’s a long time since you’ve seen Munster go 29 minutes in Thomond Park to get on the score board, especially against Italian opposition.
The apparent ease with which they surrendered 2 tries early in the game is puzzling.
There’s no doubt that once they started scoring, it was like a light going off in their heads and they saying “oh yeh, this is what we do well!”
And they certainly did in spades, with Dowling in particular getting a couple of butes.
ROG still not himself
Ronan sill doesn’t look like a happy camper, his kicking again not helping.
His return to form is taking a little longer than would be expected, especially by Kidney.
The scrum again struggled and add to that, what they will do now with both Buckley and Horan injured.
With Marcus, I for a safety thing, I don’t like to hear a guy like him going off with just dizziness, having not taken any bangs, we’ll watch this space...
There’s no doubt that the aura that usually follows these guys around, isn’t fully up and running yet but as with so many times in the past, they are still exactly where they would want to be...top of their group and the best placed Irish province!
Leinster return to form
Leinster's result at the weekend, although not as big a margin, was more impressive.
They looked very much the defending champions, with a clinical display, out-classing the French outfit (although with just 3 native starters French mightn’t be the word to use!)
The backline selection worked well (I’d prefer to see Luke on the wing but I don’t know who the hell you’d leave out!) with some great passages of play and lock tight defence.
In saying that it was a shame to lose that impressive defensive record to a simple try like that! Was he on the ground when he picked the ball up? I'm grasping at straws I think!
Pack exercise some demons
The pack had a good day expelling any demons from the week before, impressive in the scrum and importantly the lineout started working again.
I tell ya, Cheika is going to have a good headache this week again, as young McLaughlin came on and had a stormer!
Two great tries and some good play, clearly showing that the bench isn’t the play for him!
Add to this that both Mal and Hines played well and its good problems all over the place.
CJ's back!
Great to see CJ back, beginning to forget what he looks like!
By all accounts be has come through with no probs and will be a great addition to the playing squad.
As with the other teams, it was the other game in their pool that added to their weekend.
Scarlets win over London Irish really throws this group open, Leinster have them next home and away in December, the right time to get them. They will be huge games and will set the tone for Leinsters defence of the title.
Connacht riding high
To cap off the weekend let’s not forget Connacht impressive record in the Shield.
Two from two, including the very impressive win against Montpellier on Friday.
This game had it all, they went behind 13-3 and fought back to be 22-19 with the French camped on their line.
Given their penalty record for the last while, you wouldn’t have given them an arse's roar of not conceding the 3 points but they held their nerve and got the win!
Now let see that form in the Managers please gentlemen!!