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Heineken cup Rugby - Round up
Leinster are streets ahead
Leinster 22 - Leicester 9
THE leafy streets of South Dublin have rarely been described as mean
but a whole new level of nastiness will be found by those visiting the
thoroughfares of Ballsbridge and Donnybrook in the coming weeks.
That’s because this Leinster team, long known for the prettiness
of their rugby, has discovered a visceral, battling streak and that was
enough for them to defeat European Champions Leicester at the RDS.
True, the flair-filled rugby was much in evidence from the Blues; the
dazzling back-line of O’Driscoll, Darcy and Horgan combined on 52
minutes for Horgan to score the try which turned this game from a battling
Leinster win into a rout.
But it won’t be for the silkiness of their back play that Leinster
remember this tie — rather it will be the steel in their game.
Bernard Jackman may not be the most skilful hooker in Irish rugby but
he is a fierce competitor and has brought a new attacking dimension to
a pack which has always had capable defenders in Jamie Heaslip and Leo
Cullen.
Argentina World Cup star Fillipe Contepomi is training as a surgeon in
Dublin and he again showed the precision of his eye with excellent goal
kicks and flawless box kicking.
It used to be asked whether O’Gara or Johnny Wilkinson were the
best out-halves in world rugby. Right now Contepomi is as good as there
is.
More displays like this and Leinster could become genuine Heineken Cup
contenders and the streets of suburban Dublin will never be the same again.
The flying Irish
London Irish 42 - Treviso 9
The Exiles produced a storming second-half performance to demolish Italian
outfit Treviso.
With England international Mike Catt in flying form and Juan Legizimono
and Deleon Armitage scoring first-half tries there was only ever likely
to be one winner.
The player all London Irish fans were talking about however was Peter
Richards. The youngster scored a try in the second-half and was a major
creative threat for the Exiles.
London Irish won’t have many easier victories than this in the
coming months and with first-choice out-half Shane Geraghty to return
to the starting line-up,there is plenty of improvement left in this team,
which now has the right blend of youth and experience, after several years
where they lacked the composure and strength-in-depth to compete at the
top level.
Provinces flounder
Gloucester 32 - Ulster 14
Brive 15 - Connacht 6
The pressure is now almost intolerable on Ulster boss Mark McCall.
The former Ireland international failed to attend the usual post-match
press conference in the wake of this defeat saying later that basic errors
had cost his side.
Part of the problem Ulster are suffering at the moment is raised expectations.
In a time of plenty for Irish rugby they had a golden generation of their
own with expectations that they could have as many as six Irish internationals.
But none of those players are turning it on for their province at present.
Tries from Paddy Wallace and Matt McCullagh failed to atone for the defensive
frailties of the team which was out-thought and out-fought by Gloucester.
Connacht got off to the worst possible start to their campaign by losing
15-6 to French side Brive.
Out-half Tim Donnelly missed three crucial kicks, and those cost his side
dearly. |
