The Heineken Cup was reignited into action this weekend with style setting up a great final weekend of the pool stage next week.
Four results really stood all that show the promise of the Magners League.
Toulouse 26 - 33 Glasgow
We got to start with Glasgow's beating of Toulouse, to add to it in France. The greatest Heineken Cup Shock? A great win for the Scottish side that showed some real heart. Coach Sean Lineen described Dan Park's as 'outstanding'. His performance will please Frank Hadden ahead of the Six Nations and could change the balance in the Godman - Parks debate (more of I am sure in the coming weeks on this issue).
Ulster 21 - 10 Quins
Horrible conditions for this game, but that ain't no excuse. After two great performances against Stade in the previous rounds of matches Quins were shocked by this one. Ulster again nothing to lose and didn't. Quins still through as results go there way, just result really.
Munster 37 - 14 Sale
This was not the result but the manner of it. Bish bash bosh. The reigning champs showed the English who is boss. Six try bonus point win, thought to the next round. NEXT.
Gloucester 12 - 16 Cardiff Blues
Blues down to 14 men after getting winger Tom Jones sent off for head butting but were able to maintain their unbeaten record in the tournament but edging the West Country boys. Not a classic match in terms of rugby (unlike the fixture earlier on in the season) but the grit and determination shown by the 14 men blues was super. Gloucester just didn't look like they wanted it.
What do these four fixtures show us? The strength the Magners has to offer and highlights yet again an argument I have touched upon before, the Magners League has great potential but the organisers and schedules are messing it up.
This weekend is another example of the potential for the league, something needs to be done.
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Why omit
ReplyDeleteWasps 19-Leinster 12
Perpignan17-Ospreys 15
Dragons12-Bath15
and of course
London Irish 75-Connacht 5
swain i accepted your point. but bath and irish would have expected to win their matches. wasps losing would not have been a great up set but they again would see themselves as favorites to win that one and traveling away to Perpignan is a tough ask. my point was that the blues (with 14 men), Glasgow, and ulster were victories for the perceived underdogs and Munster's win was more emphatic then expected. yes they it is only one bunch of games,, but these games in my opinion stole the headlines this weekend.
ReplyDeleteBoth ML and GP sides have done fine, surely the real story is the dreadful showing of the French sides in both HC and ECC, have they decided that the European competitions are not worth bothering about?
ReplyDeletemaybe that could be a question for another blog? i am not sure that is the case but there maybe something going on. can you explain it?
ReplyDelete