Rugby

[Anvil]

It is the best I've seen Leinster in attack in a while.  Glasgow looked shell shocked coming off at half time. Also for a man of his age and a guy who is retiring in a couple of months, Cian Healy put in a hell of a 30 minutes. 

Saying all that given Leinster's recent history of losing finals and big matches, Toulouse, even without Dupont, are still the team to beat for me.

Would also love to see both Munster and Connacht win today.  Tough task to win in France two weeks in a row and that Bordeaux team is very good.  Interesting stat I saw, Bordeaux have scored 15 tries in the competition so far of turnovers or kicks, Munster have conceded zero tries from turnovers or kicks... I'll be glued to the box for it. 

Connacht have a great chance. They'll need to play better than they did against Cardiff,though, especially defense.  Defence has been poor for Connacht all year, your defence coach is stealing a wage. But it is great to see Ben Murphy, Hugh Gavin and Finn Tracy get the starts in such a big game as well.  Don't think it will be long before Murphy gets an Irish cap, and those other two have bags of potential. 

[Anvil]

Munster didn't perform on the day.  Their complete line out malfunction through out the game meant they didn't really have a chance.  Haven't watched much of Bordeaux in the Top 14 but that is two weeks in a row they got off to a flyer but looked tired in the second half.  If it is a fitness/mental thing, something you could exploit in the second half.

Watched Northampton v Castres as well.  Easy win in the end for Northampton. Northampton looked decent but some of their try scoring antics were a bit unsporting. I really hope Leinster batter them. 

Connacht just couldn't keep up with the French physicality and sheer size of their pack.  It just wore them down in the end and allow Racing to dominated the middle of the game.  Must say some of Connacht's attack in the first half was as good as any Irish team has produced this year.   Hanson looked world class.   Just unlucky in the end, needed another couple of minutes against 13 and they would have won it. 

[Carnage]

Munster weren't in that game at all but they were up against an awful ref too, he was throwing cards about like confetti. They woke up a bit at the end but it was too late by then.

Similar in Galway, Connacht ran away with it for the first half hour but then fell apart until the last 10 minutes. Farrell coming on for Racing turned it around for them but - of course - he had to commit a trademark foul on Jennings (he should not be allowed to play, it's ridiculous at this stage). If it happened earlier Connacht would have swung it back I think. Hansen was great for a while but flagged in the second half, I reckon he picked up an injury.