Irish Provinces Review after Round Two of European Champions Cup & Challenge Cup
Munster and Leinster kept their 100% winning record intact in Round Two of the European Champions Cup. Munster beat Saracens at Thomond Park, while Leinster beat French Top 14’s Castres. Ulster lost their second game of the competition against reigning champions Toulon. In the Challenge Cup, Connacht were well beaten by Exeter Chiefs.
Munster:
Munster overcame last season’s Heineken Cup Final runners up Saracens after an epic struggle in Thomond Park on Friday night. Dave Kilcoyne’s second half try proved to be the deciding score. The win would have been more comprehensive if Ian Keatley had been on form from placed kicks. He missed four of his six goal kicks.
The game was in the balance until Rhys Gill was adjudged to have tip tackled CJ Stander and was yellow carded. This would prove to be the turning point as Kilcoyne scored in that 10 minute period. Andrew Conway should have been awarded a try in the play before Kilcoyne’s effort, but the TMO bizarrely decided not to sanction the score.
Munster played with a feverish intensity from that point and fully deserved their win. Conor Murray was awarded man of the match but Andrew Conway ran him close. Conway has been outstanding for Munster this season and if he can stay injury free, he could be an outside bet for Ireland’s Six Nations Squad.
Anthony Foley’s side now revert back to the Guinness Pro 12 with a trip away to Cardiff Blues this Saturday. It will be a chance for some of the fringe players to show what they can do and Munster will expect to win this game with a bit to spare.
Leinster:
Ian Madigan was Leinster’s hero as they beat Castres 21-16 at the Stade Pierre Antoine. Madigan kicked all 21 points as his side were made to work very hard by the 2013 Top 14 Champions. Leinster fully deserved this win as the home side were rightly penalised for their constant infringements.
Madigan was a constant threat from the inside centre position and worked very well with out half Jimmy Gopperth. The key decision made by the Leinster coaching set up was the introduction of scrum half Eoin Reddan. He caused havoc in the Castres defence and gave a reminder that he is still and outstanding player at this level.
It will be Madigan who deserves the plaudits though as he continues to grow into a top class player. The biggest challenge he may face is his versatility. Already this season he has played at out half, full back and now at inside centre. He needs to be playing consistently in one position and this has to happen soon if he is to fulfill his outstanding potential.
Leinster continue their Pro 12 season on Friday night, as Edinburgh travel to the RDS. It is a game that the home side will expect a bonus point win.
Ulster:
Ulster will probably have to win their remaining four games to have any chance of progressing after Toulon inflicted another loss to Neil Doak’s side in the European Champions Cup. To be honest, Ulster were never really in the game as they struggled with the force of Toulon.
It will be a bitter pill to swallow for everyone involved at Ulster after a very promising start to the season. Toulon showed their immense power from the off and Bryan Habana capitalised on their dominance when he touched down after great work from Juan Smith and Chris Masoe.
Delon Armitage put the result beyond doubt early in the second half when he intercepted Nick Williams’ pass and ran unopposed for his side’s second try. Craig Gilroy scored late on to put a gloss on the scoreboard but there was no doubt who was the dominant team.
Neil Doak must now lift his squad for their next challenge and that comes as the Newport Gwent Dragons travel to Kingspan Stadium this weekend. It is a perfect chance to get back to winning ways and they should win this game with minimum fuss.
Connacht
Connacht suffered only their second defeat of the season as Exeter Chiefs ran in five tries to win by 20 points in the European Challenge Cup. This was always going to be an uphill struggle for Pat Lam’s side given Exeter’s proud home record at Sandy Park.
Exeter made 12 changes to their side for the game and Connacht were up against it early from the opening whistle. Tries from Will Chudley, Henry Slade, Damian Welch, Dave Ewers and Ben White saw off Connacht who scored a try from winger Fionn Carr.
Connacht’s attention now turns back to the Pro 12 and their trip to top of the table Ospreys. This is another massive challenge for the western province and they will need a huge performance against an Ospreys side that were humbled by Northampton Saints in the Champions Cup at the weekend. Connacht’s best hope from this game is probably a losing bonus point.
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