Intriguing start to the European season

Rugby’s finest global showcase began on Friday night as holders Munster squeezed past tiny Montauban; Biran O’Driscoll was on sparkling form as Leinster won in Edinburgh, and the Ospreys myth continued a pace as they were beaten in Leicester. The weekend’s happenings are discussed at lenght.

The nature of Leinster’s scoring spree in the first half against Edinburgh will have pleased coach Michael Cheika, but in reality, there were more aspects to be pleased with, and equally areas that need drastic reconstruction if they are to return here in May for the Final. O’Driscoll looked close to his best; Rocky Elsom produced a fine back row display, and Jamie Heaslip seems to have awoken from his early season slumber.

It’s highly unlikely Wasps will prove just as porous in defence as Edinburgh’s gaping holes here, so new strategies will need to be devised to crack a defensive line that has been the meanest in Europe for five years. Destroyer-in-chief Fraser Waters has surprisingly moved to Treviso, and Shaun Edwards appears distracted by his Welsh commitments, but the Wasps brutality was in evidence at Welford Road earlier this season.

Leinster’s scramble defence was excellent yet again, but a common trait throughout the season has been their first up tackles missed, particularly in  midfield. There is only so much Kurk McQuilkan can do with this team, the players must make their hits thereafter. Also, the game plan of kicking the ball aimlessly down the pitch either needs to be scrapped, or revised very shortly. Chris Paterson and Hugo Southwell don’t have the attacking verve of, say, Paul Sackey and Riki Flutey – so Leinster will be punished in future.

A big improvement from the past couple of weeks, but more is definitely needed. It’s always better so say this in October, than April however. Elsewhere in Pool 2, Wasps failed to land a bonus point at home to Castres, despite notching three by the hour mark. Advantage Leinster going into round two next Saturday.

Munster will need the perverbial kick up the backside after a narrow and slightly fortunate 19-17 win over Montauban on Friday evening. The defending champions were left relying on indiscipline and indecision in the visitors’ ranks in the closing minutes to ensure they weren’t on the end of the biggest upset in European rugby.

Sale produced the weekend’s best result with an utterly stunning 32-15 win away to Clermont Auverign. There have been hints that the wheels might be coming off the Clermont bulldozer recently, sparked by that glorious failure to win the French Championship last season. There is a tenacity to bottle it when they reach the closing stages of a season, and the fear now must be that this expensive, but aesthetically pleasing French side will cease their interest already, and possibly fall from the list of French giants.

For the English side though, wrapped in a straight jacket and the complete opposite of Clermont in recent seasons, blasted the shackles off to score a bonus point win. Whether they continue to play with such adventure at Edgley Park next Sunday will remain to be seen, but this tussle has the look of a forward orientated, attritional battle that will only benefit Munster. Expect them to keep the ball tighter, and use the likes of Alan Quinlan and Donncha O’Callaghan to batter holes up front, instead of trying skip passes on the wing.

Ulster, meanwhile, were the only Irish side not to claim a win over the weekend (Connacht scored an impressive victory in Dax), as the merciless Juan Martin Hernandez confirmed his status as the true rugby great. His two drop goals, and a third from Lionel Beauxis, highlighted a level of footballing ability not often witnessed in Europe. Their status as joint favourites remains in tact after collecting just their third away win three years.

Bath, riding high in England, were hit by a late, late sucker bunch in Toulouse. There were no indications that last seasons finalists will be in the reckoning again, so lethargic was their back-line. Ironically it was a man whose position has become under threat, David Skrela, who won the day for Toulouse. His last minute penalty, under severe pressure, from the right touch line was ingenious. The reaction even more so: it looked for all the world his curler was heading wide, and just as Bath started their celebratory jump, faith brought the kick back in.

The Ospreys myth continued apace at a nervous Welford Road. Leicester Tigers won 12-6 but the game should have been beyond sight at half time. A catalogue of errors and mis-oportunities marred Leicester’s performance, and as a result, they were hanging on towards the end. Jonne Murphy was the primary guilty party in the Leicester line up. The Ospreys scrum was obliterated, and their annoying arrogance was brought to the table again. Seeing the Ospreys fail is the highlight of all campaigns.

Their expensive collection of stars were living off no possession and territory in the first half, and were thankful for home side frustrations. Leicester, meanwhile, will wonder how this one wasn’t safe early on. The pace and ferosity they brought to the game was immense, but silly errors almost proved fatal. It’s hard to envisage they’ll get any better soon.

In the other games Cardiff beat Calvisano, Perpignan failed to hit  a bonus point at home to Treviso, the Dragons won a belter against galsgow, and The Llanelli Scarlets lost their last ever European match at Stradey Park.

Bring on round two.