Leinster v Cardiff
On Saturday we had two games one was a shock, the other was a formality. People were comparing Leinsters performance against Cardiff to Munsters demolition of Ospreys in 09 but in reality Leinster never got out of second gear and cruised to what was probably one of the easiest quarter finals they have played. Indeed Leinster have not been tested all year and despite putting Bath to the sword in the Aviva and patches of brilliance against Montpelier in the opening game they have being operating at around seventy per cent in the majority of their match's this year.
Can Leinster win the Heineken Cup in second gear?
No, they can not because despite being a great team they are facing a daunting task in the semi finals against a Clermont side who beat Saracens rather easily on Sunday. Leinsters biggest challenge is to raise their intensity and play eighty minutes at 100 per cent to beat a star studded Clermont team in Bordeaux. Clermont and possibly Toulouse are the only two teams in Europe that can go toe to toe with Leinster and survive. Clermont have in their locker not only a back line to trouble Leinster but also a dogged pack that can eek out results. Its hard to remember the last time this Leinster defence was stretched but against Clermont they will have to conjure something special to qualify for their third final in four years. One might feel this could be Clermonts year but it is not impossible for Leinster to win. I would imagine the winner will come from this intriguing tie.
Munster V Ulster
On Sunday we Ulster performed the ultimate robbery by becoming only the second team in Heineken Cup History to defeat Munster in fortress Thomond Park. Ulster started impressively and commanded a nineteen point lead mid - way through the second half. Despite Simon Zebo squeezing in for his 4th try of the season before half time Munster could never get ahead of an extremely stubborn Ulster team. Ulster gave an epic defensive display to win out 22 - 16. Led by the possessed Dan Tuoghy and Stephen Ferris Ulster never relented. Ulster disrupted Munsters supply by targeting Connor Murray at ruck time. Ruan Pienaar gave a great goal kicking display to keep Ulster ticking over. In the end it was an one miracle too far for Munster as finally they could not conjure up the winning score in the dying minutes.
Strange Munster decisions?
Paul O Connell and Ronan O Gara should have to answer why they decided to take on massive kick from the corner of the half into the teeth of a stiff breeze? Even on a calm day that kick is difficult I couldn't quite understand there thinking especially when Munster were winning all their own line out ball. I also did not understand when O Gara put in a couple of sweepers in behind the Ulster defence and then the pack did not challenge Rory Bests throw. I could also not understand why Keith Earls was left on the field despite being clearly unable to continue.
Can Ulster go all the way?
I think they will have much too much for a plucky Edinburgh especially in the Aviva but I am not sure they could beat Leinster or Clermont in a one off match. One thing Ulster need to do is copy Leinster and consider their beating of Munster as a small step towards their ultimate goals. This can be the beginning of something special for the Ulster men. With the signing of Tommy Bowe already confired everything points to a bright future.
Munsters future bleak?
In my opinion no it is not bleak. When you look at the team that got beat by Leinster in 09 at Croke Park the average was 30, against Ulster on Sunday it was 26. Only four of the team remain and unlike the defeat of 09 it is clear Munster have quality coming threw evidenced by the defeat of a fancied Leinster A team on Friday night. Luke O Dea, JJ Hanrahan, Paddy Butler, Ian Nagle and John Ryan all look like breaking into the team in the coming years. Despite the defeat on Sunday I think the knowledgeable Munster fan will quite optimistic about the future.
I would also like to say that I attended the Munster match on Sunday and what I witnessed in the Ulster fans was the best travelling support I have ever seen in Thomond Park. It was also lovely to see people from both sets of supporters shaking hands at the end of the game. It was a great day for the city of Limerick.
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