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The BKT United Rugby Championship’s one week return could not feel any further from main event billing it would like. The nature of the Six Nations beast meant low attendances, damp weather and mediocre team performances spread like wildfire across the league.
Irish provinces were no exception, as despite having four bookies favourites, picked up just two wins over the weekend.
Connacht: Late Wins Taste Sweeter
Clock in the red, a rolling maul like an army tank and a visceral roar to follow the referee’s confirming whistle. Nothing beats last gasp drama!
Connacht’s come from behind win over league leaders Glasgow Warriors on Saturday was good news for their julibant supporters perched up in the new stand, and for arch-rivals Leinster who can now leapfrog Franco Smith’s men in the next round.
Two tries in the final ten minutes, courtesy of Josh Murphy and Sean Jansen turned a 3-10 deficit into a 15-10 victory, overcoming a typically stern Glasweigan showing who were left to rue a handful of missed kicks at goal.
The result also moves Stuart Lancaster’s men up to 10th and within touching distance of top eight, with a game in hand against the Scarlets to come later this month.
Munster: One Point Dropped?
A win is a win as has been said many, many times; but Munster’s stodgy 21-7 win over Zebre Parma in Limerick left a lot to be desired, and left a point on the board.
Tries from Shane Daly, Alex Kendellen and Lee Barron put the result beyond doubt, but still they fell one short. In a strange twist of faith, Munster’s only try bonus point from recent games came against Glasgow away, but not against the Dragons or Zebre at home.
Whether it’s a strange Thomond Park hoodoo of overplaying as opposed to the more methodical nature of tougher tasks, or just the ringrust that comes with the stop-start juncture in the season; it’s still worrying.
Head coach Clayton McMillan relayed the sentiment of having let points slip by ahead of a brutal run-in post Six Nations where they face the Sharks and Bulls down south, and Exeter upon arriving back up north in the Challenge Cup.
Leinster: Lethargic and Lacklustre
The winning run ends at 11 for Leo Cullen’s mighty men, after an 8-7 defeat to Cardiff on Friday night. On a wet night at the CAP, the reigning champs just never clicked into gear.
Down over 20 players due to injuries and Ireland camp, there are allowable excuses for sure; however with Slimani, Snyman, Deegan, Henshaw and Ioane all involved; this was not the walking wounded either.
It will go down as a rare blip and they will get another chance to move top when they travel to Scotstoun in round 13.
Ulster: Rucks, Refs & Road Form
Bridgend is proving to be a tough place to go to, but for Ulster, so is most of their away trips. Despite being an impressive 7/7 in Ravenhill, they fell to a fifth away defeat of the season on Saturday, in dubious circumstances.
A late try disallowed due to an illegal ruck entry caused carnage online, as it so often does; but like Leinster, this will be one that got away as Ulster become a bit more human away from home.
Their refixed round two fixture, an away trip to Edinburgh on March 13th, now looms large with Richie Murphy likely to be without upwards of 10 senior players due to Ireland duty.