HAPPY BACK-TO-back day! This is the first half of one of the most exciting periods of the rugby calender as sides go to battle knowing they will have to kick the snot out of each other again the following week.
In the Champions Cup, Leinster face Harlequins, Munster play Clermont and Ulster battle with the Scarlets.
In case you have forgotten how exciting the back-to-back games are amidst all of the European rugby upheaval over the summer, here is a quick refresher from last season.
Ulster stuffed Treviso twice – no need to really elaborate there – but Munster and Leinster were both involved in enthralling two match sagas.
Leinster eviscerated Northampton at Franklin’s Gardens and played by far the best rugby of Matt O’Connor’s reign as coach. Unfortunately the following week, it was the Saints who dominated the collisions and a late runaway try meant Leinster didn’t even pick up a losing bonus points at the Aviva.
Meanwhile, Munster hammered Perpignan at Thomond Park but their return game in France had one of the most exciting finishes in Heineken Cup history. It is hard not to laugh at the French commentator’s distraught delivery of ‘C’EST TERRIBLE!!!!’ after JJ Hanrahan poaches the late winner.
And of course Connacht eked out that famous 16-14 win in Toulose, which was arguably the biggest upset in the history of the tournament.
I hope you are free between now and 9.30 so you can indulge in today’s rugby feast.
