Luke Fitzgerald
After last weeks woeful showing, Leinster at least gave their fans something to shout about this weeks. But in the cold light of day, played two lost two means that Leisters European season bar a minor miracle is down the tubeIt wasn’t all bad. Ben Te’o and Luke Fitzgerald present a serious challenge in midfield – hard straight running lines, jinking and making space, and Te’o putting in some savage hits. There was a good pace in the game from Leinster too, a bet of tempo back. The problem was in the scrum – giving away penalties for free. And after last week’s poor showing, it was the area Bath were going to target, and it gave them rich rewards. I’ve said it before – we just lack grunt in our scrum – what would you give to either a Nathan Hines or a Brad Thorne in their prime back in the team? Kane Douglas left us in the lurch.
Wasps stunning bonus point victory over Toulon, and the uncertainty of the Toulon Bath replay will make this group really interesting.
And it was no more cheery for Ulster, given a hiding by Saracens at Kingspan Stadium. It wasn’t a great game from Ulster at all, but in fairness Saracens were pretty awesome. I’m not a big fan of Owen Farell, but he was superb, moving play around in such a way that it was very hard to defend.
Connacht at least spared Ireland’s blushes with a good victory over Brive at home
Friday, November 20
Ulster 9 - 27 Saracens
Saturday, November 21
Benetton Treviso 3 - 36 Leicester Tigers
Bath Rugby 19 - 16 Leinster
Stade Toulousain 24 - 18 Oyonnax
Glasgow Warriors 15 - 26 Northampton Saints
Scarlets 12 - 29 Racing Metro
Exeter Chiefs 34 - 19 Bordeaux Begles
Sunday, November 22
Clermont Auvergne 34 - 29 Ospreys
Wasps 32 - 6 Toulon
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