 |  |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  | |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  | |  |
Most of those who make such assertions tend to shout rather than watch...but you get the point. Ronan O' Gara made some statements into which he may have been led but right now he and his Irish team mates are looking fairly smart. Munster displayed huge resolve and intelligence to repel a Leicester team that played some fine stuff. Discipline was one factor for their loss, the other was the old intangible, champion teams just know how to win but don't ask them, it just happens...
Leicester were once that team and although they were a match for Munster in more than the majority of departments they were not in the one that mattered; winning. They share top billing with an intelligent and industrious Ulster who demolished a Toulouse team that looked like a team that has grown fat on European success. Three from three for Ireland and so too Wales. A first away win for the Blues in France, a grimly determined but unimpressive Ospreys win against the second most disappointing side in Sale and a smooth Llanelli Scarlets win at London Irish for whom Dwayne Peel excelled. Is there a better player in Britain?
The highlight of the week's action for me however was Mark Jones' outside break that left the seriously quick Topsy Ojo standing like an old fashioned prop. Ojo plays week in and out against fast wings and strong wings, athletes to a man, but not against traditional wingers with a mastery of folk arts like an outside break. Let England lift the weights, Wales will provide the skills...it was an embarrassing week for England but if the coaches show enough humility and understand the deficiencies in the English game - as pointed out by Jones, Peel, D'Arcy and co, then this could yet be a rewarding weekend lesson.
I cannot wait for week two. Ulster's visit to the Scarlets is a potential humdinger while the Blues look to build on solid French foundations, knowing that a second defeat for the Tigers will almost certainly mean early elimination. Have the Tigers the old ferocity to bounce back from the disappointment of Sunday, will the English rebound? Don't you love this Cup?
