After the champagne success of the Irish contingent in the Celtic League, came the Heineken European Cup, a stiff examination that would speedily separate the wheat from the chaff.

I remember the first visit of an Australian Rules team to Croke Park. They won their first game, against Meath I think and then played a Saturday afternoon cracker against Mayo. They were then scheduled to fly to New York where things were never easy for visiting sides.

The late John Kerry O'Donnell, owner of Gaelic Park and the "Mister Big " of gaelic games in the U.S. stood on a dressing room bench and cautioned the Aussies.

"They have passed their Intermediate Certificate this afternoon but they will be doing their Leaving Cert in New York and they won't pass that," he said.

A thinly veiled threat I thought. The Aussies were duly beaten in a very physical confrontation across the Atlantic, gaelic football, had repulsed the invaders. And I have no doubt that some people, mostly those who tut-tut about rugby's new professional image, were waiting for the squeals when Ireland's representatives took on the big boys, the English giants, the Welsh wizards and the Gallic maestros and were beaten.

But the examples set by former European Champions Ulster, gallant gritty Munster and experience gained by Leinster had not been forgotten. The Celtic League successes had been no flash in the pan, the pre season graft, the work with the Lions and in the Polish training camp had not been wasted.

Ulster travelled to Treviso and won 33- 28, Munster took on Castres in Thomond Park and ground out an impressive 28 ­ 23 triumph. And Leinster, as if to emphasise that their Celtic form was a true reflection on their worth went to Toulouse and whipped the French men 40 ­ 10.

If the fans had needed a wake up call, they had heard it loud and clear. Munster, after last season's disappointment in France had rolled up their sleeves and were ready to launch another serious assault on the European silverware.

And Ulster with that man Humphreys still breaking hearts with his deadly punting and arrow straight penalty kicking rattled out a defiant message that they were ready to recreate that wonderful January Saturday afternoon of 1999 when they thrilled a sell out crowd by bating Colomiers 21 ­ 6 in the Final.

Leinster's failure to beat Glasgow Caledonians at Donnybrook in their last campaign had inflicted a fatal wound on their aspirations to make the quarter finals but only by a whisker.

Perhaps their blistering nine successive victories to start the current would not turn out to be a false dawn. And so it transpired, Leinster followed Ulster's lead with that crunching 30 points triumph.

Denis Hickie, Gordon Darcy and Brian O'Driscoll were beginning to shine at the highest levels. Trevor Brennan had got his second wind and had set his career clock ticking again. For the other triumphant provinces, the usual suspects had been rounded up and were once more performing heroics of the highest calibre. Mick Galwey, Ronan O'Gara, Clohessy and Stringer were slipping into over drive for Munster.

Up North the names of David Humphreys, Tyrone Howe and Andy Ward were again on the lips of the fans. And if there were any lingering doubts about the quality of the Irish Provincial challenge, they were blown away like a wisp of morning mist after their second round adventures.

Ulster took on Wasps in Ravenhill and swatted them to the tune of 42 ­ 19. Pretty impressive stuff but Munster were not going to be upstaged and duly took care of Harlequins to the tune of 24 ­ 8.

But perhaps the most impressive performance was that of Leinster in whacking Newcastle, Johnny Wilkinson and all, by 28 points to nine. This was a very serious result indeed. Coach Williams with the aid of Roly Meates and Willie Anderson had produced a pack of impressive power and mobility.

The line out was crisp, all the pieces seemed to have been fitted together with precision engineering. And behind that pack, the defence was awesome, try tight and organized and after the two games played so far, Leinster topped Pool 6, Munster headed Pool 4 and Ulster were second in Pool 2 to Stade Francais but only marginally on points differential.

And in the Shield, gallant Connacht were second in Pool 4 but only on points differential to the Sale Sharks. However it should be noted that superior try count will be the criteria to decide placings where teams in the same Pool are level on Match points earned.

So let us take a look at the Pool tables involving Irish teams who won't be in action again until January.

European Cup.

Pool 2.

..............P W D L F A T Pts Diff.

Stade Fr. 2 2 0 0 67 28 6 4 +39

Ulster 2 2 0 0 75 47 5 4 +28

Pool 4.

Munster 2 2 0 0 52 31 3 4 +21

Castres 2 1 0 1 58 51 6 2 +7

Pool 6

Leinster 2 2 0 0 68 19 8 4 +49

European Shield

Pool 4

Sale Sharks 2 2 0 0 106 10 15 4 +96

Connacht 2 2 0 0 36 16 2 4 +22

These are happy tables from an Irish viewpoint but it does not take a rocket scientist to see that Munster must improve their try count and Connacht must do likewise in the Shield to keep pace with the very impressive Sale Sharks.

But overall its been a brilliant European opening for the Irish, a justification of the professional approach adopted by the I.R.F.U and willingness of the Provinces to go out and get the best help for the talented players they have gathered under their various banners.

Do you remember the winners since Heineken launched this magnificent competition back in 1995?

1996 Cardiff Arms Park, Toulouse 21 Cardiff 21. After extra time.

1997 Cardiff Arms Park, Brive 26 Leicester 9.

1998 Stade Lescure, Bordeaux. Bath 19 Brive 18.

1999 Lansdowne Road, Ulster 21 Colomiers 6.

2000 Twickenham, Northampton 9 Munster 8.

© Tom Keogh 2001

Top

Back to Rugby