Eh? That's terrible, Xanthos!
Anyone see those Provinces storming on? Munster, Leinster and Connacht all through to the 1/4 Final in the European and Challenge Cup, respectively.
Connacht's unthought-of victory over Worcester stood them in good stead, so they're through! Munster, on top of the Celtic League, slaughtered Sale, the in-form team in the English premiership, which they currently lead, and Leinster went away to Bath, and defeated them in their own back garden. Our boys are hitting form!
And what of all the talk in the papers (Irish and English) that the Celtic League teams were miles behind the English premiership? that they couldn't compete. Where are all those well-wishers now? Actually, I know where some of them are are- saw the paper this morning. They are eating journalistic humble pie.
Not wanting to take anything away from the Irish, but both Sale and Bath were already through the Irish teams wanted/needed to win more. I only got to read reports not watch the games there seems to be no doubt the Irish teams played bloody well but I would still rate Sale as the team from the British Isles to win.