One can only speculate as to the rollercoaster of emotions going through Johnny Sexton’s mind last weekend. The picture of him grimacing, with his hands covering his face on the final whistle after Leinster’s Champions Cup opener against Wasps at the RDS only told part of the story.

The tragic events in Paris on Friday night cast a long shadow over the opening round of European action with five games postponed across the Champions and Challenge Cups.

QUITE how Ireland’s World Cup hangover will be reflected in the upcoming rounds of the Champions Cup remains to be seen.

Forty five minutes after the final whistle, Richie McCaw led the Haka, perhaps for the last time.

1. Australia will always back themselves to beat New Zealand.

You get a good insight into the New Zealand psyche just listening to their supporters. They’re not exactly a shy or bashful lot when it comes to talking rugby.

Two contrasting semi-finals, both equally captivating in their own way. The debate about how Ireland should play the game will rumble on long after this tournament is over but as the weekend’s absorbing action proved, you have to play to your strengths.

“Four more years ......” Those immortal words whispered into New Zealand scrum-half Justin Marshall’s ear by his Wallaby counterpart George Gregan when Australia beat the All Blacks in the 2003 Rugby World Cup semi-final came flooding into my mind at the final whistle in Cardiff yesterday.