THE last thing the IRFU court is controversy.

WE may be immersed in the Christmas break but for the players and management of the provincial sides, it represents one of the busiest periods of the year.

LEINSTER’S drawing power grows bigger and bigger, as evidenced by a crowd of 46,365 who braved the elements on a freezing Saturday night in Dublin.

CHRISTMAS arrived a week early for the Irish provinces in Europe with Leinster, Munster and Ulster all topping their respective pools, while Connacht were within four minutes of recording a first Heineken Cup victory.

HAD Leinster somehow contrived to lose this one then they need blame nobody but themselves.

MUCH has changed since Munster last contested a Heineken Cup pool clash in this part of Wales.

LITTLE did I know when addressing the issue of Martin Johnson’s resignation as England manager last Wednesday the calamitous fallout that was about to unfold as English rugby hit a new low.

LAST Wednesday’s announcement that Martin Johnson had stepped down as England head coach/manager was not surprising and closed a horrible few months for English rugby after the fallout from their World Cup campaign.

IT says everything about how competitive the Heineken Cup has become that only one side — English champions Saracens — secured a winning bonus point from the opening round of 12 games with a home victory over Benetton Treviso.

I AM now officially parking RWC 2011.