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.

IS IT possible that the Tinkerman will have the last laugh?

AFTER 46 games and a weekend of semi-final action characterised by controversy, drama, incident and passion, the 2011 version of the World Cup has produced a carbon copy of what transpired here at the inaugural event 24 years ago — a final contested by New Zealand and France with Australia and Wales battling for the bronze medal.