THE contrasting fortunes of Tony McGahan and Joe Schmidt heading into the crucial back-to-back rounds of the Heineken Cup could not be highlighted more forcibly than by the selection dilemmas facing both men this week.

WE HAVE a lot to be grateful to Scotland for. Had they not beaten South Africa in Murrayfield last Saturday week, both the Springboks and New Zealand would return home from their respective tours of the four home unions with a clean sweep.

NOW we know.

JUST as Scottish rugby was beginning to feel good about itself again after a string of impressive winning performances against Ireland and a double away to Argentina, the All Blacks came to town.

EVEN Max Clifford would struggle to put a positive spin on Saturday at the Aviva Stadium.

IT IS somewhat unfortunate that the ongoing saga about the IRFU ticketing policy has overshadowed the return of international rugby to its traditional home in Lansdowne Road.

NOVEMBER could prove an explosive month on and off the field.

AFTER only a few minutes of Saturday’s Heineken Cup contest at the Madejski Stadium, it became abundantly clear just why we love this tournament so much.

BACK in November 1967 The Beatles released yet another hit album, the Magical Mystery Tour, which summed up precisely where they were at, at that point in time.

NOW THAT the Sam Maguire and Liam MacCarthy cups have found new homes in Munster, the focus of attention within the province switches to those serial achievers that represent Munster rugby.