THERE is no doubt in my mind that Paul O’Connell should have been handed the national captaincy by Declan Kidney yesterday after five great years of service from Brian O’Driscoll.

NOT so long ago the prospect that Ireland would have twice as many teams in the Heineken Cup quarter-finals as France was unthinkable.

WITH only three teams already guaranteed qualification to the knockout stages, and just one of those assured a lucrative home draw, there is still so much to play for in this weekend’s final round of Heineken Cup pool games.

OVERALL, it was a great year for Irish sport.

THE CONTRASTING fortunes of Munster and Leinster in their respective Heineken Cup pool games last weekend has once again stimulated much debate in the media and among supporters on the respective merits and shortcomings of both sides.

THIS year’s Heineken Cup took off in spectacular fashion last weekend with some outstanding contests, surprise results and cracking atmosphere.

OVER the years on his many European odysseys with Munster, Declan Kidney never had any great fortune when it came to the Heineken Cup draws, particularly at the semi final stage.

I WONDER if by this time next week we will be questioning what all the fuss was about.

AFTER THREE successive defeats at the hands of Argentina a win of any kind was most welcome.

BEFORE looking forward to what is the crucial game of the autumn series against Argentina tomorrow, it is important to reflect on New Zealand’s brief but electrically-charged visits to Croke Park and Thomond Park over the course of the last week.