It would be fair to say that as anti-climatic and disappointing as last Saturday in the Aviva was, it hardly constituted the sort of crisis and crossroads Irish rugby was looking at the last time we played and lost an opening Six Nations game to England, writes Kieran Shannon.

Buccaneers 26 Galwegians 12

Canavan, carrying the colours made famous on the Flat by such stars as Halmahera and Amadeus Wolf, gave owner John Duddy more cause for celebration with victory in the Camerons Brewery Maiden Chase at Sedgefield.