Donal Lenihan: Only Leinster rise at wake-up for provinces
Make no mistake, La Rochelle have proved the bane of the Leinster players lives for three years now, especially with a certain Ronan O’Gara at the helm.
A rugby player, coach and manager during a glittering career with Munster, Ireland and the Lions and now a definitive voice in Irish rugby analysis and commentary.
THE opening round of Investec Champions Cup rugby dished up a painful dose of reality for the majority of the Irish provinces, Leinster’s gutsy performance and victory in La Rochelle the honourable exception.
Connacht and Ulster were on the receiving end of two comprehensive defeats that will raise serious question marks surrounding their appetite for battle in what were always going to be difficult contests against in-form, quality opposition, in Bordeaux-Begles and Bath respectively.
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