Irish provinces searching for positive pointers to the future

DESPITE that crushing defeat to Saracens in London, Ulster remain Ireland’s solitary contender to make the last eight of this season’s Champions Cup. 

With a home game against Oyannax to come next Saturday, they must chase a bonus point win to bag the 18 points which should, depending on results elsewhere, see them avoid the prospect of having no Irish side in the quarter-finals for the first time since 1998.

Munster and Leinster had nothing but pride to play for at the weekend with all the pressure on the southern province to deliver after the fallout from that dismal performance in Paris nine days ago.