Heineken Cup chances look more remote than ever

IT was always unlikely that the heroics of last weekend could be repeated. And so it proved.

The Irish Heineken Cup sweep of a week ago was almost turned on its head as Ulster and Leinster failed on the road and Munster had to battle grimly to hold off the Dragons.

Consequently, Ulster and Leinster are hanging on to European qualification by their fingernails. I can’t see either making it. Even Munster, despite winning three games from four to date, can forget about winning Pool One. Failure to secure a bonus point in either of the fixtures against the Dragons will prove crucial. For the second year running, it is now almost certain that the best Munster can hope for is an away quarter-final as one of the best placed pool runners up.