Write off Connacht at your peril

WHEN Toulon coach Philippe Saint-Andre was interviewed after his side had outclassed the Scarlets in the quarter-final of the Amlin Challenge Cup, he was quoted as saying “The Scarlets are a great footballing side, with dangerous backs, but the Magners League is a lot different to the French championship.

It is a lot looser and I thought we were good physically and at the contact area.”

The suggestion seemed to be that the Magners is an inferior competition, a little bit soft in comparison to the macho fare on offer in France. Hmm. Has he been watching the mini civil wars in Ireland over the last few weeks, the Munster-Leinster meeting in Thomond Park, the Connacht/Munster and Connacht/Leinster clashes subsequently?