An absolute cracker in Galway in Friday night followed by Leinster flexing their muscles against Munster at the Aviva Stadium.
It is still too early to tell which Irish province is the best in the country but Connacht reminded us they are going nowhere yet. Ulster lost their first game of the season but they were the architects of their own downfall and that is something they can fix.
Neither Leinster nor Munster set Dublin alight but the Blues are in much better shape for the tough slog ahead than their oddly sedate opponents.
We were at both inter-provincial matches and here is the best XV from the four teams combined.
15. Tiernan O’Halloran (Connacht)
The confidence is oozing out of O’Halloran and his latest trip up to Ireland camp at Carton House [last Monday] will do no harm at all. Has the pace to damage every single team in the league. Set up Cian Kelleher’s first try and is revelling in the ball-running, offloading game Pat Lam has brought to Connacht.
14. Tommy Bowe (Ulster)
Les Kiss was surely not planning on playing Bowe for the full 80 minutes but injuries meant needs must. Grew into the game as it progressed and set up Jared Payne for his try by picking a lovely line and timing his put-away pass to perfection. Pushed close for the right wing spot by Munster’s Darren Sweetnam while Connacht’s Niyi Adeolokun was dangerous again.
13. Garry Ringrose (Leinster)
Beats Bundee Aki to it despite shelling an easy try-scoring chance with the line beckoning. That’s how good the rest of his 80 minutes were. Has a real appetite for defending now but does most of the best work spotting gaps and leaving defenders in his wake with slaloming runs.
12. Robbie Henshaw (Leinster)
Could not have asked for a better Leinster debut. Well, he nearly had a try but Jamison Gibson-Park followed up to get the dot-down. A bull in defence and brought his offloading game – honed in Connacht – to bear on a couple of strong dashes forward.
11. Cian Kelleher (Connacht)
Connacht have got themselves a real gem here. Capped seven times for Leinster, the queue of wingers ahead of him sent him out west. He has now scored three tries for Connacht since the start of the season and looks capable of hurting the opposition each time he gets the ball.
We knew @connachtrugby made a steal in @ciankelleher94 but this start is ridiculous https://t.co/RJIg6kHFfy
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) October 7, 2016
10. Jack Carty (Connacht)
Gave his side the perfect start with a cut inside for an early try. AJ MacGinty was a big loss for Connacht but Carty was earning rave reviews before the US Eagles 10 got his chance. Back in business and shining in an adventurous backline. Couple of missed conversions his only blot. Landed all his tackles.
9. Luke McGrath (Leinster)
Much more likely to run and pass, which Leinster prefer, but did show he is capable of some smart, well-timed box kicks. Constantly probed, harried and worried Munster and just his passes well to get men over the gainline. Connacht will be delighted with Caolin Blade’s performance too.
1. Callum Black (Ulster)
Was up against the impressive youngster Conor Carey but gave as good as he got and better, at times. Made a couple of hard carries in close before Ulster’s first try and was in double figures for tackles. Good to see Cian Healy getting back to his best for Leinster too.
2. Dave Heffernan (Connacht)
What have we got here? Heffernan is a former back-row so he knows how to get about the pitch. Found all his lineout targets and did his hooking job well but was most impressive in attack. Made 39 metres off 11 carries. Also had two clean breaks – one in the lead-up to James Connolly’s try – beat three Ulster defenders and tossed out a beautiful offload in his 65 minute stint. Should start in Europe next week.
3. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster)
Never made the regular starter breakthrough after last year’s World Cup, which most of us expected. Appears to have got the head down, focused and concentrated on bringing the fight to teams. Looked very good against Munster. If he can give Leinster 60 minutes of this sort of effort each week, Mike Ross is a good man to close out games.
4. Ultan Dillane (Connacht)
Was not one of those write home and tell everyone about it kind of performances but it was another significant step in Dillane’s growing role within the Connacht pack. Made a couple of trademark, bruising carries and showed lovely, soft hands in attack.
5. Ian Nagle (Leinster)
Up against his former Munster team, Nagle did not hold back for a split second. Like a young, more mobile, equally aggressive Mike McCarthy on Saturday but these are early days yet. Did most of his best work on the deck but hunted red jerseys and made his hits count. Teamed up with Devin Toner at one stage to win an important turnover. Word(s) of praise here for Ulster’s Robbie Diack too.
6. James Connolly (Connacht)
Came in at blindside after only six minutes when Eoin McKeon went off with a rib injury. Had a try for Connacht before the first half was out and he looked feisty (in attack) and purposeful (in attack) thereafter. Pat Lam picked out some flaws in his game, post-match but it is only because he knows Connolly is capable of even more.
7. Tommy O’Donnell (Munster)
Harsh on Jake Heenan of Connacht and Leinster’s no-nonsense Jordi Murphy but O’Donnell was excellent in a losing cause for Munster. Loves these inter-pro contests. Tackled like his life depended on it and his personal well-being did not and still found the energy to make some cutting forays with ball in hand.
8. John Muldoon (Connacht)
Getting better with age, this bloke. The Connacht captain has had the shackles whacked off by Lam and is proving to be a handful in attack. Showed up prominently in attack for two Connacht tries and was still out on the pitch for the tense closing stages – making hits and making them count.
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