At around 7:23pm on Saturday, rugby seemed like the centre of everything. Less than 24 hours later and it took a sombre step back.
Leinster and Connacht got their Champions Cup campaigns off to superb starts with home victories over Castres and Toulouse. Ulster looked on for a great away win against Bordeaux but they leaked three late tries and left for home with nothing for it.
As we all know by now, Munster’s game against Racing 92 was postponed after the tragic passing of their coach, Irish rugby legend Anthony Foley.
Here is the best XV from the three provinces that saw action.
15. Tiernan O’Halloran (Connacht)
Scored a superb try to give Connacht hope of a remarkable comeback. Line breaks, defenders scorched and a rake of metres gained. Succumbed to one knock too many in the closing stages.
14. Niyi Adeolokun (Connacht)
Another that cut a swathe through the Toulouse defence. Stayed patient and waited for his first half try and could have had another couple before stepping back into traffic. Andrew Trimble did well for Ulster but missed a tackle too many in defence.
13. Bundee Aki (Connacht)
All action. The lad left a piece of his soul and a pint of blood at The Sportsground on Saturday night. Survived a battering before racing in for the game-winning try.
What a game. What a win! What a man @bundeeaki12!!! https://t.co/XMiVkTdFpp
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) October 15, 2016
12. Robbie Henshaw (Leinster)
He is already building up a nice partnership with Garry Ringrose. Hefty tackling and a meaningful presence at the breakdown. Close to his first Leinster try too but it will come.
11. Cian Kelleher (Connacht)
Could he handle the step up to Champions Cup rugby? Could he heck. Blistering performance in attack as he made ground for fun. Three clean breaks and over 100 metres gained. Only missed one of his five tackles too.
10. Joey Carbery (Leinster)
No Sexton, no problem. Carbery is not afraid to take a punt and back himself, or his feet, to make a difference. Isa Nacewa took the pressure off him with kicks at goal and left him to concentrate on setting an excellent, probing tempo.
9. Caolin Blade/Kieran Marmion (Connacht)
Was not an easy evening in the office, especially with the Toulouse pack making themselves useful, but Blade did extremely well. Marmion then came on and sparked the comeback with some slick passing and sniping runs. The perfect one-two.
1. Jack McGrath (Leinster)
The loosehead kingpin for province and country. Hit his usual, high share of rucks and was part of a pack that did well at the scrum and excellently at their rolling mauls. Chipped in with a close-range try too.
2. Sean Cronin (Leinster)
TRY!! Sean Cronin with another. Some pup!
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) October 15, 2016
Was on a hat-trick before the half-hour mark at the RDS. He lives for the big days like this. Wants to win every contact and run through men.
3. Mike Ross (Leinster)
Came on for the injured Tadhg Furlong and reminded us all that there’s a powerful man behind the myth. Bullied the French side in the scrum and received the majority of back slaps after Leinster were awarded a penalty try.
4. Ultan Dillane (Connacht)
Was not a perfect game from Dillane – missed tackles and one big penalty conceded in the Toulouse 22 – but he brought the relentless physicality that eventually wore Toulouse down. Stole a Toulouse lineout, too, that eventually led to the 90-metre counter and Adeolokun’s try.
5. Ian Nagle (Leinster)
Settling in just fine. Devin Toner was impressive in the lineout while Nagle took it upon himself to get in Castres faces. Fierce work-rate.
6. Iain Henderson (Ulster)
Huge effort in a losing cause for Ulster. Topped the tackle count [17] and constantly called ball on himself. Got under the ball, too, in preventing on Bordeaux score.
7. Jake Heenan (Connacht)
Just edges out Leinster’s Josh van der Flier for driving Connacht to victory from the brink of a big defeat. Got his team on the front-foot when they needed to get out of their 22 and when they were trying to punch holes in attack.
8. Jamie Heaslip (Leinster)
This is becoming a theme. Second week in a row that Heaslip features. Part of a pack that dominated in the maul and on the deck. Made a hefty amount of meaningful carries, got over the gainline and made his tackles count.
Agree or disagree? Let us know what you think of our selections on Twitter and Facebook.
Catch up with the latest episode of Football Friday Live
