If the quarter finals of the Heineken Cup prove half as unpredictable as last weekend's Premiership fixtures we are in for some hair-raising shocks. Once again the Guinness Premiership revelled in its constant ability to bloody the favourites' noses.
Four years ago there might have been a lingering sense of anti-climax in the wake of a World Cup. That is no longer the case and the clubs of France and England together with the more ambitious of the Celtic regions deserve a big vote of thanks.
We Irish are always thirsty… nothing new there, but hopefully the Heineken Cup can quench our proverbial thirst for quality rugby, which has been denied of us in recent months.
It is too early to congratulate Leicester on their English Premiership title; too early because the quality of their game which broke Gloucester was of such a level that only a third trophy lift will count as success.
Two weeks ago it was almost inconceivable. France and Ireland, utterly dominant in the Six Nations, would see all their representatives crash out at the Heineken Cup quarter final stages...