On Rugby: It's not the first time Leinster and Munster have lost on the same weekend. Indeed, in that regard, the Heineken European Cup merely resumed where it left off at last season's quarter-finals. And nothing, surely, will ever scale the disappointment of both of them losing on consecutive days in the semi-finals three seasons ago.

Yet somehow the weekend's opening-round double whammy against the brawn of two ultra-physical, forward-oriented English sides (on another day Sale, admittedly, would have much more to offer) was almost as dispiriting.

A little disconcertingly too, the last time Munster and Leinster lost on the opening weekend was eight seasons ago, when Leinster were beaten 34-25 at home by Toulouse and Munster were beaten 48-40 away to Harlequins.

Ulster also lost that weekend, 18-12 at home to Glasgow, and it was the last time no Irish side made the knockout stages of the tournament. The prospect of revisiting those dark days is too grim to ponder further.

A more relevant comparison is perhaps the last time both lost on the same weekend in the pool stages, in the third round in early January two seasons ago, when Leinster imploded after Brian O'Driscoll's departure and lost 23-22 to Sale and Munster lost 22-11 at Gloucester.

Both avenged those defeats the following weekend, which shows all is by no means lost, and although Leinster failed to progress Munster did go on to that epic semi-final with Wasps.

That Leinster's defeat at the weekend was at home (besides them, only Calvisano failed to make the most of home advantage) obviously makes their setback potentially the more damaging. Sure there were flaws in the performance - lineout, scrum, ball handling, composure under pressure in that endgame - but considering that between the jigs and the reels six players had departed since the sides' last meeting at the Rec and another seven were ruled hors de combat come kick-off (including six internationals, four of them Lions) it was a daring, ultimately unlucky effort.

Bearing in mind how Leinster took a pummelling up front at the Rec last season and won, perhaps these things balance out over two seasons. The irony is that a comparatively callow and lighter Leinster pack weren't obliterated to the same extent (losing five of their throws as opposed to 13 in the aforementioned meeting) and, while sometimes retreating, still recycled their own nine put-ins.

In this regard and much else, Jamie Heaslip was magnificent. Sure he's a rookie, but an exceptional talent. And noting that the All Blacks have included a gifted 19-year-old utility back, Isaiah Toeava, with no Super 12 experience and limited NPC time with Auckland among the five uncapped players in their 35-man squad, there must be a compelling argument for Eddie O'Sullivan to do likewise in his 35-man Ireland squad early next week.

A further irony is that Leinster didn't particularly need to win that game in the Rec, as they would still have topped their group and earned a home quarter-final. Indeed, given they would then have ended up hosting Newcastle instead of Leicester, Leinster might have been better off losing that day.

But they needed this one so much more.

Watching the video of that game and others over the weekend, plus Sky's extensive Sunday night highlights package, only made some of Nigel Whitehouse's decisions even more infuriating. No other referee would decree an advantage for foul play under the posts had been used up by one play and a speculative kick into the end zone as Whitehouse, a law unto himself apparently, did. Let us hope Paddy O'Brien clarifies the guidelines on this vexed area.

It's now abundantly clear Chris White, Alain Rolland and Alan Lewis have daylight between themselves and the rest of the referees.

It was no coincidence their three games were the most fluid and high-scoring of the weekend, for they quickly punish players for not staying on their feet, thereby ensuring quick ball while also enforcing the offside law.

It is encouraging that White is in charge of the Glasgow-Leinster game next Sunday. In any event, history has shown us that no team has ever lost its opening two pool games and gone on to reach the quarter-finals.

Two knockdowns and you're out in this competition. So October won't be over and already these two are facing what look distinctly like win-or-bust scenarios.

It's decidedly rash to presume Munster will automatically win their three games at Thomond Park. True, the desultory, mentally weak performances in defeat of Stade Francais against the Ospreys and Biarritz against Saracens demonstrated the away-day travails of the French remain an Achilles heel. But one day that unbeaten record will have to go, and Castres are more au fait with the Limerick fortress than most.

Castres's last four free-scoring wins have coincided with the return of the often underrated Yann Delaigue, Toulouse's linchpin in their triumph three seasons ago. Anyone see his astonishing sleight of hand for one of the Castres tries?

One final thought. Although both Friday night's earth-shuddering, full-on collision at Edgeley Park and Saturday's frantic, frenzied, edge-of-the-seat, warts-and-all thriller ended in defeats for the Irish provinces, they were another level up from anything they've been involved in to date in the Celtic League.

One hopes the palpable connection between Leinster supporters and their remodelled younger team at the RDS on Saturday is maintained despite the defeat.