PLANET RUGBY:LEINSTER beat Ulster in a typically dour Ravenhill dog-fight on Saturday night but what immediate positives can be taken from the match? For starters, Stephen Ferris belongs on the Irish blindside flank. Opposite number Rocky Elsom threw down the gauntlet with some big plays only for the 23-year-old Maghaberry man to respond with some massive hits and breaks, including one particularly satisfying hand-off of the Wallaby flanker.
Leinster wrapped up the game moments after his injury-enforced departure when a fellow Ulster back rower missed a tackle in midfield to allow Contepomi put Simon Keogh over for the decisive try.
There were other positives like Darren Cave continuing to impress at outside centre. He took his try well by exploiting the space inside Girvan Dempsey. Also, Gordon DArcy is back and, if anything, looks to have gained a yard of pace.
Astute O'Gara hits the target with regular contributions
After a difficult 2007, Ronan O'Gara recovered to be at the core of Munster's second European success in three years.
He is also the long term lease-owner of the Irish number 10 jersey. Due to his influence on games, not to mention his gift of the gab, he tends to be interviewed a lot.
"We have to believe more in ourselves as players. Confidence is a key ingredient in a sportsman, especially at this level, and I think when you are confident as a team and as players you play instinctively.
"We were second guessing and doubting each other and you see me dropping a ball 10 yards from the line near the last play of the game. That shouldn't happen, but it's probably a result of looking outside me and when a team is full of confidence and flow, the talk is there. At half-time it was still game on and we felt it was a huge opportunity to win, but the big thing is that we're low on confidence as a team . . . and that seems to be affecting us." - After the 33-10 defeat to England that signalled the end of Eddie O'Sullivan's reign as Irish coach.
"In fairness to the IRFU, the one thing I can say is that as long as I've been in this job, they've given me 110 per cent support in everything I've done.
"I was never compromised in any way. I was always given 100 per cent support in how we've built the team and how we've built everything around it. They've been very good in that respect and I wouldn't have a bad word said against them." - O'Sullivan bears the brunt of the blame after a disappointing Six Nations and long drawn-out conclusion to his six years as national coach.
"He said, 'I'm not taking no for an answer here'. I couldn't believe it. I'll never have a day to surpass this unless I captain Munster but as long as Paul's around I won't captain Munster because he's a better man. But that just sums him up, how touching and considerate he is. So I think we'll see a lot more of him leading teams." - O'Gara after lifting the Heineken Cup with Paul O'Connell.
"Irrespective of who we are playing this weekend (pre-Argentina), we need to play as a team and for each other. The problem is not outside with the opposition.
"We need to start buying into the Irish jersey a little more. Having been at the game on Tuesday night, you could see what it means to fellas and we can take a lesson from that. It was a kick up the ass for everyone. We have to start playing with pride again.
"There was something lacking. I've been asking myself all week what it is and I'm still looking for answers. It shows with passion what you can achieve.
"We have to learn from that and get ourselves right." - O'Gara applauds Munster's brave defeat to New Zealand and calls for the similar passion to be shown by those in the Irish shirt.
ELVs continue to perplex
STILL confused about the tackle area? Well, you are not alone. Anthony Foley (prior to yesterday's match against Connacht, coincidentally refereed by Alain Rolland), sheds some light on the trial laws: "It's refereeing interpretations. Some referees have it down to a tee. To some, like Alain Rolland, nothing has changed. He's refereeing the breakdown the way he always has. A lot of people are refereeing the fourth man into the ruck rather than the first fella. The good referees like Rolland will referee the first guy in to make sure there is a fair contest for the ball. But it's also down to compliance of the players. If you had a bit of both it would go a long way to clearing it up."
"I don't talk to referees. It's like complaining to your mother-in-law about your wife. It doesn't get you too far." - Matt Williams after defeat to Harlequins.
New Zealand still setting standard
IRB WORLD RANKINGS
1 (1) New Zealand 92.68
2 (2) South Africa 89.45
3 (3) Australia85.8
4 (4) Argentina 81.56
5 (5) Wales 81.03
6 (6) England 80.86
7 (7) France79.49
8 (8) Ireland 78.45
9 (9) Scotland 76.76
10 (10) Fiji 75.24
11 (11) Italy 74.64
12 (12) Samoa 72.57
13 (13) Tonga 70.05
14 (14) Georgia 69.43
15 (15) Canada 69.12
16 (16) Japan 68.05
17 (17) Romania 67.20
18 (18) Russia 64.63
19 (19) USA 63.55
20 (20) Uruguay 62.78
21 (21) Spain 61.18
