After three fascinating opening rounds of the Guinness PRO14, this weekend gives us all a chance to catch our breath. The early pace-setters have emerged, some familiar faces and some re-energised old ones, with World Cup heroes soon to return, let’s take a look at five key lessons from the opening block of games. Tries galore Round 2 saw the mythical 400-point barrier surpassed for the first time since 2003⁄04, while the 53 tries scored were the most in a single round in Championship history. But Round 2 was no flash in the pan, this has been an enthralling first three weeks of action. Overall, 148 tries have been scored already. Conference A are the real entertainers with an astonishing 83 tries between them but Conference B are no slouches with 65 of their own. Overall, that means just under 50 tries are being scored per weekend so far. If you want entertainment, the Guinness PRO14 is where to look. Attacks are on top and hopefully it remains that way. Cheetahs are for real Chief amongst those feisty fast starters are the Toyota Cheetahs. Only three teams have a 100 per cent record still intact in this league and they are one of them. In their three home games they have racked up a whopping 22 tries for 151 points scored – so over 50 a game. Rhyno Smith at full-back is carving up defences, Joseph Dweba up front is a monster in full flow but the experience of Ruan Pienaar appears to hold the key. The Cheetahs look early contenders for a play-off push again after last season’s regression. But can they keep the tries flowing on the road? We can’t wait to find out. Scarlets are back Like the Cheetahs, last season was a backwards step for the Scarlets. Champions in 2017 and runners up a year later, last year they missed out on the play-offs and did not even manage to secure Champions Cup rugby in Wayne Pivac’s final year at the helm. But in this, their first year under Brad Mooar, they have come roaring out of the blocks. Kieran Hardy and Steff Evans have stayed true to their attacking DNA but it was the Round 2 win in Glasgow that really caught the eye with a massive defensive effort getting them over the line. Not many sides are hit as hard as them by World Cup call-ups, so when their Welsh contingent return, they could get even better. A scary thought for the rest of the league. The champions endure Like the Scarlets, Leinster are missing the best part of entire first-team squad on World Cup duty. The slicing break by @jimmyobrien88 🔪THAT OFFLOAD from @JamesLowe03 🤙 And the supporting line for href=“https://twitter.com/RowanOsborne?refsrc=twsrc%5Etfw”>@RowanOsborne to bag his first try in blue 🔵The @leinsterrugby men earn this week’s @Ronseal Perfect Finish 👏#GuinnessPRO14 pic.twitter.com/5Jhk2jkyPd— PRO14 RUGBY (@PRO14Official) October 15, 2019 But the defending two-time champions have a conveyor belt of talent that continues to deliver. They are three from three, and have unearthed a new star in hooker Ronan Kelleher, while also overseeing the continued progression of future Ireland aces in the back row like Caelan Doris and Max Deegan. But the key to their consistency is undoubtedly their experienced core. All the young talent in the world gets you nowhere without the know-how of Scott Fardy, Devin Toner and Joe Tomane. Leinster bring through endless talent, but also recruit wisely. It’s a potent combination. World Cup woe brings boost for some Scotland and Italy’s early exit from the World Cup is still being processed by their grieving nations. But for Benetton, Zebre, Edinburgh and Glasgow Warriors, it can only be good news. The Italian sides are in serious need of a boost, the two sides are a combined played six lost six so far this season. And the returning class of Tommaso Allan, Carlo Canna, Dean Budd et al is a much-needed tonic to turn their fortunes around. Edinburgh have fared well, with two wins from three while Glasgow got their campaign up and running in Round 3. But with Darcy Graham and Jamie Ritchie returning to the capital with reputations enhanced, and Glasgow welcoming back the vibrant Adam Hastings and George Horne as well as the experience of Tommy Seymour, to name but three, optimism should soon return to Scotstoun.
