Well, that’s what happened to Connacht against Leinster. Connacht have been playing some amazing rugby so far in the Guinness PRO14. A genuine blend of solid platform and skilful backs had seen them win four from five, whilst also scoring some very aesthetically pleasing tries. Then Leinster show up. With players from Ireland’s Rugby World Cup squad.

And things got very stinky, very quickly. With the most complete forward game in the Championship, they dominated Connacht in the carry and especially with their rolling maul. Connacht shouldn’t feel too disheartened. Even Leinster’s ‘midweek’ squad is too much for most, whilst their Sunday best would demolish all but one or two teams in the whole of European rugby, maybe the world.

Losing The Head Could Derail Stylish Cheetahs

The Toyota Cheetahs have played some beautiful rugby so far this season – few in the Guinness PRO14 handle the ball as well as they do. But it is not their hands that are letting them down at the moment, it is their heads. And not in a good way.

Using your ‘head’ can mean playing heads-up rugby and spotting defensive mismatches. However, the Cheetahs have recently been using their heads, and shoulders, to clean out other players’ heads at the ruck. Against Cardiff Blues, as with Connacht, Cheetahs’ players inexplicably chose to commit an offence so red it was almost burgundy.

Quick thinking from Pienaar 🧠
Slicing line from Volmink ⚡️
Finish from @rhynosmith15 👌@cheetahsrugby are a man down but lighting it up 😍#GuinnessPRO14 #CBLvCHE
🇬🇧 Watch Live Now on @PremierSportsTV & @S4C
🇮🇪 Watch Live Now on @eirSport
🇿🇦 Watch Live Now on @SuperSportTV pic.twitter.com/vkb4X0IYuJ
— PRO14 RUGBY (@PRO14Official) 9 November 2019