Is the "New Era" better than the last?

Well we've now had the first two rounds of the brand new European competition completed. We can all admit that at certain points last year it felt like this day would never come. In the end it's safe to say it was worth it. The competition is much tougher now, with each pool containing multiple teams who could compete for the trophy. Some were worried this could lead to tight, goal-kicking affairs which could be dull for the viewers, instead we've had games won by 30+ points, comebacks from half-time and even a last minute drop goal winner.

From what matches I have managed to catch, and from watching multiple highlight reels, I will state that the European Rugby Champions (and Challenge) Cup is going to be completely worth all of the hassle from last season. The stand out match so far has to have been Sale hosting many times champions Munster. Where in a first half show of dominance the Mancunian outfit took a commanding 16 point lead into the break. It seemed the opening weekend was going to have a massive upset, until Munster showed why they are feared in Europe. Lead by the indomitable Paul O'Connell the men in red scored seventeen unanswered points, before as the clock ticked over 80, Ian Keatley slotted a crisp 40m drop goal to claim the comeback.

We also had a rematch of last years memorable semi-final, where Saracens completed a total destruction of Clermont Auvergne. This year was a tit-for-tat affair with Saracens edging with a brace of tries from both wingers. While discussing tries we can't avoid Glasgow Warriors. Their opening game of the competition brought high-flying Bath to Scotland, a team who have been scoring incredible flowing tries all season. It was a must watch game, but for a very different reason. Glasgow finally arrived on the European scene, with an across the park complete job done on Bath, scoring fantastic tries and claiming a bonus point against the team many believed could top the group. And in fairness to the Warriors they then continued this form on to France winning in Montpellier to top the group after this two weekends with nine points.

There are so many other results that are worth discussing: Toulon's team of superstars bringing international test match intensity to Ravenhill and defeating Ulster; Northampton blowing a bonus point in Paris, and then proceeding to blow the Ospreys away (include four tries from George North); an injury hit Scarlets grinding out a win against Leicester Tigers. All of these and more have totally justified the trouble caused, as we now have a much tighter, stricter, competitive format which will be the shining jewel of the northern hemisphere season.

Of course the Challenge Cup has had it's fair share of results, but with notable underdogs in the form of Bucaresti; Rovigo and London Welsh many of the scoreboard results were inevitable. However one result certainly cannot be ignored, Newport-Gwent Dragons went to Paris to face the pink-shirted Stade in what was considered a very tough game for the Welsh outfit. However in a shocking turn of events the Men of Gwent scored four tries in a 22-32 win, to remind everyone just how much they improved last year and why they have managed to get multiple players into the Wales international squad.

Now it's time for predictions based on the first two weeks - for the Champions Cup.
Pool 1 Winner: Munster
Pool 2 Winner: Leinster
Pool 3 Winner: Toulon
Pool 4 Winner: Glasgow
Pool 5 Winner: Northampton
Runner Up #1: Saracens
Runner Up #2: Ospreys
Runner Up #3: Toulouse

What is happening?

Currently the rugby world is not making a lot of sense. It's like someone has decided that everything should be different this year. Let me explain with some examples: Connacht, Leicester, Castres. It seems the form book from recent years is being out right ignored this season. It started with European legends Munster, losing their opening game of the season - at home - to Scottish strugglers Edinburgh. Since then it's only grown.

Just looking at the league tables tells you the story. Connacht riding high without a loss all season (including playing champions Leinster), Castres (beaten finalists last year) and Toulouse sitting near the bottom of the Top 14, and Leicester Tigers languishing mid-table after a run of three defeats on the trot. Hell even New Zealand lost a game!

Let's focus on the team from the mid-lands for a bit. After a decade of finals in the English Premiership they were beaten in the semis by eventual champions Northampton.  Now we've got a few weeks into the competitive season, and a few injuries have started appearing, it seems the Tigers have lost the combative edge which made them feared and respected opponents. The current slump started with a comprehensive whitewash by premiership phoenixes Bath, running up a 45-0 score line, including multiple end-to-end tries. This was not fixed totally by the week afterwards as London Irish completed their first win at Welford Road in 11 years after a peerless kicking showing from Shane Geraghty. Before the trend continued as a Gloucester team, who have had a shaky start to the season (the opening the day of the season won't be easily forgotten), romped home to a convincing 20+ victory. That sort of trend cannot just be put down to a dip in form; it has exposed some glaring problems with the Leicester set up. With major big players missing due to injury, it is noticeable that they do not have the strength in depth that has become crucial in world rugby now, and they cannot cope against the other powerful sides in the league. Out wide their defence has been shredded by the backline talent of Bath, and the out-right pace of Gloucester all too easily. Perhaps the defeat that would have hurt hard-nosed Richard Cockerill the most would have actually been the narrow defeat to London Irish. For years Tigers have been one of the greatest team for grinding out wins when games were tough, a grizzled pack full of veterans led by commanding half-backs dominated the field to win the kicks. However it was the Exiles from Reading who proved the more level headed in the tight game.

Speaking of tight games Connacht have always been a stumbling block for teams when playing at the windswept Galway stadium. Using the normally miserable weather conditions to suffocate teams and grind out tight wins. Now though - with coach Pat Lamb - the western Irish province is looking to score exciting tries, and at the fore for them has been scrum-half Marmion scoring important touchdowns against teams such as Leinster and Cardiff Blues. The opening few weeks for Connacht have been pinned back a little in the last two weeks with a try-fest at Glasgow, which should be expected from the powerful Warriors. However most recently was the draw with Welsh strugglers Blues, after being in control of large swathes of the match, they allowed the Cardiff region to score two tries in the last ten minutes to level the game, which perhaps shows some lack of game knowledge from the Irish minnows about how to win a game.

These aren't the only examples; we've mentioned the former French champions now fighting relegation as they struggle with reason unbeknownst to the common man. Meanwhile the newly promoted teams of Grenoble and Bordeaux are sitting mid-table with a healthy collection of wins in the money laden championship. It does beg the question whether money really is the route to total and complete success, or whether it only works for those with a ludicrous amount (Toulon and Racing Metro are prime examples). Finally we should consider the Ospreys, written off at the beginning of the season due to a large swathe of experience in the pack departing for pastures new, and a lack of big names that had be ever present in the black of the region. Instead of cowing to the label stuck on them, and looking for solace in the naivety of youth to defend against games lost, the Ospreys have completed a perfect start to the season with five from five. Including an away game at Newport-Gwent Dragons (traditionally a slip-up for the Ospreys), and a game at the Thomond Park fortress of Munster. They are a perfect representation of what good leadership, good investment and youthful exuberance can achieve. Lead by Wales' resident enforcer Alun-Wyn Jones, as well as the general's at half back Biggar and Webb, the young team have found the way to win games both try fests and nail-bitter finishes (see Munster and Zebre). 

The question is whether all these shocks after just over a month of games are merely just teams suffering from injuries and other factors, or is it a changing of the guard in world rugby. Will Connacht continue this run and for once not be the 4th Irish province? Will Leicester rediscover the claws which made them great? Can French money overcome current form and save Castres and Toulouse? We shall find out at the end of the season.