Some talking points from the weekend’s European Rugby

Were Leinster and Saracens brave enough?

Both Leinster and Saracens both fought valiantly before losing to Toulon and Clermont but could they have booked a place in the final if they had adopted a more attacking game plan. With Leinster, they were able to force extra time thanks to the boot of Ian Madigan but once again never looked like scoring a try in 80 minutes of Rugby. They eventually changed their tactics in the second half of extra time and scored a try through Sean O’Brien but in the end it proved to be little too late. With Toulon not at their best you wonder if they had attacked the Toulon defence more would it be them in the final and not the reigning champions. The same goes for Saracens who adopted a kicking game without threatening the Clermont defence too much. After hammering Clermont in last years semi-final you have to ask yourself why they didn’t put pressure on the Clermont defence who conceded 46 points in last years semi-final. Even though both sides performed so well, sometimes you have to take risks if you are going beat the very best and now they will be forced to watch an all-French final in May.

Is time up for Matt O’Connor?

After the defeat to Toulon, Leinster are now set for a trophyless season since the 2009/10 season and despite an impressive performance from the Blues the defeat at the Stade Velodrome could be Matt O’Connor’s last European game as Leinster’s head coach. With still a year left on O’Connor’s contract the question is will Leinster keep on the Australian for another season or release him from his contract at the end of the season and bring in a new head coach. Despite making it to a another European Cup semi-final it has been a woeful season for Leinster but with Sexton returning next season and with Isa Nacewa also rumoured to be returning to the RDS, Leinster may opt to keep O’Connor at the helm and hope that the clubs fortunes will turn around.

Will the Dragons ever experience another European semi-final?

After failing to impress in Europe in recent years, the Dragons found themselves in the Challenge Cup semi-final after impressing in the pool stages. They took on Edinburgh in Murrayfield on Friday night looking to make it to their first European Final. However in what was expected to be a tight affair the Welsh side were blown away in the end losing 45-16. Will the Dragons rue their below par performance as they missed the opportunity to make it to their first European and how long will they have to wait before an opportunity like this arises again.

Ciaran Fallon