Heineken Cup Round 5 Report

Pool 1
Leicester Tigers 17-21 Biarritz Olympique
London Wasps 45-14 Calvisano

Pool 2
Bath 23-27 Leinster
Benetton Treviso 40-29 Bourgoin

Pool 3
Glasgow 10-30 Toulouse
Llanelli Scarlets 20-22 Northampton Saints

Pool 4
Munster 20-10 Neath-Swansea Ospreys
Castres Olympique 58-13 NEC Harlequins

Pool 5
Perpignan 33-12 Newcastle Falcons
Newport Gwent Dragons 48-5 Edinburgh

Pool 6
Ulster 14-12 Gloucester
Stade Français 35-16 Cardiff Blues

THIS was very much a weekend for the Irish, with all three provinces grinding out narrow victories to enhance their chances significantly - hardly setting the World alight in the process.

For the Welsh regions though it is a case of planning for next season.
Although results have largely gone against all for regions this season, on performance there has been little to tell between themselves and the supposed big guns.

Llanelli Scarlets will be kicking their heels for allowing Steve Thompson to sprint in under the posts with five minutes to go and give Northampton a perhaps unjust victory after a ferociously physical affair.

The Scarlets missed Matthew Watkins majorly at inside centre and will not be looking forward to visiting Toulouse in only five days time.

Alix Popham and Richard Parks are both transfer targets at Stradey Park, whilst captain Simon Easterby is on the verge of pledging his future to the Region.

However both Dafydd Jones and Michael Phillips's futures are very much in doubt, should the Wales on Sunday be believed.

It was probably a season too early for The Ospreys, failure to turn possession into points cost them a significant scalp at Thomond Park.

Despite dominating the second half, Lyn Jones's side failed to capitalise, and were left ruing what could have been, had they not fallen foul to a Munster purple patch midway through the first half - but they can take heart from a very impressive showing.

Ospreys' Duncan Jones is set to miss Wales's opening Six Nations game through a thumb fracture picked up in Limerick, a blow only cushioned by fellow loose head Gethin Jenkins's fine form .

Mike Ruddock may be tempted to blood Blues John Yapp as cover, or recall the more experienced Iestyn Thomas.

Newport-Gwent Dragons smashed Edinburgh at Rodney Parade in expectant fashion to set up a winner takes all tie with Newcastle on Sunday.

Perpignan who defeated the Falcons could still sneak into the last eight should they claim a bonus point win and The Dragons only take a four point win.

The Scottish districts are yet to record a win this season, a worrying prospect with Murrayfield set to host the tournaments final in May.

Cardiff Blues did significantly better in France than expected, but still found the class of Stade Francais too much to cope with, the French were undeserving of their bonus point score in the seventh minute of injury time.

THEY SAID IT

CHRIS ANDERSON: "We are still in with a good shout. We have just got to win first and then see how it unfolds."

GARETH JENKINS : "We won the performance but not the game - that's what it feels like. It's disappointing. We felt we owed ourselves a good performance and a result to try to get redemption out of this European competition. But we failed to do that. We adapted well to the weather conditions. The pack stood out as a great unit and dominated the game. But we've had one moment defensively that has cost us dearly. The challenge for us between now and the end of the season is to make sure we qualify for Europe next season."

PLAYER OF THE WEEKEND