By Gary Watton
November 27 2015

Well, we're one third of our way through the pool stages of this season's European adventure, and already Leinster are drowning, while Ulster too are skating on thin ice. Both these teams have succumbed to English opposition each time, itself a bad omen for the forthcoming Six Nations. Connacht and Munster have both started well, but it's still early days in their respective pools. Here are the results that concern the four Irish provinces from the first two weekends.

EUROPEAN RUGBY CHAMPIONS' CUP

First weekend:

LEINSTER 6 Wasps 33

MUNSTER 32 Benetton Treviso 7

MUNSTER try-scorers: Botha, Stander, Casey, Zebo

Oyannax Rugby versus ULSTER -postponed

Second weekend:

Bath 19 LEINSTER 16

LEINSTER try-scorer: van der Flier

LEINSTER have one solitary bonus point and will have to win their four remaining fixtures to reach the knockout stage. Wasps have already amassed nine points.

Stade Francais versus MUNSTER - postponed

MUNSTER trail Leicester by five points, but have one match in hand. Both teams have taken maximum points so far. The other two teams are as yet pointless.

ULSTER 9 Saracens 27

Bottom of the table ULSTER have no points and already trail Saracens by nine points. Stade Toulousain have four points from two matches and Oyonnax have one.

EUROPEAN RUGBY CHALLENGE CUP

First weekend:

Enisei-STM 14 CONNACHT 31

CONNACHT try-scorers: Parata, Marmion, Marshall

Second weekend:

CONNACHT 21 CA Brive 17

CONNACHT try-scorers: Adeolokun, Muldoon, Leader, Parata

Pool Standings

CONNACHT nine points, including 1 bonus point from two matches

Newcastle 6 points, including 2 bonus points from two matches

CA Brive five points, including 1 bonus point from two matches

Enisei-STM no points from two matches