By Paul Huggard

Last week saw yet another great weekend for the Irish sides in the Heineken European Cup. Leinster duly booked a place in the knockout stages with a gutsy 26-20 victory away to Newport. Newcastle Falcons' shock 42-9 win over Toulouse guaranteed Matt Williams' men a quarter-final spot. However, Leinster will need to remain focused if they are to clinch a home tie in the last eight.

Despite a thumping 40-6 win over Bridgend, Declan Kidney's Munster side can still be caught by French side Castres. With the sides standing at one try each, after the Thomond Park clash, it appears that Munster will need to win in Castres to avoid having to look for one of the two places reserved for the highest ranking second placed sides.

Ulster look likely to be heading for this route. Great credit must go to Alan Solomons' side for scoring a fantastic victory over Stade Francais, at Ravenhill last Friday night, in as gripping an encounter as one could wish to see. Tyrone Howe's injury-time try put Ulster on level terms at the top of Pool 2 with the French side.

Stade still look favourites to win the Pool, due to their superior try count against Ulster. But Treviso's surprising win over Wasps puts Ulster in with a real chance of second place.

Unfortunately Connacht's chances in the Parker Pen European Shield all but ended when they went down by 44-6 against Sale Sharks. Steph Nel's injury hit side was well and truly devoured by the group leaders.

With the European action taking a break until after Christmas, our provincial sides will soon turn their attention to the Celtic League quarter-finals.

Internationals

In the meantime Ireland face two more internationals in November. First up will be Samoa who face Warren Gatland's rejuvenated side at Lansdowne Road next Sunday. The following Saturday sees the eagerly awaited clash against the All Blacks. These are certainly busy times for the international squad and back room staff.

The Samoan challenge will be seen as a warm up for the bigger test the following week. However, anyone who remembers their last visit to Lansdowne Road will be in no doubt that the Samoans should in no way be underestimated. Ireland will need to get into the game early. They will need to do the simple things well and play to their strengths. If that means putting the ball in behind the blue shirts then so be it. There is no point in setting up runners far out to be hit by the powerful tackling of the Samoan mid-field and back-row.

A similar game plan to the English triumph would do nicely, as would the same committed defence.