European Cup round-up: To keep their Heineken European Cup aspirations alive, Leinster must stall the momentum of SU Agen's colossal pack and contain the devastating broken-field running of Rupeni Caucaunibuca when the sides meet for back-to-back encounters in December.
Gloucester failed on both counts during Saturday's 32-26 defeat at Kingsholm - a result that effectively ends the English Premiership club's chances of qualifying from Pool Two.
Caucaunibuca, or just plain Caucau, can be placed in the "freak" (to dip into the Will Carling phrase book) category not witnessed since Jonah Lomu rampaged down the English flank in the 1995 World Cup. The portly winger is not a household name, because Fiji capped him before New Zealand could do the usual poaching trick.
Perhaps jealous of the profile compatriots and wingers Joe Rokocoko and Sitiveni Sivivatu attained by donning the black jersey, Caucaunibuca attempted to switch allegiances in 2003 but IRB regulations had closed the loophole. He has been named in the Pacific Islands squad for the last international at the old Lansdowne Road on November 26th.
On Saturday, Caucau ripped open the Gloucester defence to set up two of Agen's four tries - at his most devastating when coming into the line off his blindside wing.
The result not only sends Agen top of Pool Two but provides some form of redemption after they experienced the full force of the ERC disciplinary arm for throwing a European Shield match in Wales a few seasons back.
In what can be interpreted as good news for Ulster, London Irish appear to have blown any chance of qualifying from Pool Five after losing 37-17 away to Toulouse yesterday. Ulster play home and away ties against Irish in December, who by that stage may have readjusted their focus to domestic matters.
The result moves Toulouse alongside Mark McCall's team on five points, both now in the slipstream of Llanelli Scarlets, who lead the table on nine points.
While Sale and Northampton recorded relatively straightforward victories over Calvisano and the Border Reivers, English clubs' poor return in Europe continued over the weekend with Wasps losing 19-12 in Perpignan. Alex King, a late replacement for Josh Lewsey, whose medial knee ligament injury looks set to rule him out of England's Test against New Zealand next Sunday, landed a late penalty to earn a crucial bonus point.
Jeremy Staunton kicked three penalties to keep his candidacy alive for the announcement next Wednesday of the Ireland squad for the game against South Africa on November 11th.
Biarritz are the only team with a maximum 10 points from the opening two rounds after a 50-7 victory over Overmach Parma on Saturday. In Pool Three, Stade Français beat the Ospreys 27-14, winger Christophe Dominici beginning a thrilling move that ended with Mirco Bergamasco breaking the last line for the game's decisive score.
Pool One
P W D L F A B Pts
Perpignan 2 2 0 0 44 22 1 9
Castres 2 1 0 1 54 41 2 6
Wasps 2 1 0 1 31 32 1 5
Treviso 2 0 0 2 32 66 0 0
Pool Three
P W D L F A B Pts
Stade Français 2 2 0 0 72 24 1 9
Sale 2 1 0 1 83 28 2 6
Ospreys 2 1 0 1 31 43 0 4
Calvisano 2 0 0 2 21 112 0 0
Pool Five
P W D L F A B Pts
Llanelli 2 2 0 0 53 40 1 9
Ulster 2 1 0 1 45 24 1 5
Toulouse 2 1 0 1 40 47 1 5
London Irish 2 0 0 2 42 69 1 1
Pool Six
P W D L F A B Pts
Biarritz 2 2 0 0 72 17 2 10
Northampton 2 1 0 1 47 35 1 5
Borders 2 1 0 1 48 40 1 5
Parma 2 0 0 2 10 85 0 0
WEEKEND RESULTS
Castres 41 Treviso 22; Perpignan 19 Wasps 12.
PREVIOUS RESULTS
Perpignan 25 Treviso 10; Wasps 19 Castres 13.
REMAINING FIXTURES
Dec 9th: Castres v Perpignan. Dec 10th: Wasps v Treviso. Dec 15th: Perpignan v Castres. Dec 16th: Treviso v Wasps. Jan 12th-14th: Treviso v Castres. Jan 12th-14th: Wasps v Perpignan. Jan 19th-21st: Castres v Wasps. Jan 19th-21st: Treviso v Perpignan.
WEEKEND RESULTS
Sale 67 Calvisano 11; Stade Français 27 Ospreys 14.
PREVIOUS RESULTS
Stade Français 45 Calvisano 10; Ospreys 17 Sale Sharks 16.
REMAINING FIXTURES
Dec 9th: Calvisano v Ospreys. Dec 10th: Stade Français v Sale. Dec 15th: Ospreys v Calvisano. Dec 17th: Sale v Stade Français. Jan 12th-14th: Calvisano v Sale; Ospreys v Stade Français. Jan 19th: Sale v Ospreys; Calvisano v Stade Français.
WEEKEND RESULTS
Llanelli 21 Ulster 15; Toulouse 37 London Irish 17.
PREVIOUS RESULTS
London Irish 25 Llanelli 32; Ulster 30 Toulouse 3.
REMAINING FIXTURES
Dec 9th: Llanelli v Toulouse; London Irish v Ulster. Dec 15th: Ulster v London Irish. Dec 16th: Toulouse v Llanelli. Jan 12th-14th: London Irish v Toulouse; Ulster v Llanelli. Jan 19th: Toulouse v Ulster; Llanelli v London Irish.
WEEKEND RESULTS
Parma 7 Biarritz 50; Northampton 37 Borders 13.
PREVIOUS RESULTS
Borders 35 Parma 3; Biarritz 22 Northampton 10.
REMAINING FIXTURES
Dec 9th: Borders v Biarritz; Parma v Northampton. Dec 16th: Northampton v Parma. Dec 17th: Biarritz v Borders. Jan 12th-14th: Biarritz v Parma; Borders v Northampton. Jan 19th: Northampton v Biarritz; Parma v Borders.
