Northampton fans

Northampton fans

By Rugby World reader, Larissa Falls

Hot:

Heineken Cup… Leinster and Northampton front row’s, Saints unbeaten run, Biarritz fighting spirit and the Catalan venture.  Home ground advantage, extra time, close games, thunderous tackles and charge downs. Sunny weather, sold out stadiums and electric atmospheres.

Seilala Mapusua…For staying behind after the Irish v Saints game to chat to fans, pose for photos and sign autographs. A great role model!

Harlequins…Only the second team in 16 years of European rugby to win at Thomond Park

Daily Mail U18 Cup…Whitgift winners for the second consecutive year

Tense Times…Top 14, Aviva Premiership and Magners League have teams vying for quarter final berths, Heineken Cup qualification for next season and fighting off relegation!

QLD Reds…Seven straight Super Rugby wins and their first victory over NSW in seven years!

Not:

Heineken Cup… Wicked ball bounces, kicks rebounding off posts, forward passes, taking player’s out in the air, yellow cards and Toulouse’s scrum-half injuries.

Booing Refs…Not a great spectacle after the Quins v Leicester match. Leave that to football!

WRU…Their disciplinary panel’s decision to take no further action in the case regarding the incident that left Gavin Quinnell blind in one eye. Disgraceful and sets a bad example!

Injury Forced Retirements… Conor O’Loughlin, David Barnes and Tom Shanklin

7’s Scheduling…Moving the Oz leg of the World Series to the Gold Coast…during ‘Schoolies Week.’ Oh dear!!!