The sense that the Magners League is no longer the poor relation of the English Premiership or the French Top 14 in terms of competitiveness was borne out by this nip-and-tuck clash between last season’s top dogs, with the champions, Leinster, opening their account at the home of Cardiff Blues, the runners-up. Although this finished all square both on the scoreboard and in terms of tries (one apiece), this time it was Leinster who should have finished second, given Cardiff’s supremacy in terms of possession, territory and scoring opportunities.

LET IT rain. All summer and through the latter part of last week the heavens unleashed an unseasonal downpour upon the West Country, threatening to transform the first weekend of the Guinness Premiership into a midwinter mud bath.

If you were watching when JPR Williams was buccaneering his way around in the 1970s, you too may appreciate some of the pain associated with admitting that Chris Latham, the Wallaby, is the finest full-back I have seen play rugby. His is not even a showy excellence. Latham is largely a manufactured player, not a natural genius; nor has he the carriage or the temperament of the showman. His greatness lies largely in his incredible ability to perform the basics of the sport to an elevated level.