There were defeats for both Munster and Leinster across the weekend, while Connacht got their pre-season campaigns underway on Saturday with a comfortable win against the Sale Sharks in Galway.
For those three provinces it was a first game of the summer, with just three weeks to go until the start of the new BKT United Rugby Championship season, while Ulster host Benetton this Saturday in their pre-season opener.
Leinster were the first of the Irish sides in action over the weekend, with Leo Cullen bringing a squad of 31 players to last season's beaten Top14 finalists Bordeaux –Begles, going down 40-28 to the French side in an open game at Stade Chaban-Delmas.
With Joey Carbery making his debut for Bordeaux after his summer move from Munster, the hosts dominated the first half against a youthful Leinster selection, and Carbery kicked four conversions in the opening 40 minutes as his side raced out to a 28-7 lead, with Rob Rusell grabbing the only Leinster try.
Bordeaux increased that lead to 40-7 before the sides emptied benches, with new Leinster signing Rabah Slimani (below) among those who got his first minutes in a blue shirt.
The visitors did rally in the second half with tries for John McKee, Andrew Osborne and Gus McCarthy reducing the deficit to 12 points.
Leinster continue their pre-season campaign this Saturday, when they travel to the Premiership Champions Northampton Saints.
Munster were also beaten in their pre-season opener, with last year’s Premiership runners-up Bath producing a strong second half to defeat the province 24-21 at the Rec.
New signings Billy Burns, Tom Farrell, Diarmuid Kilgallen and Bryan Fitzgerald all featured for Munster, who host Gloucester in their second pre-season fixture this Friday in Cork.
Bath, who are coached by former Munster boss Johann van Graan, came from 21-12 down with a pair of tries early in the second half, first from Jaco Coetzee and then Tyler Offiah, son of rugby league great Martin Offiah.
A John Hodnett try gave Munster the early lead, and allowed Burns kick his first points in a Munster shirt after his summer move from Ulster, while Shay McCarthy and Diarmuid Barron also crossed the line for Graham Rowntree’s side.
Connacht supporters got their first chance to see the early stages of their €40m Dexcom Stadium redevelopment, as Pete Wilkins side ran out 21-5 winners against Sale Sharks in Galway on Saturday afternoon.
New signing Piers O’Conor impressed at full-back, while centre Hugh Gavin also stood out in his first game since being promoted from the Connacht academy.
It was Gavin’s break into space that allowed Conor Oliver score the province’s second try in the first half to go 14-0 ahead, after Dylan Tierney Martin had earlier finished a rolling maul to put his side in front, with Jack Carthy adding both conversions.
Scrum-half Ben Murphy, who joined from Leinster in the summer, grabbed the third Connacht try in his first appearance for the province, while fellow new signings Adam McBurney, Temi Lasisi and David O’Connor also featured.
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