Close encounters of the URC kind as opening round delivers in spades

As opening weekends go, the BKT United Rugby Championship organisers couldn’t have wished for much more.

After 41 tries scored, there was a combined total of 12 points separating 12 teams across the six fixtures, as no side won by more than a score.

The action began on Friday night with Edinburgh putting Leinster to the pin of their collar before Leo Cullen's men scrapped home 33-31, and ended with Ulster’s Dave Shanahan scoring with the last play of the game to earn an unlikely 20-19 win over the defending URC champions Glasgow.

Leinster lost their opening game last season, against eventual champions Glasgow, and had to rely on some heavy hitters - in the form of Ireland players Jamison Gibson-Park, James Ryan, Jack Conan and Garry Ringrose - to get the job done this time. Charlie Tector at inside centre had a fine outing, too.

In between those games we were treated to a ten-try Thomond thriller as Munster and Connacht decided that attack was the best form of attack.

Ultimately, it was Graham Rowntree's side who prevailed by two points as Connacht ran out of time after giving it their all, Mack Hansen making a sparkling return after his long-term shoulder injury.

Josh Ioane, who has one New Zealand cap to his name, opens the scoring for Connacht against Munster on his debut for the province. #MUNvCON pic.twitter.com/kCBtDMjCxe

That game saw competitive club debuts for Munster’s Billy Burns, Tom Farrell and Thaakir Abrahams, while Josh Ioane and Ben Murphy impressed on their Connacht bows.

Elsewhere, the other matches in the first round weren’t short on drama either: Cardiff had only five points, 22-17, to spare over Zebre, while the Dragons, Leinster’s opponents this Friday, edged a Welsh derby 23-21 over Ospreys.

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