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Published 14:54 4 Sept 2016 BST
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How to pick a positive from a 41-5 trouncing? There was one and it was the performance of Connacht tight-head Finlay Bealham.
Mike Ross may yet hang onto the Ireland No.3 jersey for the big tests ahead but Bealham is pushing hard. Showed his attacking instincts and smart passing skills against Glasgow Warriors, caused trouble on the deck and held his own in the scrum.
Tommy O’Donnell (Munster)
Could have done with him in South Africa but marriage called. Looks to be benefitting already from the arrival of defence coach Jacques Nienbauer. Munster looked tighter in defence against Scarlets and O’Donnell was allowed to go hunting.
https://twitter.com/threeredkings/status/772366275439955968
His team had identified the Scarlets dangermen and O’Donnell was the guy to shut them down. Ferocious around the fringes.
Stuart Olding (Ulster)
Has an outside chance of starting in midfield for Ireland this November and will do his chances no harm. Ulster took a while to get going, against Dragons, but eventually did enough to get the bonus point win.
Olding looked very good alongside Stuart McCloskey in midfield, was at the hub of some of Ulster’s attacks and made his fair share of tackles and clean-outs. Keep that up in the Champions Cup and he stands every chance of going up against the likes of Malakai Fekitoa and Chiefs’ 21-year-old sensation Anton Lienert-Brown.
Cian Healy (Leinster)
If the Leinster loose-head can stay fit while remaining as explosive as the player we know and love, it could be the biggest bonus of all. Jack McGrath has developed into a world-class loosie but how good would it be to use the Leinster duo as dual weapons?
“He did some good things,” said Leinster coach Leo Cullen after the Treviso game. “Was blowing petty hard. Played 40 minutes last week and 46, 47 tonight… It is pleasing to see him back out there.”
Cullen was not the only one.
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