Three wins and one narrow loss. Three regions still in contention in Europe.
Three weeks ago we would have bought that if it was on offer.

European Rugby Champions Cup
Scarlets 31 – Benetton 12
Ospreys 32 – Saints 15

European Rugby Challenge Cup
Blues 14 – Sharks 6
Dragons 25 – Falcons 27

Indeed. The biggest irony in all this is that (except for the Scarlets) they seem to be doing better in Europe than in the supposedly 'weak' Pro 14.

Good weekend for our provinces too: 4-0.

Hard fought in the case of Leinster and Munster.

Ulster had to work for it too. Connacht (just judging on the result) seemed to have won rather comfortably.

Sean

It should be obvious even to the most limited of intellects that the Blues and Dragons play in a competition where the top 6 PRO 14 teams do not play. It is not surprising therefore that their result will appear better.

All four regions are still in contention. If the Dragons win both their remaining games against Bordeaux they will get 19 points, even without bonus points; which is probably enough to scrape through as a best 2nd-placed. If they get 20 or 21 that should be enough. They certainly would have done themselves a favour though if they'd managed to beat Newcastle, but qualification is still entirely possible: it all depends on how seriously Bordeaux take the competition. Whoever wins the first match between the two will almost certainly win the second as the other side is guaranteed to be out by that point; the Dragons have the disadvantage of playing the first match away.

Not necessarily - Zebre have been utterly disastrous so far in the Challenge Cup, while the Blues' pool includes Toulouse, Lyon and Sale, which are all pretty formidable sides. As for the Ospreys, who'd have predicted that they'd be above Saracens in their pool? Don't rule out the possibility of Ospreys knocking out the European champions from the competition.