Devoid of a sponsor and virtually any fanfare, kick-started in summer, lacking the sort of television exposure which was hoped for, criticised in some quarters and no doubt derided in England, the Celtic League has trundled along anyhow.

Crowds, in Ireland especially, are healthy and the provinces have performed credibly, and it has served its primary purpose of enabling the Celtic cousins to limber up for Europe.

With the re-arranged Six Nations matches in close proximity, the coaches of Ireland, Scotland and Wales have welcomed the tournament, even if it is not everything they may have wanted.

"I have been impressed with the Celtic League so far - and I have to say it has been somewhat surprising how well the crowds have taken to the tournament," admitted Warren Gatland.

Highlighting the benefits of the provinces being able to use more of a rota system, the Irish coach is "reasonably happy with the way things have gone so far for our teams, and I wouldn't have liked to have gone into our three postponed Six Nations matches without the chance of seeing the players performing at this sort of level."

According to his Welsh conterpart, Graham Henry, "the Celtic League is certainly a step up from the Welsh-Scottish League. There is more bite to it, the quality of rugby is higher and having neutral referees has also helped - the latter are a considerable benefit. On the down side, I think the early start has meant there has been little continuity in many games, though that is improving all the time."

But along with the aforementioned flaws, it's not without its warts. As is the way of things these days, there is an unwieldy initial group stage, wherein 49 matches are being played to eliminate fewer than half of the 15 participants, whereupon there is a break until the knock-out stages of the competition are run off on the first three weekends in December.

Leinster, in particular, have hit the ground running, setting the pace in Pool A with four wins out of four while scoring more points (144) and tries (16) than any other team. Victory in Brigend on Saturday would assure Leinster of a quarter-final place and most probably a home tie as a top two finisher in the pool. Most certainly another win at home to Pontypridd next Tuesday would achieve that target.

"Our goal now is to attack the next two games and then we'd be able to look at the Swansea game (on Saturday week) in a relaxed frame of mind," said manager Ken Ging confidently. it's an amazing league so far in that we seem to be the only team showing any consistency."

The top four from each group progress to the quarter-finals, where the first placed team in Pool A plays the fourth placed in Pool B, and vice versa, while the second placed in Pool A play host to the third in Pool B, and vice versa again. Hence, as things stand, Leinster would be host to Munster.

With the curse of Lee Jarvis having struck Declan Kidney and Munster again last weekend, both the Irish champions and Newport are two wins from three and in similar need of a win in Cork this Friday. Ulster's need is more acute in Ebbw Vale on Friday after three winless games, while Connacht have a particularly tough task against the unbeaten Pool B pacesetters Neath. Defeat at home on Friday and they would have to beat Newport away next Tuesday to stay in the frame.