By Peter Jackson

Once upon a time, the Heineken Cup was so good that there were weekends when it surpassed the Six Nations as a spectacle. It had a mystique all of its own.
Anyone doubting that the tournament has become a pale imitation of what it used to be will doubt no more after the disturbing events of last weekend. Gloucester fought all season long through the English Premiership to qualify for the Champions Cup, then did the event a gross disservice by sending their 2nd XV to Dublin, giving Leinster a walk-over. No sense of duty to the tournament itself, no desire to send their best te...