Some impressive performances in the Celtic League were followed by a dismal Irish showing against Scotland last week, leaving some critics to question the strength of the Irish teams.

Star man Brian O’Driscoll grabbed two of Leinster’s four scores, strong defence keeping the French side at bay as they tried to mount a belated assault on the home line.

‘‘Anyone who criticised the Celtic League must be walking backwards now,’’ said coach Matt Williams.

‘‘We put 40 points on the board a lot in that competition - but now we’ve put 40 points on against a great side like Toulouse.

‘‘We’re obviously very pleased and very proud. But it’s only a start, and we won’t be popping any champagne corks yet.’’

Meanwhile, Northampton are likely to be without winger Nick Beal when they bid to revive their Heineken Cup hopes against Glasgow at Franklin’s Gardens next week.

Beal was helped off the field during the opening period of the Saints’ 25-17 defeat by Cardiff last night after an accidental clash with former Northampton man Matt Allen left him with a badly broken nose.

And coach John Steele admitted the former England international is unlikely to appear against the Scots when a home win is required to retain realistic hopes of topping Pool Five.

‘‘Nick may well miss the Glasgow game,’’ said Steele.

‘‘But of the players who were not fit for tonight I am fairly certain Peter Jorgensen will be okay for that match and Olivier Brouzet is 50-50.’’

Steele offered an honest assessment of his team’s defeat at the Arms Park, admitting they were badly beaten in the forward battle.

The 2000 European champions were undone by second-half tries from Welsh internationals Rhys Williams and Rob Howley, before wing Anthony Sullivan completed Saints’ misery.

Sullivan’s 75th-minute touchdown underlined a dominant Cardiff display, and their victory would have been far more comfortable on the scoreboard had fly-half Nicky Robinson not missed five kicks at goal.

Late tries by Saints substitute Ali Hepher and number eight Grant Seely provided scant consolation for the visitors.

‘‘They denied us possession,’’ said Steele. ‘‘They dominated the scrums, the line-outs and the kick-offs and we had to live off scraps for most of the game.

‘‘We finished the match well, but it was too late by then.’’

The other match in the group had a controversial ending when James McLaren saw his last minute penalty palmed away from the uprights by Montferrand’s Olivier Magne, who was hoisted 12 feet in the air by his team-mates to ensure a 19-19 draw with Glasgow at Hughenden.

Tommy Hayes had looked like earning the Warriors all the glory with a series of pressure kicks and a late and crucial try.

But Hayes and Jon Stuart were sin-binned late on and with a two-man advantage, Montferrand closed a 10-point gap, Magne grabbing a vital try before his last-ditch heroics which left Glasgow coach Richie Dixon with a bitter taste.

‘‘There is nothing to stop people being hoisted to crossbar height under the current law, but I would like to see it looked at,’’ said Dixon.

‘‘After all, the object of a penalty at goal is for a player to kick the ball over the bar and James was achieving that.’’