Tuesday 18 October 2016 15:13, UK
The sudden death of Munster coach Anthony Foley on the eve of his club's fixture with Racing 92 cast a dark shadow over the weekend that will linger for a long, long time.
His impact on the game as a player and as a coach has been enormous and the respect he had on and off the field showed in the tributes he received from all over the world.
"He was a great leader whether it was in Irish colours or Munster colours," said Greenwood on Sky Sports News HQ.
"The pics of him finally lifting the European trophy in 2006 are great ones - he was not a great showman; that was as showy as he would get in public and you begin to understand what that trophy meant to that group of very special young men that he led. He avoided the headlines and just got on with life.
"He was one of the great piano shifters, he did the hard yards and let the likes of Ronan O'Gara take the plaudits. But he brought that warrior-like mentality into every game, scrapping, doing everything he could in trying to win his team every inch.
"Our condolences and thoughts are with his family and friends at this deeply distressing time."
Superb Sararcens
Defending champions Saracens started off their campaign in fine fettle as they went to Toulon and beat them 31-23 at the Stade Felix Mayol. The win was built on a supreme first-half performance, and although Toulon fought back, Greenwood was impressed with the way Sarries handled the pressure.
"It was a brilliant first half, they came right out of the blocks. Not only did they win it, but when Toulon got back into it, Saracens had the composure and the patience to take the sting out of Toulon and then go up the other end and not only seal the game, but deny Toulon a bonus point. That is going to be hugely influential in this format.
"Jamie George is really applying pressure onto Dylan Hartley for that England hooker jersey. Sean Maitland is a new signing and had a great finish - I thought the Vunipola brothers were quite outstanding too.
"They are getting to a level of performance where they have to be considered for your fantasy team - in a World XV that would be dominated by All Blacks, you would have to put Mako and Billy into the 23 matchday squad. They are quite sensational at the moment."
May to return for England?
While Saracens were in excellent form, some of England's Premiership sides did not fare so well. With England's November tests looming, Greenwood says this will not be a concern for England coach Eddie Jones - in fact he will be quietly delighted with some of the performances.
"Leicester really struggled up at Glasgow, Sale struggled at the Scarlets, Saints scrapped to a win over Montpellier and Exeter were battered at home by Clermont," added Greenwood.
"However, Eddie Jones would have seen enough from his star players and his starting XV to be extremely excited about the November series."
One area that Jones will be looking at will be wing as Jack Nowell and Anthony Watson are out injured. Greenwood says that there are several options for England including the return of Jonny May.
May, who had been sidelined with a knee injury since last December, made a try-scoring comeback to help Gloucester open their European Challenge Cup campaign with a 47-27 away win over Bayonne.
"In normal circumstances it would be probably too soon to get him back, but with Nowell and Watson injured then May comes back into the reckoning," explained Greenwood.
"Any man who can run 50-100 metres in the sort of electric pace he can is a serious weapon.
"At the moment I think Eddie Jones will consider Elliot Daly on the left wing, also at the moment Semesa Rokoduguni is scoring tries every week for Bath, he picked up one cap back in 2014 and is worth a look. Will Addison at Sale plays centre sometimes - he is a tough operator."
Nowell's Exeter were soundly beaten by Clermont at Sandy Hill Park and Greenwood mentioned two of their players who unfortunately cannot be considered for England.
"Talking about wingers, I know Eddie Jones can't pick David Strettle or Nick Abendanon because they are playing in France, but that back three including Noa Nakaitaci are lethal."
