HEC SF: Clermont Auvergne vs Leinster; Sunday 29 April, KO 1600(CET); Live Sky Sports

ongarite

I was waiting for Clermont to score at the end by touching the ball off the posts in the huge melee.
Thorn then made the tackle which gave SOB the chance to grab the ball.

Tox56

profitius wrote: »

justsomebloke wrote: »

For once I actually agree with you. I think Barnes won the game for us and I think clermont will feel hard done by.

Hopefully they bounce back as the competition needs French teams that are that interested in it.

That said I'm off to twickenham and for once I'm flying in and out of the country it's on in:D

Barnes didn't win the game for Leinster. A few decisions went for them and a few against them. The crowd were very vocal and sky then showed replays of what they were shouting about.

At one stage BOD should have had a clear penalty but the ref let Clermont continue.

French TV controlling pictures showing every possible Leinster indiscrection..

Cpt_Blackbeard

Quint2010 wrote: »

Location: Cork. Says it all..

Barnes did Leinster favours. Just admit it and move on.

You need luck to win three HECs in four years. Just being the best team usually doesn't get you that far.

Quint2010

MikeCork2009 wrote: »

Ah....Tar...Brush....:D

Sorry!

ongarite

Fall_Guy wrote: »

Hi guys, could anyone tell me what heppened with cullen towards the end of the match, my stream was cutting in and out. Cheers

Looks like he got grabbed around the face and eyes.

MungBean

Lucky my arse. They earned that lead and were able to keep it (and possibly should have had a bigger one, I'm not convinced Sextons kick was bad). Sexton kicked accurately, Kearney took his drop and created a great try for Healy.

They did what needed doing unlike Clermont who put themselves in a position to be chasing the game and ended up desperately looking 5 points in the last 10. It isnt unlucky when that doesnt come off its tough shít.

Well earned and deserved win

twinytwo

irishbucsfan wrote: »

And Clermont should have been penalised far more for holding players at fringes. Also a Clermont player hit Boss in the first couple of minutes so could easily have been off as well.

We did not rely on luck to win that game. We won away against one of the best teams in France with a brilliant performance. To call that lucky discredits perhaps our best performance of all time. We weren't lucky, we were good.

You could say every team is lucky in some every single week I suppose.

I would say it is prob the most important game leinster have played, hardly their best though.

Clermont butchering the try at the end..... is what???

errlloyd

Wanna go see the cardiologist, but I presume there is a queue...

efb

Leinster were the better side but there was luck involved- The CA 'try' at the end, if he had grounded that- it was over, and it was his own fault he didn't.

You make your own luck though and winning teams maximise it

irishbucsfan

Cpt_Blackbeard wrote: »

Barnes did Leinster favours. Just admit it and move on.

You need luck to win three HECs in four years. Just being the best team usually doesn't get you that far.

Barnes did Clermont favours as well. He did not favour either team particularly. Ignored some blatant Clermont foul play. Thought he was very balanced.

Leinster deserved to win today.

Tox56

twinytwo wrote: »

irishbucsfan wrote: »

And Clermont should have been penalised far more for holding players at fringes. Also a Clermont player hit Boss in the first couple of minutes so could easily have been off as well.

We did not rely on luck to win that game. We won away against one of the best teams in France with a brilliant performance. To call that lucky discredits perhaps our best performance of all time. We weren't lucky, we were good.

You could say every team is lucky in some every single week I suppose.

I would say it is prob the most important game leinster have played, hardly their best though.

Clermont butchering the try at the end..... is what???

Their fault?

irishbucsfan

twinytwo wrote: »

I would say it is prob the most important game leinster have played, hardly their best though.

Clermont butchering the try at the end..... is what???

I would say its their best.

totallegend

twinytwo wrote: »

I would say it is prob the most important game leinster have played, hardly their best though.

Clermont butchering the try at the end..... is what???

Of course it was lucky. Sexton not being given the points for that penalty was unlucky. That's rugby. Leinster got some luck, Clermont got some luck and the better team won over the 80 minutes. End of.

ScissorPaperRock

Tox56 wrote: »

Their fault?

Lucky for Leinster though, right?

danthefan

Cpt_Blackbeard wrote: »

Quint2010 wrote: »

Location: Cork. Says it all..

Barnes did Leinster favours. Just admit it and move on.

You need luck to win three HECs in four years. Just being the best team usually doesn't get you that far.

The bitterness, it makes it even sweeter.

Quint2010

Cpt_Blackbeard wrote: »

Barnes did Leinster favours. Just admit it and move on.

You need luck to win three HECs in four years. Just being the best team usually doesn't get you that far.

Yes he did give Leinster a fair amount of 50:50 calls. But I thought Leinster were the better team on the day, scored the only try of the game and were unlucky with the decision on the penalty. Look to win away in France as you well know you need luck and yes we got some but the best teams always get the luck and there is no way you will ever convince me Leinster were not the better team on the day. And I will move on-all the way to Twickenham

Tox56

ScissorPaperRoc wrote: »

Tox56 wrote: »

Their fault?

Lucky for Leinster though, right?

Lucky for Clermont Sexton didn't get that penalty?

irishbucsfan

ScissorPaperRoc wrote: »

Lucky for Leinster though, right?

If Fofana had just dropped the ball it would be lucky.

He was tackled by a Leinster Player though.

MLC61

Cpt_Blackbeard wrote: »

Barnes did Leinster favours. Just admit it and move on.

You need luck to win three HECs in four years. Just being the best team usually doesn't get you that far.

They haven't won three.

Being the best team helps. So does courage, intelligence, hard work and luck.

Quint2010

twinytwo wrote: »

lol... so you going to say that none of that happend. Open your eyes

I prefer to focus on the positives.:)

efb

Lads, relax, Leinster, deservedly won, its an All Ireland Final in TW1, and Connacht are in Europe's Premier competition next year.

Here's some Britney!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vvBAONkYwI

twinytwo

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Barnes did Clermont favours as well. He did not favour either team particularly. Ignored some blatant Clermont foul play. Thought he was very balanced.

Leinster deserved to win today.

lets be serious for a sec, had clermont scored at the end you would be caling all sorts of shenanigans

CouchSmart

Disappointing seeing so many begrudgers on here. Don't see how this win was lucky. Fofana dropping the ball has nothing to do with luck. Someone had to make the tackle, he was tired from an exhausting 80 minutes and any other number of things. Then again, haters gonna hate. Best team in Europe of the professional era, probably ever TBH. Can't wait for the final. Would encourage all the Cullen haters to watch it again. He was huge for us. Maybe one of his best ever performances. Involved in everything and definitely are biggest tackler. Best captain going atm.

totallegend

twinytwo wrote: »

lets be serious for a sec, had clermont scored at the end you would be caling all sorts of shenanigans

It's killing you isn't it?

its_phil

Love the hate being shown by some of the immature Munster fans. Some clearly looking to introduce a soccer mentality of complete bitterness between rivals. Get over it and just be happy for Irish rugby in general. If you really hate Leinster that much just cheer for Ulster!!

Fishooks12

Actually can't believe the bitching going on here

Probably the most historic occasion in Irish club rugby in a few weeks

Luck plays a part in every game

Clegg

I'd like to thank Vern Cotter for taking off Hines with 25 minutes still left to play. He was playing brilliantly and him coming off really changed the tide in Leinsters favour.

I thought it was a very strange decision.

Tox56

CouchSmart wrote: »

Disappointing seeing so many begrudgers on here. Don't see how this win was lucky. Fofana dropping the ball has nothing to do with luck. Someone had to make the tackle, he was tired from an exhausting 80 minutes and any other number of things. Then again, haters gonna hate. Best team in Europe of the professional era, probably ever TBH. Can't wait for the final. Would encourage all the Cullen haters to watch it again. He was huge for us. Maybe one of his best ever performances. Involved in everything and definitely are biggest tackler. Best captain going atm.

He improved in the second half I will give him that.

twinytwo

totallegend wrote: »

It's killing you isn't it?

nope not really, its called being realistic.

We all know had clermont scored most people would be blaming the ref for the loss of the game.

tolosenc

Who was MOTM?

errlloyd

Who was the Man of the Match? Kearney had an unbelievable 5 minutes. SOB was up to some tricks during the game?

So happy, so so so happy

Taco Corp

errlloyd wrote: »

Who was the Man of the Match? Kearney had an unbelievable 5 minutes. SOB was up to some tricks during the game?

So happy, so so so happy

Kearney was MOM

Tox56

Kearney motm

CouchSmart

tolosenc wrote: »

Who was MOTM?

Kearndashian. Well deserved too. Shoe in for player of the year.

Fishooks12

Kearney surely

Hagz

its_phil wrote: »

Love the hate being shown by some of the immature Munster fans. Some clearly looking to introduce a soccer mentality of complete bitterness between rivals. Get over it and just be happy for Irish rugby in general. If you really hate Leinster that much just cheer for Ulster!!

Point out all these bitter Munster fans won't you phil. I'm pretty sure you'll be hard pressed to find more than two people who don't believe Leinster deserved to win. Don't know why you're bringing Munster into it. It's post like this that turn a thread into a p***ing contest.

Tim Robbins

Fishooks12 wrote: »

Actually can't believe the bitching going on here

Probably the most historic occasion in Irish club rugby in a few weeks

Luck plays a part in every game

+1

Mods please wipe some of the muppetry and keep it to rugby!

Have to admit that was the most nerve racking game I have ever come across. Will also admit I could not watch the last play...

Thought C.A. were superb. They have some world class ball carriers an strike runners. We've won two close games against them now.

Clegg

Reddan made a huge difference when he came on. Everything was sped up and we were beginning to cause Clermont a lot of problems.

RuggieBear

the standard of the posting needs to improve folks. Lets not turn this thread to ****e. No more about this "luck" nonsense.

errlloyd

To sum up every single pundit in the world "it'll be a close game"

Possibly the most accurately predicted game ever?

Cpt_Blackbeard

danthefan wrote: »

The bitterness, it makes it even sweeter.

How is there bitterness? I'm happy that Leinster are in the final, but they have gotten a rub of the green on the way there. No shame in that, it has happened Munster/any successful team on numerous occasions. This Leinster side will undoubtedly go down in history as one of the greats. The have raised the bar and it is up to the rest of the provinces to try and get up to their level.

MLC61 wrote: »

They haven't won three.

Being the best team helps. So does courage, intelligence, hard work and luck.

No they haven't, but they should get the win against Ulster. The only chance Ulster have is of a monumental effort from 1-23.

That is the point I am making. Simply being the best team doesn't get you over the line. You need to have the self-belief that you are never beaten and a little bit of luck when things aren't going your way. Leinster have all of that and things don't look like they are taking a turn for the worse either.

GerM

uriah wrote: »

Cullen will be off for the final.
But I don't think he'll be a great loss to Leinster.

Cullen was absolutely immense. He was everywhere and a total menace at rucks and mauls. Must be one of the top tacklers today too. On that performance, he'll be a huge loss if missing.

whenever

Cpt_Blackbeard wrote: »

Barnes did Leinster favours. Just admit it and move on.

You need luck to win three HECs in four years. Just being the best team usually doesn't get you that far.

Would you have any example in mind of a case where the 'best team' didn't win 3 HECs in 4 yrs? I think in most tight rugby games the vagueries of the bounce of the ball and the vision of the ref introduce a random effect. But anyway Leinster were great and deserve their opportunity to win 2 in a row.

ScissorPaperRock

Tox56 wrote: »

Lucky for Clermont Sexton didn't get that penalty?

Sorry I'm just teasing about the luckiness thing. It's just funny how philosophical this post-match commentary is!

It was a fantastic win by Leinster, and they did exceptionally well to prevent a try in the last five minutes.

Obviously there are always going to be things (ref decisions, errors, etc) that are unexpected and can sway momentum to some extent to either side. Some people might call that luck, but it doesn't really matter what you call it at the end of the day.

CouchSmart

GerM wrote: »

Cullen was absolutely immense. He was everywhere and a total menace at rucks and mauls. Must be one of the top tacklers today too. On that performance, he'll be a huge loss if missing.

I made the same point earlier. Checked stats. Backed me up. He was huge for us. Outplayed Thorn.

Skid

Leinster and Ulster in the Heineken Cup Final, and Irish teams dominating the Pro 12 yet again.

This is the Golden Age of Irish Rugby, enjoy it while you can before the IRFU butcher the Provinces in the misguided belief that it will assist the Ireland team.

ninebeanrows

Will Cullen get sighted for the punch and banned for the final?

chupacabra

Between the ulster game at the aviva yesterday and watching the leinster game in dublin today my voice is absolutely non existent. While I would give anything to have Munster in the final of the Heineken cup im the happiest man alive that we have an all Irish final regardless of who's there.

My mother was in hospital for close to 10 years straight in Dublin so growing up I always associated dublin with negativity and never really cared much for the city since then. However this weekend i fell in love with the city and the people who live here. Thats the strength of rugby and something you dont find in any other sport. Munster may be the very beating of my heart but today, I am a Leinster man.

Good luck in the final.

BBDBB

To deny luck plays a part in a game played with an odd shaped ball is naive, thats not news to any rugby follower, some bounces and decisions go for you, some against, thats a part of the game. Its a given.

I thought the ten minutes after half time were immense by Leinster, Rob Kearneys drop goal was astonishing. Fair play to Clermont for that fight back at the end, Im sure they will learn from that and be even tougher next year, God help us.

Well done Leinster, enjoy your night and Im looking forward to the all Ireland final

Tox56

Hopefully an All-Irish final will give the IRFU a kick up the backside with regards to Kidney.