Preview: Leinster v Saracens, Sunday April 1, 15:30, BT Sports 2

ongarite

What is that penalty for?

errlloyd

Wtf if this. Confused as hell in stadium

A-Train

Ah Johnny that’s stupid! A terrible penalty to give away

KERSPLAT!

At the match, what happened there?

Stheno

A-Train wrote: »

Ah Johnny that’s stupid! A terrible penalty to give away

What did he do?

Burkie1203

That is BS from Garces

A-Train

Stheno wrote: »

What did he do?

Kicked the ball on the way back to his own half.

leakyboots

Petulant from Sexton, the niggle he's receiving must be getting to him

swiwi_

Braindead from Sexton.

I feel Saracens are narrowly edging the forward battle. Leinster backrow is looking a touch underpowered.

statesaver

Score ?

ScrubsfanChris

Stheno wrote: »

What did he do?

Ball was on half way ready for Saracens to take the drop off and sexton kicked it away walking back to his own half.
Was a stupid thing to do.

ongarite

Need more power from back row.
Toner off, Fardy to 2nd row with Ruddock on at 6 in 2nd half.

guapos

13 12

long_b

statesaver wrote: »

Score ?

13-12

A-Train

statesaver wrote: »

Score ?

Leinster 13-12 37 mins

Clegg

Leinster have been appalling.

awec

Burkie1203 wrote: »

That is BS from Garces

It was 100% a penalty. Stupid from Sexton

A-Train

Leinster are in major trouble in this match

Peter File

Ref really is shocking. 13:12 h.t

chupacabra

Clegg wrote: »

Leinster have been appalling.

Why?

awec

Peter File wrote: »

Ref really is shocking. 13:12 h.t

He’s got nothing wrong so far.

A-Train

Lucky to get away with not conceding before half time. Need a massive improvement in the second half.

awec

Leinster haven’t been appalling.

They’ve just come up against a pack that can out-bosh them.

long_b

A-Train wrote: »

Leinster are in major trouble in this match

Nothing since early try.

ScrubsfanChris

Lads, Garces isn't the problem here. Try a new tune.

Elvisjuice

carbs needs to come on

razorblunt

Only in the door for the Bosch penalty.

Felt the penalty against McFadden was very harsh.

fitz

awec wrote: »

He’s got nothing wrong so far.

So it's ok to swim over a maul, and a shoulder to the head doesn't warrant even a yellow? He's made more than a couple of iffy calls.

Having said that, our pack are the problem.
Need to up their game in the second half.

bennyl10

Peter File wrote: »

Ref really is shocking. 13:12 h.t

For what?

Penalty was sexton being stupid firstly
The ruck was a great spot

Could have pinged itoje fir the maul but it's a 50/50 call

Elvisjuice

fitz wrote: »

So it's ok to swim over a maul, and a shoulder to the head doesn't warrant even a yellow? He's made more than a couple of iffy calls.

yep idiot defo took maul down

Peregrine

Peter File wrote: »

Ref really is shocking. 13:12 h.t

Elvisjuice wrote: »

carbs needs to come on

No.

PhlegmyMoses

awec wrote: »

He’s got nothing wrong so far.

He shouldn't have carded Wigglesworth for no arms? Can't agree there tbh.

awec

fitz wrote: »

So it's ok to swim over a maul, and a shoulder to the head doesn't warrant even a yellow? He's made more than a couple of iffy calls.

Having said that, our pack are the problem.
Need to up their game in the second half.

It wasn’t a shoulder to the head.

The maul one is a 50/50.

The referee is not the problem here. Leinster are being outdone physically.

leakyboots

Sarries are well in this, Leinster have the wind in the second half

ScrubsfanChris

razorblunt wrote: »

Only in the door for the Bosch penalty.

Felt the penalty against McFadden was very harsh.

Wrong side of ruck interfering with the ball, accidental or not. He might have let it go if sexton hadn't immediately played it.

Elvisjuice

Peregrine wrote: »

No.

sexton is wanked

swiwi_

Is this game in Toulon? The crowd is embarrassing. I don't actually mind, but please no Leinster fans post about other fans crowds booing.

Leaving that aside, it's great game of rugby. Saracens are winning up front, and Lowe and McFadden are not really winning the aerial battle.

Bench will be important. I wouldn't have too much faith in Deegan for a game like this, but I'd be very tempted to pull Toner and bring on Ruddock. Hard to see O'Loughlin doing better in the air than the starting wingers.

This game will go down to the wire I think.

fitz

awec wrote: »

It wasn’t a shoulder to the head.

Just because he didn't connect properly doesn't change the intent of what he did. Shoulder was clearly aimed upwards at the head...

Sephiral

Thought Wigglesworth was extremely lucky. Shoulder contact to the head with no sight of arms wrapping. Is it only a red when the player is big enough to do damage or wot.

Lainster lucky to be ahead. Saracens are absolutely dominating the contact area. Itoje looking near his best, even if he is skirting the law a lot. Leinster look very dangerous with ball in hand tho.

I'd imagine Ruddock will come in early to add some physicality. Leavy has been very good at 7, slikely one of the second row with Fardy moving there.

fitz

awec wrote: »

It wasn’t a shoulder to the head.

The maul one is a 50/50.

The referee is not the problem here. Leinster are being outdone physically.

50/50 me hoop, he's lying on top of the player carrying the ball.

awec

fitz wrote: »

Just because he didn't connect properly doesn't change the intent of what he did. Shoulder was clearly aimed upwards at the head...

It’s not a shoulder to the head if the shoulder doesn’t hit his head.

hogandrew

awec wrote: »

He’s got nothing wrong so far.

He's missed nothing or very little anyway. Just a pity that the interpretation didn't favour Leinster a bit more

Burkie1203

awec wrote: »

It wasn’t a shoulder to the head.

The maul one is a 50/50.

The referee is not the problem here. Leinster are being outdone physically.

50/50 Really?


https://twitter.com/CharlieFelix/status/980461104706007040?s=19

swiwi_

Should have been a YC for Wigglesworth IMO. Not a red card though like Sexton was asking for - suppose it's worth chancing one's arm with the ref though.

Farrell has been excellent: the way he plays the defence cannot premeditate, really is a top class player.

For Leinster I'd say Leavy and maybe Kearney have been the pick.

Sephiral

awec wrote: »

It’s not a shoulder to the head if the shoulder doesn’t hit his head.

It looked like head contact to me. Maybe let the video ref decide? Irregardless, it was a late tackle with no wrap. Should have been a yellow.

It is clearly a Saracens tactic to leave one on Sexton after the ball. Wigglesworth is just the one who went too far.

irishbucsfan

Refs been spot on for me

fitz

Sephiral wrote: »

It looked like head contact to me. Maybe let the video ref decide? Irregardless, it was a late tackle with no wrap. Should have been a yellow.

It is clearly a Saracens tactic to leave one on Sexton after the ball. Wigglesworth is just the one who went too far.

Just saw it on replay again. There's head contact, just pure luck that it's slight.
Agree looking again that red would have been harsh, but there's no question is yellow.

Sephiral

fitz wrote: »

Just saw it on replay again. There's head contact, just pure luck that it's slight.
Agree looking again that red would have been harsh, but there's no question is yellow.

I think it would have been harsh, but entirely correct as an interpretation of the laws. Ref bottled it IMO.

.ak

Yeah sure listen we haven’t had the luck in terms of the 50/50 calls but we’re only to blame for a lot of the penalties they scored. Our discipline is muck when it’s usually tidy. Garces is the best ref in the world so why are we trying to play him??

Anyway, despite not having much ball or territory I feel we’re the better attacking team and we’re soaking up their attack nicely. Leavy and Fardy are shutting them down. Cut out the stupid penalties and we’re in a good place...

Weepsie

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Refs been spot on for me

At the match. He's been woeful