Leinster Team Talk Thread (Love you Furlong time)

Clegg

Great finish from Russell.

Thought we'd knocked it on earlier.

pickarooney

watch them concede within 2 minutes

Clegg

Try bonus point is potentially on.

Need another score within the next ten minutes.

RichieRich_89

Good. Two bonus points is on now.

Clegg

That's a lovely strike play off the scrum. Set Brownlee through the gap and then some lovely offloading ekes a yellow card out of Stormers when they illegally slow the ball.

Clegg

Jaysus.

Why did we choose a scrum off of penalty advantage?

RichieRich_89

McErlean's not afraid to try things. I've been impressed with him. He's played big.

bingobango12

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122071308#Comment_122071308

Was just about to say. He’s probably the one who can come out with head held highest. Liked him on his debut a few months back too.

Clegg

Malherbe utterly ruined Leinster's 10 minute player advantage. We were terrified of losing scrum put in so hit early twice and were penalised.

Rugbyf565

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122071308#Comment_122071308

yeah real pity about thr disallowed try he setup, he showed real skill

Podge_irl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122071321#Comment_122071321

Which makes it all the more mind boggling why we scrummed down a penalty.

degsie

Hope Leo is suitably embarrassed

Podge_irl

McErlean, Turner and Prendergast have been decent high points.

Everything else an utter farce.

sydthebeat

We're going to finish this game with seven academy players on the pitch…

For perspective

SaoPaulo41

What drives me mad is Leo's post match interviews after games like this . Cliché after cliche , we learned a lot, SA is not an easy place to come blah blah.

If we win nothing again this year he should go.

Also what is McBryde actually doing with the forwards?

RichieRich_89

I'd like to have seen Gunne get longer than he's being given.

Clegg

The younger lads have kept trying, which is a big plus from all this. Prendergast and McErlean put on very creditable performances.

But we didn't generate enough consistent go forward ball or secure our set piece well enough to get anything from either game.

SaoPaulo41

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122071338#Comment_122071338

It didn't have to be that way though

Clegg

We were better coached as an entire squad last season. Lancaster's greatest ability was distilling his ideas down the entire senior and academy structure. Everyone knew the game plan and had the technical ability to pull it off. It's why we were so successful integrating new players into the side.

This season there's been a drop off in cohesion the further down the depth chart we go. Players are more hesitant in making decisions and the attacking shape less defined.

I think we're seeing a trade off where the first choice squad might be primed to go further than last season's. But there are fewer players in the wider squad that are excelling and putting their hands up for selection.

Clegg

It's a shame how poorly we've played the last two weeks. I'm sure the coaching set up expected to get a few points from the fixtures. It's something for them to analyse and critique themselves over. The players weren't prepared well enough for this tour.

But ultimately we've prioritised the Champions Cup. We'll see if it was the right decision next week and at the end of May.

letsbefair

Great learning experience for the youngsters, we are focused on bigger things. We do not fear an away game in the business end. Great management by Leo, we are primed for Europe

LostArt

Feck it. The season starts on Monday.

letsbefair

Trophies are the only goal this season

Must love hardship

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122071366#Comment_122071366

The Bulls put 62 points on Leinster in the same round last year.

SaoPaulo41

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122071382#Comment_122071382

as opposed to any other season?

Clegg

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122071383#Comment_122071383

Sure. That'll happen especially when you play a huge side like the Bulls away. But we definitely played more cohesive, structured rugby last season and the seasons before that under Lancaster.

I don't have an opinion on whether our style of play last season is better, or more conducive to success than this season's. We were more consistent as a squad, but failed to win trophies despite being favourites for the league and Champions Cup.

long_b

Guess our "rhino" and "tiger"plays weren't fooling em

clsmooth

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122071387#Comment_122071387

Yeah but this time we mean it.

Agree with others on here, Prendergast had some lovely touches as did McErlean. Lineout cost us on numerous occasions which was disappointing.

Not a great performance from Foley. Behind a beaten pack but tends to take a step when passing. Touch of Tomas O’Leary in the sense he’s a good player but ultimately has a limiting factor which will stop him being a top scrum half. Would have liked to see Gunne get a few more minutes. You could see the difference in his pass when he came on.

Clegg

I don't like that we sacrificed two games, but it was probably the logical decision

There are two high profile examples of teams playing in South Africa then putting in a tired, losing performance the next week; La Rochelle and The Bulls. The latter didn't even send a full strength side to England the following week for a mixture of travel and performance worries.

I would have preferred Leinster to have played a mix and match 23 for two weeks, making sure the senior players get enough preparation. But it's just not worth the risk of fatiguing them in South Africa. I worry that we might be going into the Northampton game undercooked, but we didn't have much choice.

Dubinusa

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122071095#Comment_122071095

Yep

Clegg

Bit sick of seeing people call for coaches to be sacked after a loss.

Massive spoiled brat energy.

Dubinusa

I think it was a dreadful couple of weeks. Nothing accomplished bar viewing more pack set piece screw ups. If nothing, McBryde was shown for his efforts. No need to provide "evidence".

Foley is a lesser 9 than Murphy. Yet, Murphy is out the door. Foley will not amount to anything except being at Hugh O'Sullivan level. For effort all around.

Podge_irl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122071535#Comment_122071535

If they were planning on sending some players home after the first match anyway I think they could and should have gone stronger against the Lions.

SaoPaulo41

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122071660#Comment_122071660

If we go without a trophy again this year , then yes he should go, especially with the players and resources he has available. It would be a massive under achievement

FrannoFan

People who were going on about Leinster's central contracts this is the reality. You don't really control your players.

I know they could choose to bring them down but they would lose them for some other key games.

Still second and Glasgow have to travel to SA now and could well drop points.

If we had to travel for a final it wouldn't be the end of the world (and Munster could be the one who ends up top)

We are in a good position having given key players a two week rest before potentially 5 knock out games to come

Rugbyf565

Some of the eejits on Leinsterfans actually thought they had a 50/50 chance of winning today with that team

Rugbyf565

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122071366#Comment_122071366

I think the new direction Leinster is taking is becoming more clear. They’ve cut the academy intake in half. They’ve also a smaller player pool for the first team and it’s easier to predict the starters. They’ve brought in two world class international players in Snyman and Barrett. Leo is building a formidable, resilient first team that’s capable of beating any team in Europe.

durthacht

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122072063#Comment_122072063

Isn't every club reducing their squad size? As far as I recall the URC teams decided a couple of years ago to reduce the number of games played in international windows so they could reduce their squads and therefore reduce their costs.

They’ve cut the academy intake in half.

Leinster signed 8 new players into the academy last year, which I think does not equal cutting their intake in half. I don't ever recall Leinster signing 16 first year apprentices into the academy, but I could be wrong.

SheepSeeker

Poor two weeks, bit of an insult to those fans who travelled. Feel a bit gutted for them.

ersatz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122072226#Comment_122072226

Leinster fans who saw back to back losses can tell their grandkids about it.😂

Former Former Former

what did people expect from this game?

From the day the fixtures were announced, this tour was going to be a write off if we were still in Europe. And here we are.

Leinster will be judged by winning or losing Europe and nothing else. I’m 100% in agreement with throwing these games if it increases our chances in Europe even marginally.

Akrasia

Bulls threw their HCup semi final to focus on Munster the week later, it didn't work, Leinster threw their URC semi final to focus on the HCup final last year. That didn't work either.

Winning is important. Trying to win is important. Sending weaker teams out knowing that they're going to be beaten badly is bad for morale and an insult to the fans.

Clo-Clo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122071674#Comment_122071674

Is “no need to provide evidence” just you admitting that you have none? 😂😂

Was McNryde even still in SA or did he fly home with the other coach’s?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122072341#Comment_122072341

Leinster didn’t “threw their URC semi final”, they put a team which could have won the game and lost to a last minute drop goal, had a player injured in first few minutes so the impact player form bench was on within 5 mins

Call it excuses or whatever but they didn’t throw the game, that Leinster team or similar had beaten Munster many times before, it didn’t work on the day and that’s rugby

Leinster decision was not to risk front line player picking up an injury and focus on Europe, Leo and Co got no praise when they won the league back to back for season so of course they will focus on Europe

FrannoFan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122072341#Comment_122072341

Sending weakened teams out in knock out rugby is a bad idea

Rotating heavily used players to keep them fresh for knock out rugby is a good idea

The SA tour is a development exercise for Leinster. Young coaches brought along, academy guys get a taste of real pro rugby and a terrific chance to see SA.

We are in the semi final of Europe, we are in a strong position in the URC.

johnh6767

100% couldn’t agree more, it’s challenging when you’re going to have to deal with the business end of 2 competitions simultaneously

ulsteru20s

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122072063#Comment_122072063

You can have roughly 20 max in the academy paid for by irfu and leinster have always been close to that. They haven't been cutting there.

i think all provinces are going to cut squads a bit because they don't play games during international breaks.

Former Former Former

And since any knock-out matches won't be at home anyway, why would we be killing ourselves to get a home draw?

pickarooney

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122072421#Comment_122072421

How's that? Aren't all knockout games at the home of the higher seeded team?

El_Duderino 09

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122072669#Comment_122072669

I'mp pretty sure home games go to higher seeds. They're gambling they can hold on to top spot or at least second place so they can have home matches. Glasgow are away to Bulls and Lions next, so there's a good chance they will drop points.

It's a gamble. It might pay off, it might not. I appreciate that's they're prioritising the Champions Cup. And it might cost them a home final in the URC.

If they finish second and Glasgow get knocked out, they would still get the final at home. So there are lots of ways for everything to work out in the ideal case scenario.

Former Former Former

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122072421#Comment_122072421

sorry, that wasn’t clear at all

The RDS isn’t available nor is the Aviva so it would be Nowlan Park or else cede home advantage completely