Not Another Leinster vs Munster build-up/match thread Sat 24th April 7:35pm

Dave_The_Sheep

Just put the ball out, lads.

PTH2009

Yes a wins a win over Leinster pity we didn't get the BP

We take it from here, still a bit to go to get the final place

Squidgy Black

Fair play to Munster, completely dominated in defense, thought DDA, Beirne and Stander had a great game. Was also surprised at how well Haley's positioning was.

A-Train

Such a strange finish

clsmooth

Congratulations to Munster. The better team won tonight.

Dave_The_Sheep

Very much a deserved victory, congratulations Munster!

yerrahbah

It would have been really concerning if Munster hadn't won tonight considering the team Leinster put out.

TheAnalyst_

Horrible pointless game.

The Inbetween is mine

What was the non-decision that got the Munster players annoyed?

Squidgy Black

The Inbetween is mine wrote: »

What was the non-decision that got the Munster players annoyed?

Wanted to challenge that the ball had been knocked on before it went dead I think

razorblunt

Few of the more experienced Leinster players didn’t cover themselves in glory there, particularity O’Laughlin, I thought he had an awful game .

Clegg

TheAnalyst_ wrote: »

Horrible pointless game.

Ah no it was very good for Ryan and Ringrose to get a run out before La Rochelle. Much better for them than going in cold. Thought Ryan performed very well at pilfering the lineout especially.

theVersatile

Busby saving Leinster's blushes stopping Munster getting a BP, not just once but twice.

A-Train

Munster got their win the better team but this was expected with the teams named.

Leinster got what they wanted with mins for Ryan and Ringrose.

Buer

Well done Munster. Richly deserved. They bullied Leinster throughout. I think the result was a foregone conclusion from very early as I posted.

What was the referee saying at the end? You can't challenge unless there is a decision? Is that correct? My understanding is that foul play can be challenged so surely that could be bringing the referee's attention to something missed?

Happydays2020

Clegg wrote: »

Ah no it was very good for Ryan and Ringrose to get a run out before La Rochelle. Much better for them than going in cold. Thought Ryan performed very well at pilfering the lineout especially.

Ryan needs to watch his bad language.

guapos

we've dominated munster all season, semi final next week, you can't expect players to keep getting up for playing munster 5 times a year.

Good win for munster and hopefully they'll kick on but I've no worries about leinster.

Clegg

Happydays2020 wrote: »

Ryan needs to watch his bad language.

Yeah.

Archer is more stout than fat.

Buer

razorblunt wrote: »

Few of the more experienced Leinster players didn’t cover themselves in glory there, particularity O’Laughlin, I thought he had an awful game .

Ah he was on a hiding to nothing. Got an absolutely bag of sh*te to work with. Pack beaten up and half backs who aren't up to pro standard. He got a poor pass repeatedly as a defender smashed him. He was asked to crash a lot of ball up into DDA and Farrell which is an impossible task. I'm genuinely happy he won't be playing next week as he's absolutely battered after that.

Squidgy Black

Buer wrote: »

Well done Munster. Richly deserved. They bullied Leinster throughout. I think the result was a foregone conclusion from very early as I posted.

What was the referee saying at the end? You can't challenge unless there is a decision? Is that correct? My understanding is that foul play can be challenged so surely that could be bringing the referee's attention to something missed?

"will be applied more broadly in the last five minutes plus injury time at which stage the captain can seek a review of any whistled decision — regardless of whether nor not a try has been scored."

Sanjuro

Bogwoppit wrote: »

Jaysus Toland is some dose.

He's 48 and yet talks like a septugenarian. Embarrassing to listen to.

Clegg

Feels a bit wrong to be blowing smoke up De Allende's hoop when every other game against Leinster he was anonymous against a full strength side.

TheAnalyst_

Kind of annoyed that this is even on the long term stats for this fixture.

theVersatile

Clegg wrote: »

Feels a bit wrong to be blowing smoke up De Allende's hoop when every other game against Leinster he was anonymous against a full strength side.

He was good in the game at the very end of last season too in fairness, the first game back post-pandemic

MurDawg

Ryan is a shadow of his former self.

theVersatile

MurDawg wrote: »

Ryan is a shadow of his former self.

His standout mark on the game was being raked by Archer.

sioda

My take is we held Leinster to no tries. Yes it's a 3rd strength Leinster team but still.

DDA has been amazing all season and puts in the hard donkey work at the breakdown as well.

Clegg

MurDawg wrote: »

Ryan is a shadow of his former self.

James Ryan?

Was his first game back after a few bad head knocks and he still pilfered two or three Munster lineouts. Not back to his very best, but he was playing well in the Six Nations before injury.

Buer

theVersatile wrote: »

He was good in the game at the very end of last season too in fairness, the first game back post-pandemic

I vaguely recall he got significant flak on here for his performance on that. General take was that his biggest contribution was a late hit.

He was great tonight though. One of the few times he has looked like the guy Munster signed.

molloyjh

That was a pretty piss poor game overall. It was only ever going one way but it took until the last quarter for that to come through. Conditions were good so no idea why the handling was so bad.

Leinster just looked to be going through the motions in the main. Some of the ruck protection was shocking. Our forwards just didn't seem that bothered. HOS and Hawkshaw were both very poor too.

It was a nothing game and I couldn't give a toss about the loss at all. The big thing was no injuries. Shame to see Harry Byrne going off and with Frawley injured again too that leaves us with no replacement 10 next week if Sexton isn't fit. We sure as hell are not bringing Hawkshaw, that's for sure. Luke will also need to play the full 80 if JGP isn't fit as HOS is nowhere close to good enough. And at this stage, next week is really all that matters.

The Inbetween is mine

theVersatile wrote: »

His standout mark on the game was being raked by Archer.

That and trying to land a punch in the first half melée and ending up on his arse

Buer

theVersatile wrote: »

His standout mark on the game was being raked by Archer.

I would have said the line out steals would have stood out slightly more to anyone watching.

razorblunt

The Inbetween is mine wrote: »

That and trying to land a punch in the first half melée and ending up on his arse

And dragged out of harms way by a scrum half.

vapor trails

I thought all the first game back in a while lads were all quiet or poor for Leinster. If you told me 4 years ago the main attribute Ringrose would be getting lauded for would be his “defensive reads” I’d say that’s been a disappointing progression. I can’t remember the last time he’s made a clean break or distributed well. The missed sitter overlap V Saracens a year back and this year he’s been trying to grubbed drop the ball repeatedly to disastrous effect. If you are going to kick possession away and your are not gaining field position it better have a significant upside. But he’s doing these grubber drops on the short side in midfield and I’m going “what is the maximum possible benefit from that choice of play”?

MurDawg

Clegg wrote: »

James Ryan?

Was his first game back after a few bad head knocks and he still pilfered two or three Munster lineouts. Not back to his very best, but he was playing well in the Six Nations before injury.

He is a long way off his very best.

We all hope he gets there, his first 18 months were probably the best a second row has ever come onto the scene.

But since leinster lost that game to sarries I think he has been average

Clegg

vapor trails wrote: »

I thought all the first game back in a while lads were all quiet or poor for Leinster. If you told me 4 years ago the main attribute Ringrose would be getting lauded for would be his “defensive reads” I’d say that’s been a disappointing progression. I can’t remember the last time he’s made a clean break or distributed well. The missed sitter overlap V Saracens a year back and this year he’s been trying to grubbed drop the ball repeatedly to disastrous effect. If you are going to kick possession away and your are not gaining field position it better have a significant upside. But he’s doing these grubber drops on the shirt side in midfield and I’m going “what is the maximum possible benefit from that choice of play”?

Ringrose was voted Ireland's player of the year for 2020. He's progressed as a player superbly. He was a victim of Ireland's muddled backline set up for most of the Six Nations, just like every other back bar Henshaw. Then he got injured.

TomsOnTheRoof

Regardless of who was on the pitch you get the feeling that Leo will be furious with a solitary penalty over eighty minutes at home.

ShatterProof

Bogwoppit wrote: »

Jaysus Toland is some dose.

That’s only on TV. In real life he’s worse.

vapor trails

Clegg wrote: »

Ringrose was voted Ireland's player of the year for 2020. He's progressed as a player superbly. He was a victim of Ireland's muddled backline set up for most of the Six Nations, just like every other back bar Henshaw. Then he got injured.

He defensively read his way to that in what was a pretty **** year for Leinster and Ireland

Rugby4568

molloyjh wrote: »

That was a pretty piss poor game overall. It was only ever going one way but it took until the last quarter for that to come through. Conditions were good so no idea why the handling was so bad.

Leinster just looked to be going through the motions in the main. Some of the ruck protection was shocking. Our forwards just didn't seem that bothered. HOS and Hawkshaw were both very poor too.

It was a nothing game and I couldn't give a toss about the loss at all. The big thing was no injuries. Shame to see Harry Byrne going off and with Frawley injured again too that leaves us with no replacement 10 next week if Sexton isn't fit. We sure as hell are not bringing Hawkshaw, that's for sure. Luke will also need to play the full 80 if JGP isn't fit as HOS is nowhere close to good enough. And at this stage, next week is really all that matters.

How can you expect our half backs to play well when the forwards couldn’t provide any ruck protection. I think you’re being a bit harsh on Hawkshaw. He only came into the 23 shortly before kick off and came on 5 minutes into the game. I thought he was fine. He’s just got a 2 year Senior contract so the coaches clearly see something in him.

Buer

Rugby4568 wrote: »

How can you expect our half backs to play well when the forwards couldn’t provide any ruck protection. I think you’re being a bit harsh on Hawkshaw. He only came into the 23 shortly before kick off and came on 5 minutes into the game. I thought he was fine. He’s just got a 2 year Senior contract so the coaches clearly see something in him.

HOS isn't up to it. Harsh but it's the fact. He has come on a number of times this season and either struggled if under pressure or made unforced errors if in the ascendancy. The opening try came from him being turned over very easily as he looked to crab across from a ruck. He should have had a better pillar protection to slow down POM but it was very easy to strip him.

Hawkshaw is talented but he's not an outhalf. I think it says everything that Leinster elected to try Jimmy O'Brien at 10 earlier this season rather than bring Hawkshaw off the bench. Hopefully any future play is at 12 where his talent is best utilised.

clsmooth

MurDawg wrote: »

He is a long way off his very best.

We all hope he gets there, his first 18 months were probably the best a second row has ever come onto the scene.

But since leinster lost that game to sarries I think he has been average

The same James Ryan who lead the charts for lineout steals in the 6N despite having only played 160mins? I think he’s had his share of injuries with dislocating his shoulder and a few head injuries in the last 9 months which might not help people’s perceptions. I can’t remember any bad games he’s had since come back. I guess what you’re saying shows how high he has set his own bar at. What I’ve noticed from him is a big improvement in his lineout work in the last 6 months or so. He’s just not the shiny new thing anymore. We have Baird for that

Clegg

vapor trails wrote: »

He defensively read his way to that in what was a pretty **** year for Leinster and Ireland

That does nothing to back up the point you made about him not progressing as a player. He's progressed enough to the point where his peers think he was the best player in the country.

StevenToast

ShatterProof wrote: »

That’s only on TV. In real life he’s worse.

What dirt does Toland have on those in power to keep getting these gigs as a rugby analyst?

He was one of the most average back rows in his day and he is absolutely awful in commentary....

Clegg

I'll need to rewatch the game, but I think Dan Sheehan did alright for Leinster tonight. Struggled at the set piece, but didn't get munched like a few other of his forward colleagues. Josh Murphy was pretty poor I think. Simply not a number 8.

TomsOnTheRoof

Have to say I agree with the criticism of Ringrose. He's a decent player but he hasn't developed into the player we had hoped for. He doesn't have the top end acceleration to turn a half break into a significant gain and his distribution is only OK. He's solid, not spectacular (nothing wrong with that).

hold my beer

StevenToast wrote: »

What dirt does Toland have on those in power to keep getting these gigs as a rugby analyst?

He was one of the most average back rows in his day and he is absolutely awful in commentary....

I just turn off the sound. Otherwise I want to throw things at the screen.

arsebiscuits1

Disappointed by the result but not surprised.

Attitude was a big factor here and Munster brought it in spades.

The curtains were drawn on this game when HB went off. Hawkshaw doesn't have a bright future at 10 and was totally at sea. A mild rush defence on the back of a slow 9 meant Leinster weren't going to get anything moving outside 10.

HOS isn't up to this level unfortunately. As far as i know he hasn't been renewed. I find it hard to have sympathy for a 9 who has such disparity between their good and bad hands. His decision making was too slow and he was lethargic at the back of rucks and mauls. Having said that his pack offered him little help.

Also. Stephen Archer is guilty of the scummiest thing I've seen on a pitch in recent years.

I'm sure he can smartly deny it but these guys know EXACTLY where they put their feet.

He ****ing went a danced on another man's crotch with long studs. I never rated him as a player and now i don't rate him as a person.

Should have been red. Absolute scum.

Inconsequential as they would have brought Knox on at 50 with the new red card rule and I'm not so sure Leinster would have won again 14 anyway.

But seriously. Stephen Archer you're a scummy scummy bloke for that

Burkie1203

arsebiscuits1 wrote: »

Should have been red. Absolute scum.

Inconsequential as they would have brought Knox on at 50 with the new red card rule and I'm not so sure Leinster would have won again 14 anyway.

But seriously. Stephen Archer you're a scummy scummy bloke for that

Was it a Stade Francais v benetton game last year where a player was sent off for grabbing an opponents crotch.

But stamping is just YC. Seems odd. Marker got a 10 week ban too

vapor trails

Clegg wrote: »

That does nothing to back up the point you made about him not progressing as a player. He's progressed enough to the point where his peers think he was the best player in the country.

Leinster and Ireland were ****e last year for the most part and barely played a set of fixtures. If there was a year where this award was redundant it would be 2020. I'm actually surprised they gave one out. Did he even score a try for anyone in 2020?

He's been average at best for a while now. Defensive reads are the attributes you give out a player that is not actually great but the hype says he is