A Million Ways to Lose in the West (Conn v Lein)

Utopia Parkway

Bar the first 10 minutes I think it’s been fairly even stuff. I don’t really see the overwhelming Leinster domination others seem to be seeing. Not that they won’t go on to win the game comfortably. But it’s been fairly competitive bar the early stages.

cson

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119745879#Comment_119745879

I did qualify it with 'arguably' mate 😉

Anyway, I stand by it, Connacht grew into the game and had a lot of red zone chances where the execution wasn't there to finish them and the scoreboard reflects that. Leinster have had their chances too, and have looked good with ball in hand but similar execution issues to Connacht. I find it bizarre to draw attention to the penalties given away, as if discipline is not part of the game? If my aunty had balls and all that.

Utopia Parkway

Wind picking up all the time so advantage Leinster.

Clegg

Connacht awarded a pen despite their player supporting his weight with his hands and having been cleared out before but was awarded.

Former Former Former

Jesus this is awful

randomname2005

Intriguing enough game for 7 0

randomname2005

I was going to say that was a long advantage and should have been given over but late and looked like no wrap by 4 green. Probably fair enough

molloyjh

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119745916#Comment_119745916

I’m saying Connacht aren’t creating anything. With ball in hand they are going nowhere and can only get their attacking opportunities through the penalties that we are giving them. They’ve made 96m with 50% possession. Leinster have made 290m. They have yet to make a clean break. Leinster have made 3. Leinster are keeping them in the game because they aren’t creating anything for themselves.

Clegg

Someone needs to check that Hansen clear out on VDF.

Looked very high.

randomname2005

Leinster lucky there, diving on the ground within one meter of the ruck. Lucky something before

Utopia Parkway

Connacht have had plenty of opportunities in the Leinster 22 but keep producing bad errors at the wrong time.

Clegg

Nick McCarthy tackled in the air.

Leinster penalised for something Connacht were awarded for in the first half

randomname2005

Was 6 green not in the side clearing out Ryan?

Strumms

Frank Murphy as per usual, making it up as he goes along..

KH25

Clear out from the side on Ryan. Nothing from Murphy. Standard.

cson

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119746029#Comment_119746029

He was hit right as he planted his feet back down.

I don't know what game you're watching buddy, the butthurt at every call is embarrassing. Your team has a host of Internationals on the field right now and the biggest budget in the league, you shouldn't need the refs help to beat us.

randomname2005

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119746042#Comment_119746042

In the air needs to be seen again, but there was a clear hands on the ground before Connacht were awarded a penalty to Boyle I believe for 'holding on' which Leinster were just penalised for doing what Boyle did. No conspiracy, just ref being human

Strumms

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119746042#Comment_119746042

Considering the help that Connaught are getting it’s unlikely.

Utopia Parkway

Weirdly compelling for a game that’s been 7-0 since the 3rd minute.

cson

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119746059#Comment_119746059

*Connacht

But anyway deal me out of this bluefest.

Connacht line speed is terrific, but they're getting away with being offside a good deal also.

Clegg

Oliver's hands on the ground to stabilize his weight when affecting that turnover.

Clegg

God I love Joe McCarthy

Clegg

Rob Russell is not having a good game. Had the same problem as last week where he crabbed across the pitch and ate up space rather than straightening.

Strumms

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119746071#Comment_119746071

can anyone give you a shout if there are any more typos ? 😎

penalty was harsh, he touched his back slightly.

Clegg

God I love VDF.

Biggest of big game players.

Larbre34

Murphy finally running out of let-offs.

randomname2005

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119746103#Comment_119746103

Harsh penalty for contact in the air.

Smashing play by porch to make that tackle on JDF

Ringrose stand out for me. Sheehan and Ryan both excellent also.

Boyle terrific for Connacht.

Clegg

Would've gone with Ringrose as motm. He was excellent in attack in the first half.

But VDF us a worthy winner as well.

Former Former Former

VDF and Ringrose were a class apart tonight, the only guys who really looked like test level players. JOB had a tidy game in rubbish conditions. Ross Byrne looked to be carrying a knock but he was ineffectual at best.

Connacht looked like they were so focused on disrupting Leinster that they forgot to think about what they'd do with the ball once they got it. They did a great job in rush defence, made sh1t of the Leinster lineout, stole a few turnovers and then... nothing.

Clegg

Joe McCarthy has made some mammoth carries since coming on. Such a huge prospect.

Larbre34

Leinster will be happy with 4 pts, but a lot of weaknesses to be dealt with.

It is unacceptable that the lineout continues to misfire. Cullen and MacBryde must grab a hold of it fast.

Former Former Former

that is a fitting final play

crisco10

More injuries racking up here for leinster.

Ryan

Conan

And moloney looked uncomfortable at end

Also missed who frawley came on for.

dastardly00

Ah jaysus Jack Carty 🤦

Brief_Lives

Porch or VdF worthy MoM ... good game, for such a low scoring game... immensive leinster defensive, connacht couldn't break them... certain poster on this thread is a massive whingebag...

lawrencesummers

Typical Carthy, the yellow pack finn russell.

Frank murphy made it a right contest ignoring the offside rule consistently all game long.

phily2002

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119746182#Comment_119746182

Conan looked like he split his eyelid so hopefully should be fine. Ryan looked in pain but fingers crossed it was nothing serious

KH25

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119746182#Comment_119746182

Russel I think, but don’t think it was down to injury.

Utopia Parkway

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119746183#Comment_119746183

Very nearly a fantastic kick from where he was and into the wind. Unfortunately just drifted the wrong side of the flag.

Akrasia

Is there any reason Leinster didn't use their bench? Is it a strategy or they just don't trust them to finish the game?

Clegg

Connacht have been the most effective team in disrupting Leinsters ball this season. But in attack they were utterly dreadful. Leinster read their attacking patterns and Ringrose especially made some big hits behind the gainline.

Thought Carty had a stinker.

As someone mentioned - a more interesting game than the score suggested. Connacht's Line speed and defensive line out did a number on Leinster, Leinster's discipline cost them a huge amount of territory, definitely some frustration in their play in the last 20 minutes of the first half.

Halves let Leinster down giving away block downs, Ross Byrne had a game to forget.

crisco10

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119746206#Comment_119746206

They used all their bench in good time bar mckee and frawley.

I agree they don't seem to trust mckee and worry that sheahan is racking up the minutes cos of it.

leakyboots

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119746160#Comment_119746160

Your second paragraph is spot on. Connacht showed how to disrupt Leinster but when they had their chances they did very little.

Akrasia

10 seconds doesn't count. It's just stat padding. Sheahan is a great player, are Leinster trying to condition him for resilience? Or is McKee just making up the numbers.

Even when munster had academy players on the bench we usually give them at least 10 mins

Faugheen

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119746232#Comment_119746232

Dan Sheehan is a phenomenal athlete, but I think Kelleher has a better skill set for a hooker, especially with his darts.

The problem is Kelleher is made of glass lately but I really don’t think the line out malfunctions as much in the first if he’s throwing instead of Sheehan.

Utopia Parkway

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119746226#Comment_119746226

Just inaccurate. Made plenty visits to the Leinster 22 but would produce a knock on, concede a penalty or get shoved into touch with the try line gaping. Have to give credit to Leinster's defence as well but Connacht will be disappointed with not converting possession and territory into any scores. Not even one score.

Scrappy dogfight of a game, which Leinster regularly seem to get dragged into now in Galway.

Connacht made life hard for Leinster, especially out of touch, but their attacking shape was really poor. The big loopy passes out the back very easily telegraphed and usually led to lost yardage. Dunno if Connacht had a line break in the 80 minutes that I can recall.

Ringrose had an excellent first half - smashed Carty and Fitzgerald in tackles and also sat Carty on his arse with great footwork on another occasion. Sheehan was excellent again in the loose.

Murray Kinsella reckoned on TV James Ryan was calling the lineouts and was blaming some of the lineout struggles on that. I don't know if that's true, but I don't think we lost a lineout after he went off and presumably Molony was calling them. Ryan had been solid and physical around the park though before the injury.

Cormac Foley had a ropey night. Passing was poor too many times, and I wanted to scream at how easy he kept making it to get charged down.

JvDF deserved MotM. Joe McCarthy had some huge carries when introduced, and Andrew Porter had the Connacht scrum in pieces (even if, as usual, he could scarcely buy a penalty out of Frank Murphy there).