OFFICIAL Buildup Thread - Leinster vs Stade Rochelais Champions Cup Final 28/05/2022

I mean, I remember leinster being pretty dire in Bilbao and we won that game. To be fair. I don't think I've watched it back so maybe we weren't as bad as I remember. But I do back myself to accurately rate performances regardless of results.

I see a lot of mental gymnastics is going on in here to justify some peoples behaviour. Should have expected it as it's the norm on Boards.

I'm not so sure about Leinster making the final next year. Since the Leicester QF we've had a full strength 15 out on the pitch for the knockouts. In rugby it's becoming rarer that you can actually have that continuity in selection. Can't expect that all the time.

Leinsters attacking strategy, which blew through every side, was figured out by La Rochelle. They flooded the channel of the second receiver and made that players decision harder to execute. It's why we saw far more one out carries yesterday than in the SF. Expect more sides to do that going forward. They may not have the bulk of La Rochelle to stop Leinster on the gain line, so it'll be harder to implement, but it's a workable strategy.

I just think this loss really puts it into the Leinster mindset that they're not cut out to win big finals. In the defeats to Saracens in the past and to La Rochelle last season, Sexton and others have spoken about Leinster retreating into themselves and not executing their attacking strategy. They spoke about having to keep their heads and also developing their new way of playing in order to keep away from a slugfest. It still happened anyway yesterday. That must be mentally devastating.

Leinster are a very good side. Top 3 in Europe and have been for years. Unfortunately, they keep falling at the most pivotal hurdle. I don't see how you can overcome that.

On a more positive mindset, we've some excellent young players coming through. I think Joe McCarthy and Jamie Osborne will be regulars in the Ireland 23 in a few years time. The core of the pack will still be there and they're all still very good players. They'll also be supplemented by the promising youth coming through as well.

To the brave and the faithful nothing is impossible.

Except humility

Barnes didn't have the best of games yesterday I think. Seemed to have set out his stall that other than instances of serious foul play or bad sportsmanship, he wasn't getting his cards out.

There's a lot of posts online about how Barnes favoured Leinster which doesn't actually make sense. La Rochelle repeatedly infringed in their own 22, received a final warning, did it again but weren't penalised with a card.

I don't mind it so much because it was 'fair' on both sides. But it leads to the usual bad faith arguements being pushed out post match.

I'm from and a supporter of Connacht and I was shouting for Leinster and if Munster or Ulster were there I'd be shouting for them.

As regards the private Dublin schools, I don't think Ed Byrne, Tadgh Furlong, Jack Conan, Robbie Henshaw, Jimmy O'Brien and others would be impressed by those type of comments.

Tribalism doesn't belong in Rugby, go support soccer or GAA if you want that. Otherwise have a bit if respect for your rivals when you are not competing against them. I'm saying that to Leinster fans too by the way.

Somebody mentioned if you'd shout for Leinster in a semi-final if your team were in the other semi. That's a whole different thing and it's understandable in a situation like that. It's not when your team is out of the competition.

He let the game flow by allowing persistent infringement by LAR in the first half and then by Leinster in the last 10.

The game would have flowed better if he’d done his job properly in the first half and stopped LAR having a free for all at the ruck.