Leinster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread XII (The Byrne Supremacy)

Was thinking the exact same myself. Thought he would have at least got 30 mins considering how came panned out, think he only got about 15 mins and would imagine he won’t see any time with last two games unless Jonny or Ross pull out injured. Also assuming we get to final! 😂

Think I'd go for:

1. Porter
2. Sheehan
3. Ala'alatoa
4. McCarthy
5. Molony
6. Murphy
7. van der Flier
8. Conan
9. Gibson-Park
10. R. Byrne
11. O'Loughlin
12. Frawley
13. Henshaw
14. Larmour
15. Keenan
16. McKee
17. Healy
18. Clarkson
19. Baird
20. Doris
21. McGrath
22. H. Byrne
23. O'Brien

Need Molony's ball-handling to unlock the defence, and McCarthy for his power in the maul and dynamism around the park. Ryan doing his C.J. Stander impression and running into everyone won't work against these guys, I feel.

O'Loughlin has been a valuable player while some others have been injured. Who replaces him next season if there are similar injury absences? Russell? Cosgrave? Smith? Comerford? There could be an opening anyway.

I could see Baird doing well against these South African teams. They're maybe not as technical as some of the European teams, so they won't be as likely to stop him at source and his athleticism could come to the fore.

I think it would be a terrible mistake not to start McCarthy.

Baird at 6 they seem to looking at. We could see that.

Larmour has to start after this weeks performance. So O'Brien either stays at full back or is dropped to the bench if Keenan is back. Unless he can play 11 and Lowe hasn't returned.

Great. Had a brain fart there thinking he only played 14/15.

I think he's deserved a start at 11 over Lowe with Lowe on the bench maybe, if he is coming back to full fitness. Cullen may opt for Lowe if he's fit though.

On the one hand putting mccarthy in might show him what level he needs to be at to match the power of a SA or French lock for that matter. But also he's 2 or 3 years ahead of him so now is too soon and he may not mature enough physically, time will tell.

What's going on with the attendances were getting zebre/dragons on a cold November's night for knockout matches, Saturday was abysmal and this week's semi final looks just as bad on Ticketmaster.

Crowd fatigue, lack of casual fan interest in URC, assumption that we'll make the final anyway, short time to sell tix

Apathy towards the URC might be the biggest factor.

Just took a look at Ticketmaster. The ticket sales are looking a lot better than they were last week. It’s worth noting that last week was a bank holiday weekend off the back of a SF and Final that would have cost a good chunk for those who went to both. There are 2 more knock out games to go and Leinster would be all but sure of getting to those. Plus it was an awkward time on a Saturday for families who may have had stuff on. There’s probably a load of reasons why the game was poorly attended. For example our gang of around 15 STHs who go to basically every game we’re missing several due to a wedding.

I'm sure a lot of it is down to a large glut of home games all on top of each other as well.

The game at 3pm Saturday kills your day unless you are living fairly close to the RDS.

Yeah, we’re 30-40 mins drive from the RDS and when you factor in a little one (who we brought) and the need to get lunch into her before we left and dinner when we got back that was 1pm to 7pm all told. Other than a couple of hours in the morning that’s the whole day gone.

But as well as that we have a 6 week period with 5 home games, only 1 of which is covered by the season ticket. And the week that was away was the HEC final which a good few went to as well. That’s a lot of time and money that people would need to put in to getting behind the team week after week. And when you have a family or even just an other half, it’s a lot to be building weekend after weekend around rugby like that.

Hopefully this week is well attended and if so then there’s nothing to see with last weeks attendance.

I'm chuffed that the Bulls have made it to the sf! I think this side will be a tough ask this week. This is the kind of team that Leinster need to face, if they are to be able to stand with the more physical teams.

Last weekend's attendance was very very poor for a sunny Saturday playoff game I thought. But hopefully for the reasons listed - so many home games in a row and the bank holiday factor. Plus the relatively early Saturday kickoff.

I'd assume the final will definitely sell out if its in the RDS, and this week will hopefully be respectable. Both games likely being against the new, good Saffer, sides might give them some more novelty value than 'just another game' against a Welsh/Scottish side too. A bit more expectation of exciting rugby.

It is a shame the European season ended so far in advance of the league, but the June games definitely make for a far more pleasant day out weather-wise at least to be fair.