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

This result highlights what a disgrace Glasgow were last week....

Along with the welsh teams...

The SA's were badly needed for the integrity of this competition....vital going forward

Sexton made a show of himself today. Bulls were probably laughing at him.

You're the captain. How about rally your troops instead of getting involved in handbags trying to look tough.

Maybe you should take your profile off private and do everyone a favor. So we don’t have to read your posts.

The biggest issue in both losses over recent weeks have been centred around decision making. At times we lost the physical duels, but we had enough of the ball and attacking opportunities to win both games.

Against La Rochelle we went for the points when the French side were struggling with their discipline. In the end we lost due to trys scored. The reverse happened tonight. Our lineout was poor and we had 4 of our own throws stolen on the Bulls 5 metres line. Points were the better option.

Of course you can say this is all in hindsight, but eventually you expect them to actually make the right decisions.

Leinster's pack was bigger than the Bulls' pack. But we got bullied anyway. It wasn't about size. It was about who fronted up and who wanted it more.

Leinster don't like it when teams refuse to roll over and they stand up to them.

If that’s the case then it’s fixable. Effectively both teams brought great line speed and huge physicality on the ganeline. We weren’t finding soft shoulders and making line breaks off them. We need to find a way to adjust to that. Something for the coaches to work out.

There seems to be an arrogance amongst some Leinster supporters. (Not saying you). That we should win every game and are entitled too. We played poorly tonight. Some of that was down to the Bulls. Some possibly complacency. Hopefully both will be a source of learning for the squad as a whole and the coaches.

Aye. There's a lot of talk about physicality in tackles and packs being dominated - because that's become some sort of narrative and it's easy but lazy analysis - but the truth is neither of those things were true to anywhere near the degree people say. Leinster were on top physically at times in both games, and under the cosh at others. We were well capabable of winning both games on the night even with how the game went but made the wrong choices (as you say hindsight) at the wrong times. Much like the Ringrose/McGrath decisions against Saracens in the final there. Sexton clearance decision/take the points/unlucky bounce off JOB in the final this year.

People talk as if only Leinster are a team that play against big packs, we're not. Toulouse have a big pack, Montpellier have a big pack and many more do. No mention of physicality when we beat them, but it's easy to trot out afterwards. Gets tiresome to hear time after time when it doesn't come close to painting an accurate picture.

What I will say is that sure, being able to match Leinster up front does put the lads under pressure mentally in a situation where they may then make the wrong decisions, but people don't seem to talk about that at all.

Irish Times report is spot on.

Stark isn't the word I'd use. Stupid is. It was really poor decision making tonight when a man down.

Leinster have great structures/academy, good coaches and a solid fan base. They will still be able to improve.

They have been blessed with some excellent players who, for various reasons, have not played at their peak this season:

Ringrose, Henshaw, Porter, Furlong, Ryan, Conan, Doris, Park.

Their biggest challenge is finding the successor to Sexton. JC to return? 🤔