Leinster v Munster match thread

Carbery was decent last night, backing up another good display last week.

While he's a convenient social media scapegoat, he is still one of the best players Munster have and their problems run much deeper than him.

Well if you call shovelling ball across an ineffective back line a decent performance then fair enough.

He had some decent kicks but that was the best of it.

You could argue that the poor service from Murray limited his opportunity but we’ll have to hold judgement on that until something changes.

On rewatch, the difference in power between the respective packs was notable. Munster just couldn't get anything from their attacking maul inside Leinster's 22. The most telling moment was around the 66 minute mark. Munster had a 5m attacking marl, couldn't push over, went through the phases without making a metre and where then counter rucked off their own ball. That extra bit of power for Leinster was crucial. It was Henshaw ploughing through Ahern as well.

Leinster's attacking maul was also excellent. Mowed through a few times and despite being held up over the line.

In phase play I think Leinster's carrying game was simply more effective too. Our forwards were coming onto the ball at greater speed and making it beyond the gainline. It opened up more space in the line which is why we saw so many line breaks, especially in the first half. Munster weren't hitting the line at anywhere near the same speed and got stopped too frequently.

Doris was the outstanding forward on the pitch today. Carrying on his excellent form from the summer tour.

Excellent post.

Anyone who can structure sentences so coherently with near flawless punctuation after that much alcohol deserves massive credit, lets not get to bogged down in what was actually said however as that would take the gloss off what I consider post of the year so far.

I posted the below on the 6th of March in the General Rugby Thread. Never thought it would eventually lead to me being the reincarnation of John Charles McQuaid.

Anyone watching Blackrock vs Terenure College? Schools Cup QF live on Premier Sports right now.

It's an utter demolition job from Blackrock so far. They're winning 22-0 after 22 minutes. Seems to be a big power mismatch between the two sides. Blackrock are winning all the collisions. Their footballing skills are very good as well. Some excellent offloading and support lines being run. They're also good at identifying space out wide and shifting it quickly. Their hooker is a flier. Keeping him out wide to use his speed in one of ones.

Poor Terenure just haven't been in it at all. Barely had possession and are getting smashed at the ruck and scrum.

Edit: 29-0 after 30 minutes now.

Leinster will be disappointed with their performance, left 20-30 points out there. Not sure why munster would take anything from they game, it was incredibly one sided, the scoreline was close for a while because Leinster butchered chance after chance. It was a pretty dire watch too, 40 seconds to take a line out, Murray having a Mexican stand off with the rugby ball at the back of every ruck..

Also the seats they give to season ticket holders in the Aviva are just dreadful. That bottom tier is so shallow you can't see a thing

That's a very good spot. The TV replays and commentators focused on the offload, but not that Ringrose had made his way from the other wing in anticipation of the attack. It's the sign of a well coached side and an excellent player that he knew the pass would come and that he got in position to receive it.

Ringrose has put in three motm worthy performances in a row. Got the award vs the Sharks, and was our best player against Connacht even though he didn't get the nod. McGrath played well last night but Doris or Ringrose were better.

After watching it again, I thought that G Coombes was quite good. He was part of an overwhelmed pack and he competed and put in a big shift. His workrate was great. Hodnett too was industrious. But, Loughman was my pick of the Munster pack. He was mullered at tight head, but at loose head he was very good. I think he's going to get into the national squad.

Rowntree imo, should move on from Kilcoyne. Loughmsn and Wycherly should be the focus. Both are younger and I think both are better scrummagers. It's also hard to criticize Knox, he's basically a new born in terms of a tight head. Whether he develops into a top end tight head, is another thing. I would use him going forward.

From a Leinster perspective, the amount of errors is killing them. They will not beat the elite sides unless they eliminate the errors! They really have not clicked fully yet. Again. Deegan was brilliant. I was pleased to see him put in a good performance. JOB was very good again. He's becoming a fantastic player. Very strong under the high ball and good in defense.

The match itself was ok. The sloppiness added to the spectacle. I would think the rematch will be a better game. Munster will have their wounded back and should be clicking better.