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Leinster Team Talk Thread (Love you Furlong time)

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Comments

  • #22172
    Neil3030
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,154 ✭✭✭✭Neil3030


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121614205#Comment_121614205
    image.png

    LaRochelle currently beating Leicester 28-7. Assuming it remains 5-0, that'd put ROG's men 4th, ahead of Sale on 7 points.

    LaRochelle then go to Sale. So as long as that isn't a draw, either Sale or LaRochelle will likely go to 10+ points.

    Stormers, meanwhile, will play a (possibly dissinterested?) Stade Francais, where you could seem them possibly getting at least some BPs.

    tl:dr - Leicester risk slipping to 4th if they don't get something against Leinster. So they'll presumably be well up for it.

    Exciting final weekend, for sure.



  • #22173
    Neil3030
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,154 ✭✭✭✭Neil3030


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121614842#Comment_121614842

    Although Skelton just got sent to the sin bin, so prepare to disregard most if not all of this....



  • #22174
    Neil3030
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,154 ✭✭✭✭Neil3030


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121614850#Comment_121614850

    Aaaaand Danty could well be heading for an early shower here...



  • #22175
    Dave_The_Sheep
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,413 ✭✭✭Dave_The_Sheep


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121614866#Comment_121614866

    Honestly don't think there was much in that tackle - looked bad in real time due to the force involved, but on replay... Rode up a little, so penalty but I'm not sure I agree with a card.



  • #22176
    StormForce13
    Registered Users Posts: 351 ✭✭StormForce13



    40 - 7 now. Either Tigers are appalling (which they are) or LaR are sensational (which they are).

    Unless Sale can eliminate LaR next weekend, they could still win the bloody thing again!


    Edit: Make that 45 - 7. And 5 minutes to go.



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  • #22177
    Neil3030
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,154 ✭✭✭✭Neil3030


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121614962#Comment_121614962

    For me, yellow was fair. But I agree it looked a lot less serious on the replays (which I saw after I had posted the above).



  • #22178
    pickarooney
    Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 35,484 Mod ✭✭✭✭pickarooney


    Pretty sure Berjon thought the 5m line was the tryline there.



  • #22179
    Clontarf_Jazz
    Registered Users Posts: 89 ✭✭Clontarf_Jazz


    My god Pollard had a shocker of a cameo today - he was awful - couldn't do a single thing right. But the Tigers now have to go fully loaded versus Les Blues as previous posters said as they could mathematically end up 4th in the group.



  • #22180
    Clegg
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,183 ✭✭✭✭Clegg


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121479791#Comment_121479791

    I stand by this comment. Winning at the Marcel-Deflendre is one of Leinster's greatest ever victories. It's just so hard to win there. La Rochelle completely obliterated Leicester this afternoon. Won all the major collisions in attack and defence and even dominated the period they were down to 13 men.



  • #22181
    Harper Whispering Police
    Posts: 0 ✭✭✭✭ Harper Whispering Police


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121615129#Comment_121615129

    The try they scored just before half time was incredible. It was like watching a team of adults bullying a team of schoolchildren. Power, pace, accuracy, had it all.



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  • #22182
    Lia Sweet Racist
    Posts: 0 ✭ Lia Sweet Racist


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121615129#Comment_121615129

    I agree with this - but I also think it’s the only time this season I’ve really seen Leinster reach that level.

    Too often going through the motions and attack just not clicking at all. No continuity at 10 (and likely to continue until Ross is healthy again), and a game still littered with errors in a way we haven’t been before.



  • #22183
    jacothelad
    Registered Users Posts: 5,933 ✭✭✭jacothelad


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121606865#Comment_121606865

    Well I suppose that if they are surplus to requirements at Leinster they could always just give up rugby rather than move to Munster......FFS .......


    What does it matter where a player originates? It's where they end up and to what level they reach. Sometime this place if like an effing kindergarten. How many times do we have to read... 'Wah wah...look at all our not so good players going elsewhere. Isn't it shocking that they can't produce their own. Much better that those players go on the dole...Eh!" Grow the feck up is my advice. It's not the School's Cup...it's a professional business.



  • #22184
    Harper Whispering Police
    Posts: 0 ✭✭✭✭ Harper Whispering Police


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121615370#Comment_121615370

    Nonsense post. Some players leaving don't really move the needle but guys like Carbery and Conway were first team players that no Leinster supporters wanted to see leave. And some of the names linked (Frawley, Milne) at the moment are far from surplus to requirements. Easy for supporters of other provinces to say stuff like this when they're the beneficiaries.



  • #22185
    Dubinusa
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,605 ✭✭✭Dubinusa


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121615726#Comment_121615726

    Aye aye. Agreed. Some quality players rumored to leave.



  • #22186
    aloooof
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 10,604 Mod ✭✭✭✭aloooof


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121615726#Comment_121615726

    Conway left Leinster over a decade ago. Carbery over 5 years ago.

    I absolutely understand why Leinster fans are aggrieved when it happens, but imo, the vast majority of players that leave Leinster, or even those furthest up the depth that that are touted to leave (e.g. the likes of Deegan and Frawley) - I'm not convinced their loss would make an appreciable difference to Leinster.

    Frawley is a perfectly good example of not "moving the needle" like you suggest. He's spent the last 2 Champions Cup finals on the bench without getting a single minute. Someone mentioned on another thread that Deegan has played 91 mins of Champions Cup rugby in the last 3 seasons, including this one.

    Scott Penny is another, who has 94 Champions Cup minutes in his entire Leinster career. And they're the guys furthest up the depth chart.

    Like as I asked previously, if they are to leave Leinster, would you rather they went abroad or stayed in Ireland?



  • #22187
    ersatz
    Registered Users Posts: 1,551 ✭✭✭ersatz


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121615726#Comment_121615726

    Not surplus to requirements from the coaches POV as they are there to be used as needed, but surplus to requirements from the players pov, and arguably from Irelands. We have players who are potentially very high level not getting much CC game time in Leinster and therefore not developing at the rate they might otherwise.



  • #22188
    pickarooney
    Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 35,484 Mod ✭✭✭✭pickarooney


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121615870#Comment_121615870

    That Stade Français team yesterday all have at least 80 minutes of CC rugby. It's pretty meaningless a lot of the time.



  • #22189
    aloooof
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 10,604 Mod ✭✭✭✭aloooof


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121616098#Comment_121616098

    It is for Stade, and say, Gloucester last season. But the bigger point is the Irish teams have generally always prioritised Europe more than some of their English and French counterparts. So the minutes played for the provinces is far more indicative of their relative place in the depth chart.

    I think Deegan's, Penny's and Frawley's minutes in Europe is representative of their importance to Leinster.



  • #22190
    Clegg
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,183 ✭✭✭✭Clegg


    Leinster just need a single point from next weekends game to ensure they finish top of their pool.

    Could still top it with no points provided we don't let Leicester hammer us and Stormers don't batter Stade.

    Another away win against a tough opponent would be so much better for morale though.



  • #22191
    Thrashssacre
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,269 ✭✭✭Thrashssacre


    Currently seeding has us playing la Rochelle in the last 16 and makes it likely we travel to Toulouse or Bordeaux in a potential semi final, looks like we'll be doing it the hard way this year.



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  • #22192
    Rigor Mortis
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,914 ✭✭✭Rigor Mortis


    If we get five points next weekend, there is a very strong chance we get second seed. Even with four points we might just do it, because of other fixtures.

    Need to go full strength next weekend.



  • #22193
    Buer
    Registered Users Posts: 24,258 ✭✭✭✭Buer


    A top 2 spot really needs to be the aim here and I'm sure Cullen is fully aware of the permutations.

    Right now, that is out of our hands as we are the lowest ranked of the pool leaders. However, some tough final fixtures could see that change. Toulouse are more than likely going to top proceedings on 19/20 points as they host Bath (also on 15 so one of them will be on 19). Bordeaux are currently on 15. A win in Pretoria gives them 19 with a healthy PD which makes them uncatchable for us, in reality. Hopefully the Bulls do us a favour and get a win but them resting their 4 current Bok players isn't helping. A lot will depend on what team Bordeaux send down there. They've a 7 day turnaround to play Stade Francais at home so may wish to focus on that. If they lost though, Lyon could pip them to top spot still.

    I'll work on the basis that Northampton don't get a win in Thomond. They've played above themselves but they also owe their position to being in a fairly weak pool; I don't see them troubling the latter stages of the tournament.

    Top two spot means home games all the way to the final, if Leinster are able to get there. I wouldn't fancy Leinster to win right now if they had to go away to Toulouse or Bordeaux.

    Have to beat Leicester first and foremost. Their attack is very poor but, for the first 30 minutes anyway, they were actually going fairly well particularly up front. I'd imagine they'll be looking for a response next week particularly in front of their own support. See the likes of Ulster earlier this season against Racing after being thumped. Leicester are good at home....have now beaten Saracens, Bath and the Stormers in their last games. Leinster should still have too much for them though particularly if their launch plays go so well again (and we saw that Leicester are vulnerable to those in Dublin last season).



  • #22194
    Quin_Dub
    Moderators, Politics Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators Posts: 15,980 Mod ✭✭✭✭Quin_Dub


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121615870#Comment_121615870

    The point is though that those players have huge minutes in the URC over the last number of seasons - Take them away and then take away the dozen or more internationals and Leinster start to struggle to win those URC games.

    So yes , they make a significant difference to the squad overall - It's disingenuous to say "well they haven't played many European games so they aren't important" or whatever.



  • #22195
    aloooof
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 10,604 Mod ✭✭✭✭aloooof


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121617759#Comment_121617759

    I didn't say "aren't important" so I fail to see how my point is disingenuous. But their level of importance is relative.

    I'm not convinced it'd make an appreciable difference if, say, Frawley and Deegan left. I'd still expect to see Leinster topping their pool. Just like they continued to do after Carbery left.



  • #22196
    Lia Sweet Racist
    Posts: 0 ✭ Lia Sweet Racist


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121617822#Comment_121617822

    You can't just keep ripping out important depth pieces though and claim it has no impact.

    Frawley has played more minutes than anyone for Leinster this season - he's featured in every single game. He covered full back while Keenan was still coming back from the RWC, stepped in and covered 10 for multiple games (incl off the bench) and had a really good game at 12 on Stephens' Day down in Thomond. To say he's not been an important part of Leinster's success this season just doesn't make sense.

    Similarly - Deegan has played in 7 out of 9 URC games, starting 6, and has scored 4 tries.

    Munster have struggled this season because the depth isn't there - as soon as a few injuries occur (which can happen), they were forced into significant rejigs and playing players out of their best position etc. Leinster haven't suffered like that because of the quality squad depth guys like Deegan provide. He's the sort of player who I think if he was in the 15/23 next week in an important European game not one single Leinster fan would have doubts about his ability to deliver.

    You can't argue guys like that aren't crucial parts of the squad.



  • #22197
    ironingbored
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,127 ✭✭✭ironingbored


    Great prediction spreadsheet for the nerds here:

    https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1XvWj9oH3THjM-6PSyLy6FnH_Zaxe4FF1JnV48qmIPxU/edit#gid=2016284739



  • #22198
    aloooof
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 10,604 Mod ✭✭✭✭aloooof


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121617857#Comment_121617857

    But again, I didn't say "no impact". Nor that he hasn't been important to Leinster.

    I don't think it would have an appreciable impact. Suggesting they are crucial to Leinster is very much overstating it, imo.

    Post edited by Boards.ie: Mike on


  • #22199
    Lia Sweet Racist
    Posts: 0 ✭ Lia Sweet Racist


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121617894#Comment_121617894

    I don't think it's fair to say losing a guy, for example, who has been ever present this season, is in Leinster's first choice 23 and has played the most minutes of any player, would count as "no appreciable impact".



  • #22200
    aloooof
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 10,604 Mod ✭✭✭✭aloooof


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121617909#Comment_121617909

    Tbh, I'd still expect Leinster to top their pool without Frawley.

    Someone like Porter is far more in the "crucial" territory, not Frawley.

    The larger point with regard the Ireland context is, for example, is it getting the most from Penny when nearly 40% of his minutes last season were against the bottom 5 URC teams?

    Post edited by Boards.ie: Mike on


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  • #22201
    sydthebeat
    Subscribers Posts: 41,787 ✭✭✭✭sydthebeat


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121617894#Comment_121617894

    its absolutely obvious that those players gone from leinster would make an appreciatable impact.

    Again ill point you to the fact that Deegan played every single minute of leinsters final 8 rounds of last years URC. Every single one of those 640 minutes.

    Doris played 67 of those. Conan played 124. Both obviously being minded by the IRFU for the RWC.

    Deegan isnt there who do we play? Penny was playing those games at 7. Ruddock was playing at 6 until a hamstring injury ended his season.


    LP above has already laid out how important Frawley has been to Leinster this season. Ross and harry byrne have spent a significant time out already this season with injury and Sam Prendergast is literally a baby at this level.

    Both of those players are incredibly important senior players in the squad and to suggest that it would make no 'appreciable difference' if they weren't there is simply wrong. I dont expect to change your opinion on this, but id suggest you arent coming at the issue with an open viewpoint (munter suffer injuries to their first 23, their squad appears to be very callow). While leinster have a strong squad, its strength comes from the shared minutes among the squad and the ability to give minutes to young players mixed in with senior players.



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