Over Harsh on Leinster

Pshan

Tim Robbins wrote: »

But to the media, it's all chalk and cheese - cr*p.

I remember Castres beat Munster in a pool game a few years back. Different reaction from the media then.

That's just so sad, talk about chalk and cheese, the Castres and Munster teams of 04/05 have changed so much, Castres were a power house of French rugby back then and thankfully Munster now have a far better squad. Isn't that also the year that Bourgoin failed to turn up in the RDS, Leinster win all their Pool games, get a home QF and fail to progress?

If you really admit it you must have thought (because nealry everyone else did) that Castres were there for the taking and that's why the media seem to be so hard on the province.

Erin Go Brath

Leinsters group is arguably the weakest group in the Heinken Cup, the oppositions current domestic league postitions:

Wasps 4th last in GP, Castres 2nd last in T14, Edinburgh 5th last in ML with lower placed teams having games in hand.

Really when you weigh it all up Leinster deserve to be criticised for losing any games in this group. Their next game away to Wasps is their most important and if they can win it they should secure a home qf. However if they don't secure a home qf i really don't fancy Leinster against most teams they'll likely be pitted against later. As such i think any slim hopes Leinster have of winning the HC this year rest squarely on them winning this game and thus securing (in all likelyhood) a home qf. Wasps v Leinster game is a huge one, expect critics to be even harsher on Leinster if they lose this!

Tim Robbins

Erin Go Brath wrote: »

v Leinster game is a huge one, expect critics to be even harsher on Leinster if they lose this!

Which is ridiculous. They've no right to expect to win that game. I'd be happy if they can get a BP and keep Wasps to 4 so that if we get 5 points against the Scots we should be ok.

Erin Go Brath

Tim Robbins wrote: »

Which is ridiculous. They've no right to expect to win that game. I'd be happy if they can get a BP and keep Wasps to 4 so that if we get 5 points against the Scots we should be ok.

Have you seen Wasps play recently?
I have, and if Leinster cant beat them they might aswell give it up and take up knitting.

Serenity Now!

Erin Go Brath wrote: »

Have you seen Wasps play recently?
I have, and if Leinster cant beat them they might aswell give it up and take up knitting.

This is the same sort of pap that fans and pundits were shovelling out before Ireland went to Twickenham last season :rolleyes:

Erin Go Brath

Serenity Now! wrote: »

This is the same sort of pap that fans and pundits were shovelling out before Ireland went to Twickenham last season :rolleyes:

No its just a problem with some Leinster fans. They've talked themselves into a defeat against a poor team before the game has even started.

If Leinster can go and win that match they'll gain the respect of media and neutrals which is lacking at the moment and with good reason.

daveharnett

anonymous_joe wrote: »

Injuries aside, a Leinster team full strength could be...

15. Kearney (or Dempsey)
14. Horgan (or Kearney - form dependant)
13. BOD
12. Gordon D'arcy
11. Luke Fitzgerald
10. Contepomi
9. Whitaker

8. Heaslip
7. Jennings
6. Rocky Elsom
5. Mal
4. Leo Cullen
3. CJ
2. Jackman
1. Stan Wright

That Leinster team on form has as much chance to win the HC as anyone. In terms of talent, only teams near them would be Munster, Ospreys and Toulouse.

If Leinster hadn't won a title last season and then signed two of the best players in teh Southern Hemisphere, fans expectation levels would not have been so high. Games like the Wasps match further served too increase expectations.

You are quite right to expect. I would reckon Leinster to be the most talented side in europe at the moment. If Leinster can make the ELVs work for them, particularly the availability of cheap possession courtesy of aimless kicking, then they could really dominate.

One weakness I would see is that the leaders of that team (MOK, Dr Phil and BOD) don't have bad days - they have miserably bad days. They need to figure out how to win on the bad days as well as the good ones.

daveharnett

daveharnett wrote: »

You are quite right to expect. I would reckon Leinster to be the most talented side in europe at the moment. If Leinster can make the ELVs work for them, particularly the availability of cheap possession courtesy of aimless kicking, then they could really dominate.

One weakness I would see is that the leaders of that team (MOK, Dr Phil and BOD) don't have bad days - they have miserably bad days. They need to figure out how to win on the bad days as well as the good ones.

The reluctancy to run the ball is stupid when such a talented backline is at their disposal.

I suppose the aim now is to make the other team make a mistake and teams are afraid to run the ball.

Tim Robbins

Erin Go Brath wrote: »

Have you seen Wasps play recently?
I have, and if Leinster cant beat them they might aswell give it up and take up knitting.

:-) Get out of it.
Munster are better ok. No argument there. All I was looking for was a little bit of objectivity, i.e. Leinster aren't that bad.
They're a good side, who can beat anyone on their day. But don't have the consistency required probably to win it.

I wonder what's going to happen when Munster inevitably fall off their high horse...

Tim Robbins

Tim Robbins wrote: »

I wonder what's going to happen when Munster inevitably fall off their high horse...

I will have a beer.

Chucky the tree

Tim Robbins wrote: »

They're a good side, who can beat anyone on their day. But don't have the consistency required probably to win it.

I wonder what's going to happen when Munster inevitably fall off their high horse...

Does that fact they can beat anyone on their day but they just dont bother to turn up most not deserve alot of cricticism? If your happy with them continuously under-performing then fair enough, but I'd say most fans arent.


Why bring Munster into again? I really dont see the relevance of that comment. Do you think that if started getting dumped out of the HEC in the group stage or in the knockout stages but they didnt perform anywhere near there ability they still be lauded as being the best thing since slice bread? Get real, once they start doing what Leinster do they'll get the same amount of stick.