Leinster Rugby V Racing 92 Match Thread | Kick Off 16:45 Ireland Time | Sky & BT

Long is the way and hard, that out of Hell leads up to light.

You could reflect on Milton's words and think of this season. The defeat of the English Champions, the Pro14 Champions, The reigning European Champions and the no.1 club team in France at the end of the regular season was certainly a long, hard road to take to this final.
After navigating a hell of a group the knock outs would conspire to be no kinder. A baptism of fire certainly for a team with so much youth, yet fire can both destroy and create and indeed it seems like this Leinster team has been forged by this season into an almost unstoppable force.

And now, in the final they face a team with the most honest and determined defence in the Championship, an immovable object.

The Unstoppable force V The Immovable object

Rob Kearney 15 Louis Dupichot
Jordan Larmour 14 Teddy Tomás
Garry Ringrose 13 Virimi Vakatawa
Robbie Henshaw 12 Henry Chavancy
Isa Nacewa 11 Marc Andreu
Johnny Sexton 10 Pat Lambie
Luke McGrath 9 Teddy Iribaren
Jordi Murphy 8 Yannick Nyanga
Dan Leavy 7 Bernard Le Roux
Scott Fardy 6 Wenceslas Lauret
James Ryan 5 Leone Nakarawa
Devin Toner 4 Donnacha Ryan
Tadgh Furlong 3 Cedate Gomes Sa
Seán Cronin 2 Camille Chat
Cian Healy 1 Eddy Ben Arous

Rory O'Loughlin 23 Joe Rokocoko
Joey Carbery 22 Dan Carter
Jamison Gibson-Park 21 Antoine Gibert
Jack Conan 20 Baptiste Chouzenoux
Rhys Ruddock 19 Boris Palu
Andrew Porter 18 Census Johnston
Jack McGrath 17 Vasil Kakovin
James Tracy 16 Ole Avei



If some of those names seem familiar, it might be because you've looked at a few international team sheets in your day. There is an immense amount of quality in the collective 46 players from Ireland, France and further afield.

I wanted to write this match thread because at the core of my love for rugby is pride. It's a type of pride that needs to be shared and is collective. Not a sharing in the sense of posting about it or talking about it or boasting about it. I mean sharing it with my friends, my family, my children and the players, because they are one and the same. A pride that is intensified and amplified by the fact that I'm not cheering a team, I'm cheering my schoolmates, my neighbours and my community. A team with it's roots and upbringing in Ireland.

And believe it or not, so are Racing. With 12 French qualified players (and a few injured ones watching on in the sidelines) this team for all it's wealth represents France in a way I feel is meaningful, and through that I feel it gives the final greater resonance as a contest and spectacle. And a spectacle it will be.

Culture


There is a quote I like by a US author called Thomas Wolfe which goes

"Culture is the arts elevated to a set of beliefs"

I think there is an honesty in this, but I think in the case of Leinster the opposite might just be true. Culture has been the theme of this season for Leinster and admirably it has been led from the Top down.

Lancaster spoke about joining Leinster and wanting to get the culture right. He said that it wasn't a hard job, the culture was there and his priority was to learn it and understand it and then hold players accountable to it.

In Leinster's case however it's not the art elevated to belief, it's belief elevated to art. A belief that the coaches have given the players by preparing them but importantly a belief that comes from the footsteps already walked in 2009, 2011 and 2012. The tree that is Leinster and the community that fuels it, has it's roots in those victories and it's that history that I believe may be the difference tomorrow.

Support

I think some of the defining moments in Leinster's first European win happened in Lansdown in 1999 and Cardiff in 2006. When Ulster and Munster lifted the trophy, every single player in Leinster knew that if their brothers could do it, so could they, after all - we're a family and a country.

100,000 fans supported Leinster through the knock outs and the final is a packed house. There have been many conversations this year about the population shift towards Dublin and the benefit this has given to Leinster.

The reality is that many of the parents who will be in Bilbao are from Ulster, Munster and Connacht. If Leinster win, it gives all of Irish rugby belief and I hope that it is a rallying call for everyone who wears green first and foremost to row in behind the players wearing blue tomorrow

Expectations

I expect the opening 15 minutes to be the type of hell that Leinster have thrived in for most of their European season. They are too disciplined to give Racing a platform and I don't think Racing have the ball retention to break Leinster down. Provided Leinster don't miss their tackles out wide and hold their defensive shape in midfield then Racing will rely on scraps.

On the other hand, if Leinster hold onto the ball as we know they can, Racing could find themselves in trouble if they have to defend beyond 5 - 10 phases. If Leinster get opportunities to counter attack, Racing are poor at getting back into shape defensively.

Prediction

Racing 17 Leinster 34

mfceiling

TLDR

Donnielighto

Leinster by a million

Buer

Subs bench is listed backwards.

Anarchy.

salmocab

Who doesn’t enjoy an international steam sheet?

irishbucsfan

Buer wrote: »

Subs bench is listed backwards.

Anarchy.

Ban this sick filth

Neil3030

Deleted User wrote: »

...If some of those names seem familiar, it might be because you've looked at a few international steam sheets in your day...

This is a family place, Venjur.

Dave_The_Sheep

Centred text.
*shudder*

Neil3030

Neil3030 wrote: »

This is a family place, Venjur.

I'll just presume you are not a PC gamer

Dave_The_Sheep wrote: »

Centred text.
*shudder*

I'd generally agree - but on this platform I think it looks better. And you're a sheep, you shouldn't even be posting online and especially not on a forum where there is a decent chance of New Zealand and Scottish supporters...

P_1

Great write up! Feckin buzzed for this now!

Clegg

Great thread Venjur.

Can somebody tell me about Vakatawa? Playing at centre but I've only ever seen him play as a wing. I wonder if we'll get Ringrose to test his defence.

Bazzo

Clegg wrote: »

Great thread Venjur.

Can somebody tell me about Vakatawa? Playing at centre but I've only ever seen him play as a wing. I wonder if we'll get Ringrose to test his defence.

Been playing at 13 a good bit this year and he's looked pretty impressive to be fair to him.

Edit: just to expand a bit I think he was in the centre against both Toulon and Clermont and looked good so not exactly minnows either. He was up against a very stacked Toulon centre and looked really good.

dubal

Fabulous post... I so need to be there. I have a question, if Leinster win, do munster have to give them a guard of honour next week?

dubal

dubal wrote: »

Fabulous post... I so need to be there. I have a question, if Leinster win, do munster have to give them a guard of honour next week?

Yes, with Reggie at the front!

Neil3030

I'll need to wait and see the teams line out tomorrow, and specifically, how badly Donnacha Ryan looks like he needs to take a dump. The more pained effort on his face, the more Racing are up for it.

joseywhales

Highlight of the final: Battle of the Ryan

Doesn't bode well for King James

sydthebeat

Hats off Venj....

Top class post, got me right in the feels.

CJay1

I'm sorry, but that's just too much. It's only a game of rugby..ffs.

how.gareth

CJay1 wrote: »

I'm sorry, but that's just too much. It's only a game of rugby..ffs.

Jealousy will get you nowhere bud

CoDy1

Yes, quality write up, hairs on neck stuff, apparently this is going to be easy and it probably will and I for one will finally bow down to our Leinster overlords* and hope they are feckin shagged for next week





*for 1 week






jk. Bring it homeðŸ‘ðŸ»

CoDy1

CJay1 wrote: »

I'm sorry, but that's just too much. It's only a game of rugby..ffs.

‘Telpis

Burkie1203

Weather in bilbao has changed a lot

[url]

Https://twitter.com/sineadkissane/status/995185292146610176?s=19[/url]

Burkie1203

Ffs

https://twitter.com/neil_treacy/status/995189322797211649?s=19

A-Train

Burkie1203 wrote: »

Ffs

https://twitter.com/neil_treacy/status/995189322797211649?s=19

Standing here waiting, they needed 6 and have 3 volunteers so far. A later flight tonight and now €400 cash.

Lucy8080

Not a bad effort o.p. !

4 STARS FROM ME.

Come back next year if you want a 5 star rating.

C'mon Leinster!

prawnsambo

A-Train wrote: »

Standing here waiting, they needed 6 and have 3 volunteers so far. A later flight tonight and now €400 cash.

Tonight? Like after the match? :eek:

Burkie1203

prawnsambo wrote: »

Tonight? Like after the match? :eek:

Just in time to get your flight home.

A-Train

prawnsambo wrote: »

Tonight? Like after the match? :eek:

Yeah exactly it’s crazy. Like a Mexican stand off here, no movement at all.

prawnsambo

Be better off getting a flight somewhere else like Santiago de Compostella or Biarritz.

Burkie1203

A-Train wrote: »

Yeah exactly it’s crazy. Like a Mexican stand off here, no movement at all.

They provided extra flights for the match then allowed this to happen. Its disgusting greed. 6 people paid for seats that dont exist which were 600 quid a pop.

That flight is an hour late now.

prawnsambo

There are three other flights to Bilbao between now and 10:10. You'd think they could get the operators of those ones to take a few extra.

Neil3030

Game is in 8 or so hours. I'd give up my seat for the first available flight to an airport from which I could get a taxi to the match (which they'd pay for) and be on time. Oh and at least £2000.

Burkie1203

prawnsambo wrote: »

There are three other flights to Bilbao between now and 10:10. You'd think they could get the operators of those ones to take a few extra.

They probably overbooked/full too. The delayed flight is the extra one aer lingus put on specifically for the rugby by all accounts.

A-Train

Just on the plane now, a farce but hopefully finally on the way. It looks like the plane they were going to use developed a fault last night, they sent one thinking grand, but this plane has business seats in it which means they are down a row or 2 of standard seats. Planning at its best

Bridge93

They'd be paying me 3 or 4 thousand to get me off that plane. Good to hear all is sorted

Burkie1203

Bridge93 wrote: »

They'd be paying me 3 or 4 thousand to get me off that plane. Good to hear all is sorted

That's horrendous.
https://twitter.com/blueboys21/status/995203971160723456?s=19

Bazzo

Jesus that is a disaster

Bridge93

There'll be lawsuits if they don't get those people out there in time. Not to mention the awful PR this creates

Former Former

A-Train wrote: »

Just on the plane now, a farce but hopefully finally on the way. It looks like the plane they were going to use developed a fault last night, they sent one thinking grand, but this plane has business seats in it which means they are down a row or 2 of standard seats. Planning at its best

Well that's fair enough. Disaster for the guys who lose out but a plane develops a fault, what are you gonna do? At least they were able to get a replacement.

A-Train

Former Former wrote: »

Well that's fair enough. Disaster for the guys who lose out but a plane develops a fault, what are you gonna do? At least they were able to get a replacement.

Yeah completely just very frustrating as you could well imagine. Nightmare if you were removed.

Just finally getting ready to take off...

A-Train

A-Train wrote: »

Yeah completely just very frustrating as you could well imagine. Nightmare if you were removed.

Just finally getting ready to take off...

Any sign that the unlucky ones will get out there for the match still?

prawnsambo

Jared Kind Sulfur wrote: »

Any sign that the unlucky ones will get out there for the match still?

The next Aer Lingus flight to Bilbao takes off at 17:25. Not a lot of use to those poor buggers.

Only realistic option is to try and get a flight to the UK and go from there. But there's a good chance you'd miss the first half at least.

awec

Win it for the Dublin Six.

Bazzo

https://twitter.com/rugby_ie/status/995244554994569216?s=19

pc7

Great write up, everything I read and all I talk to saying Leinster, walk in the park. I’m extremely nervous, don’t know if it’s the usually Irish psyche sort of thing, but feel sick with nerves. Hopefully it’s a cracker and ours.

thomond2006

Great performance from the Official Airline of the Irish Rugby Team.

stephen_n

pc7 wrote: »

Great write up, everything I read and all I talk to saying Leinster, walk in the park. I’m extremely nervous, don’t know if it’s the usually Irish psyche sort of thing, but feel sick with nerves. Hopefully it’s a cracker and ours.

If we perform to the level we are capeable, I really don’t see Racing being able to live with us. We have been hands down the best team in the tournament by far. That said, it’s cup rugby and anything can happen in one game.

Buer

Head says Leinster by two clear scores. Heart says Racing are a top side packed with test players who have been in brilliant form for the last few months and we're really underestimating that.

We should win but I'm still as uncomfortable as .ak at a non-vegan restaurant.

nc6000

Strange that CityJet as a Leinster sponsor\partner or Turkish Airlines as a tournament sponsor didn't put on any flights from Dublin.

kuang1

I'll be roaring mad for yous blues boys today from my couch.
Really hope ye do it.

And maybe a 3 day bender celebration for the squad so that we'll have half a chance against ye next week!


Best of luck to ye!

irishfan9

have unbelievable fear with thenover confidence in the media etc. hopefully the squad show up and perform.