Leinster v Munster match thread

Ha good one. If Kleyn had left his arms up it might have been play on but he dropped his elbow which took Osbourne out of the game.

I don't think he did it deliberately, more instinct to protect himself but the result was he elbowed him and took him out

Yes.

And you're arguing in bad faith yet again.

I think chap called it fairly.

Would agree with you that Leinster were poor in some aspects. Lineout wasn’t good. Quite inaccurate at other times and really should have had another 3 tries in the first half. That said a BP win at home to another province is always a good result.

The weakest of the four provinces by a long way.

During Covid, one of the great pleasures denied to us was going to a match then checking boards.ie a few hours later and marvelling at the bizarre directions the discussion has gone.

Anyway, a few thoughts on the other 79:58 of the game.

- Ringrose was, again, the best player on the pitch. Not sure where McGrath as MOTM came from, because Ringrose was a class apart.

- I know he's at FB, but it really looks like Munster have been backing the wrong horse in Healy vs Crowley the last two years.

- Sheehan seems to need a few wobbly throws to focus his mind. That won't help us against SA.

- Leinster had some lovely play but came unstuck way too often due to their own inaccuracy. Hopefully this is just a result of all the chopping and changing.

- Great turnout, biggest crowd in a long time I'd say.

No, 6 months ago you said Toner set out to injure a munster player. The posts are still there in that thread. Below is a sample of some of your comments.

"Watched back the toner assault on Coombes. He lifted Coombes supporting leg as he went in to maximise the risk of injury. Filthy vicious 'legal' rugby"

"Leinster are a dirty team that took out Munster's best player"

"Toner's dangerous play cost munster our best player. That's what happened. The fact that he kept repeating that same dangerous play throughout the rest of the game leads me to believe that it was a part of the game plan that they got away with"

Seriously unfortunate for Joey. Think his days at 10 are finished. His body can't soak the punishment playing in the midfield. It's 15 or bust for him now really. Hope the injury isn't too bad but we've invested enough in him at 10 for Munster and Ireland and little to show for it. Last time I remember him dominating a game was an away match against Gloucester, which was in Jan 2019. It's a pity but I think now we back Crowley instead.

I find it strange there's so much arguing about this incident. Brace and his officials got it spot on IMO. Kleyn jumps to block the kick, more or less straight up and down. Osborne continues his run in pursuit of the ball. Kleyn sees Osborne as he's coming back to terra firma. Kleyn lowers his hands to brace and protect himself from the collision. Kleyn's elbow strikes Osborne's head. It was a legitimate attempt to block a kick and an accidental collision. Penalty Leinster and YC for Kleyn under the duty of care rules.

There has to be some gradient to the duty of care penalisations. Penalties for minor infractions, yellow cards for infractions like today where there is head contact but mitigating circumstances and reds for head contact with no mitigation. Otherwise rugby will have to outlaw jumping and competing in the air for the ball, block downs etc.

Jumping to block a kick is reckless play?