Leinster V Stade Rochelais. Champions Cup Final. Sat May 20, 16:45. Aviva Stadium, Dublin.

lawrencesummers · 22-05-2023 12:06PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120626463#Comment_120626463

Jack nowell isnt a great winger by any stretch, hes good but hes not anywhere near contention if the lions were picking a starting team. He probably wouldnt make the bench, but watch him improve in that environment.

Finn Russell was on the market, big player big price tag but they didnt sign him. Same with Kolbe leaving TL. There are a world of massive players out there to be signed and LAR could attract them but they dont, they recruit shrewdly and work on what they get.

There was good reason people wrote off skelton his fitness was an issue but ROG has got him playing 80 minutes now. Thats coaching pure and simple. He was a lot fitter than Jenkins.

This chequebook thing makes it sound like LAR are the Man City of Rugby or a modern day Toulon when they midtable budget wise and top of the table performance wise.

22-05-2023 12:09PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120626623#Comment_120626623

No, just I'm in the business of actually trying to back up statements I make with evidence, rather just just engaging in pointless whataboutery.

cuttingtimber22 · 22-05-2023 12:33PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120626613#Comment_120626613

But the team should have had the smarts to milk it. Made the ref have a look.

AbusesToilets · 22-05-2023 12:33PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120626582#Comment_120626582

Missed that myself, but how was that not picked up by the TMO? Clear as day on that last replay.

Dubinusa · 22-05-2023 12:36PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120625913#Comment_120625913

Muldoon wouldn't be near that Leinster team.. he might have been a leader but, he isn't close to the level of any of the lads that played this week.

Augme · 22-05-2023 12:37PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120626127#Comment_120626127

The problem is that you fail to realise is that his utter prickishness is what makes him a great coach.

He's manufacturing this fauz outrage to motivate his players, and it's absolute genius tbh. While Leo is non-chantly talking about how disappointed theyvare and that's the kust how things go, ROG is already planting seeds into his players inds for next year and even the next few games.

ROG isn't stupid, he knows Leinster will be their main ERC rivals for the next couple of years. If they meet next year you can guarantee he'll be reminding everyone and his players how they were slighted and looked down at the final in the Aviva.

It's a masterclass in player management.

22-05-2023 12:37PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120626738#Comment_120626738

It's on the TMO to see it. The likelihood is that Ala'alatoa's clear out on Colombe wouldn't have been spotted either if he hadn't knocked him out, it was him going down that caused Peyper to whistle play dead.

22-05-2023 12:41PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120626753#Comment_120626753

I dunno; whatever you say in the privacy of the dressing room to rile up your team is fair enough, but he made those stupid, incorrect and unfair comments about Ryan after they've won the game, and they're out there celebrating on the field.

If he'd had an ounce of class about him, he'd be praising his players, praising the opposition, talking about the game, the atmosphere, how great it would be to bring the trophy back to the harbour etc, but instead he's airing false grievances. If he's really thinking the long game ahead of next season, then that is truly mental, but from where I'm sitting he looks like a classless dickhead.

Dubinusa · 22-05-2023 12:45PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120626107#Comment_120626107

Peyper is night and day, from minute to minute and he is usually all over the shop. In saying that, are we clambering about the referee....again. It's 3 years in a row. They physically got on top! Again. 3 years consecutively. There's no rights to anything in today's game! LaR dominated the physicality and the territory, possession etc. Leinster didn't contest line outs? Couldn't exit and could get possession.

Former Former Former · 22-05-2023 12:49PM

Whatever about ROG, the LAR Blazers sound like an awful bunch of pricks.

Like, demanding a function room large enough for 300 people and then blaming Leinster when they don't get it? That's bad enough, but these are the same people who threatened action against Ulster if their "official delegation" of 400 people wasn't allowed into the behind-closed-doors match a few months ago.

22-05-2023 12:50PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120626786#Comment_120626786

People keep responding to what I've said here saying "LAR dominated possession, territory etc" - but the very point of my post is that this is precisely how they dominated possession and territory.

Leinster stifled them multiple times, and legitimately turned them over 3 times, with two others that egregiously weren't blown and the players didn't ultimately get the ball (JGP told to release, Doris penalised).

If those 5 penalties are given, then the territory and possession stats will look materially different.

We were more than up for them physically yesterday multiple times. All of Henshaw, Ringrose, Ryan, Doris, Sheehan, VDF had massive hits on them, or massive gainline success when we were in possession.

In the 55th minute BT had a stat that La Rochelle had had 12 negative yardage carries at that point in the game. We were successfully repelling them, but you have to get the break from the referee at that point too to lift the pressure.

Augme · 22-05-2023 12:51PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120626770#Comment_120626770

What stupid, incorrect and unfair comments did he make about James Ryan?

lawrencesummers · 22-05-2023 12:57PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120626652#Comment_120626652

jgp dived on a player on the ground. Around the time james ryan got hurt.

Ringrose was clearly, blatantly and right in front of the ref in at the side the time ngati got a turnover.

aalatola should have been Yc for the scrum and constant infringing by team in red-zone before the sub hooker did get binned.

Your criticising the ref for what he didnt give leinster, but the simple fact is that he didnt give LAR plenty as well.

22-05-2023 12:58PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120626815#Comment_120626815

His utter nonsense about Ryan "disrespecting" Gregory Aldritt -

O’Gara further stoked the fires when adding: “Yeah, I got word of it down on the pitch. Obviously, I have a close relationship with my captain – a bizarre action when they were going for the toss. Normally you engage eyes and no eyes were engaged. Greg was disappointed and let down.”

https://www.the42.ie/la-rochelle-respect-leinster-6073309-May2023/

cuttingtimber22 · 22-05-2023 01:01PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120626815#Comment_120626815

Ludicrous and stupid. Did not reflect well on LAR, their captain or ROG.

firstly he did not make eye contact at the coin toss.
then it seems he stared at him. After the photo was produced showing eye contact.
then it seems he was kept waiting for the coin toss.

Augme · 22-05-2023 01:03PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120626844#Comment_120626844

Bit he didn't say Ryan "disrespected" Aldritt. He basically re told the story his captain told him. No what Aldritt issue was I've no idea, but neve the less, ROG has to back his captain there as any head coach would.

Also in your previous post you yalk as if ROG never praised his players after the match etc and solely spent his time in post match interviews airing false grievances. That claim is about as bizarre as Aldritts tbh.

22-05-2023 01:06PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120626839#Comment_120626839

The JGP one I don't remember. The Ringrose one he gets to his feet and exits the ruck, doesn't interfere with the clearout on Ngatai at all, and equally Ngatai is on the ball long before there is an issue here.

On Ala'alatoa - it made no odds. Kelleher essentially got the yellow that he should have gotten.

The decisions I'm highlighting are clearly different - he was ultra quick to give LAR advantage when on the Leinster line, but blatantly ignored multiple obvious penalties a few mins later when Leinster are down there. He was never going to award the penalty to decide the game.

There's a clear post highlighting up above that immediately after their third try Ala'alatoa suffers an identical clear out to the one he gets a red for shortly afterwards.

If he correctly blows the penalty after the Henshaw, Sheehan or Ngatai penalties, it's a different game, and he 100% got the Doris call wrong, and that directly decided the game.

You're not comparing like for like here.

22-05-2023 01:10PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120626866#Comment_120626866

No, he puts his own spin on it - he called it a "bizarre action", reiterates what supposedly happened even though he wasn't there, and says "Greg was disappointed and let down". He then carries on with the other completely incorrect nonsense about the post match function accommodation etc.

So, he is 100% also accusing James Ryan of disrespecting his player, not relaying a story.

And, I never suggested he didn't also praise his players etc, but why TF he's choosing to pedal this other small time nonsense anyway after they've just won a European Cup is classless.

Dubinusa · 22-05-2023 01:12PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120626808#Comment_120626808

FTD it's fairly obvious to me that they were fit, more physical and a better structured team. On any weekend people can complain about calls going against them. Regardless of missed calls etc, they made hay with mauls, they had a better scrum and they controlled the ball.

We can't blame the referee everytime we play them. At this stage, the decisions of Leo are baffling to me. JGP should have been yanked early, Molony should have been yanked instead of Conan.

Another point of interest, how is it Leinster can steamroll the Tigers? Absolutely hammer Toulouse and look so ordinary against LaR? The issues raised when playing LaR, are becoming moot. It's been the same drumbeat and really the question is where does Leo go from here. His squad is world class and here we are again. What does he do differently next time? He can talk small margins etc but, here he is talking about small margins, again!

cuttingtimber22 · 22-05-2023 01:13PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120626866#Comment_120626866

Agree and a fantastic interview….

https://twitter.com/jimhamilton4/status/1660179589782487040?s=46&t=Cs26Mut9CR7ynUwJtAVa_Q

Henry Ford III · 22-05-2023 01:15PM

This thread could run forever and still go absolutely nowhere.

AbusesToilets · 22-05-2023 01:16PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120626900#Comment_120626900

It seems we choose not to play the same way against La Rochelle as we do against everyone else.

Dubinusa · 22-05-2023 01:20PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120626913#Comment_120626913

Maybe! But it's likely that LaR are are capable of beating up our plans and have the answers to out plans. We've yet to get on top of them physically.

cuttingtimber22 · 22-05-2023 01:21PM

On the ref, it is an important clarification on availing vs being biased.

is he a good ref? No
was he biased? No. Missed lots for both teams.
Was he a ref that suited Leinster? No
Could another ref made a difference? Maybe

22-05-2023 01:27PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120626338#Comment_120626338

Absolutely spot on. Was at the game Saturday was lucky most of the guys around us were decent supporters who loved the game.we were also surrounded by Rochelle supporters who were passionate and great fun to be around. But there was also a lot of gobshites roaring abuse and what shocked me most was Munster supporters there cheering on Rochelle and delighted to see Leinster loose which really surprised me as I can't understand why all Irish supporters wouldn't support another Irish province in a final.dissapointing to see but i know I myself would like to see a Munster win this weekend even though I'm first a Leinster supporter.it can only be good for the Irish game

trevezel · 22-05-2023 01:27PM

any comment about Sexton's behaviour with the referee ?

at half time, what is he doing in the tunnel ?

at the end of the game, he kept shouting after him, maybe a bit offended ?

Ardillaun · 22-05-2023 01:30PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120626941#Comment_120626941

Another ref will always make a difference, no doubt about it. Rugby is an incredibly complex game to referee. If we’re going to continue with an on-field official making the big decisions as quickly as possible we have to accept controversial calls as a necessary feature of that. And I have to remind myself that I naturally pay more attention to reffing decisions that go against my team because I am biased.

Lost Ormond · 22-05-2023 01:32PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120626966#Comment_120626966

Munster supporters were supporting the Munster lads more than anything else. I saw a decent number up from Nenagh wearing Nenagh jerseys supporting Donnacha Ryan for example. saw a few outside ground from Tralee doing same for Ultan Dillane. they were only there to support them and would have been there regardless of the opposition.

Boscoirl · 22-05-2023 01:41PM

We wore our Munster Jerseys for the game. Went to enjoy the game. Didn’t actively support either team during the day. But the constant snide remarks the whole way to the ground was tiresome. “Didn’t know Munster were playing today”

guy behind us constantly taking about “Munster Pricks”

another guy walks past us after the game and calls us “c**ts” under his breath.

and every other Munster fan we knew and met up there had similar experiences.

reminded us why we stopped going to games in Dublin.

Buer · 22-05-2023 01:51PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120626866#Comment_120626866

Plot twist. The translator got it wrong and it was clarified later on that Alldritt actually said Ryan eyeballed him rather than avoided eye contact. So it sounds like Alldritt and ROG aren't on the same page.

He's just running with the story and backing up his player regardless. It's absolutely nothing but he's not shy about firing a comment and that will always get under the skin of those who let it/aren't fans. On the other hand, his fans absolutely love it. There's a bit of an Eddie Jones vibe about how he creates narratives and thinks about the game and I mean that as a massive compliment. Lots of people strongly disliked EJ but he was brilliant at getting under the skin of others and engaging in a bit of verbal niggle to his own benefit.

I'm reminded of The Last Dance when MJ was reported to have been disrespected by LaBradford Smith who told Jordan "Nice game" after scoring 37 points on him. Jordan used it as motivation to destroy him the next time. But it was completely made up by Jordan just to create a narrative.

Whatever it takes for someone to get themselves motivated, so be it.

Leinster V Stade Rochelais. Champions Cup Final. Sat May 20, 16:45. Aviva Stadium, Dublin.

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