Leinster Team Talk Thread (Love you Furlong time)

Munster spent big bucks redeveloping their two home grounds over the years. Arguably it didn't work out very well. Focusing on paying for the players and not the stadium is wise I think

Disagree here. Ross has credit with the coaching but he's had error strewn matches too. The mistakes HB made were poor, no doubt. I think he's going to start in the Investec. Let's see how he goes. He's not the problem, the clueless defense is problematic.

It looks to me as if there was more SA influence on the attack in the games against Munster and Ulster anyway. Admittedly the conditions limited what was possible, but I wonder how much the attack will be just Goodman or will Nienaber ultimately have a big say there too.

There's nothing wrong with Ross. I like him. But he's reached his apex, imo. Harry has been good this year. Everyone will focus on his mistakes, which this week were poor but, he's still not reached his top level, imo. I reckon he can get into the international squad.

There's no panic yet. But seriously, we should all be concerned.

Leinster even though they are a team competing on all fronts for silverware, like it or not, are a team in transition.

Nienaber has come in during the season meaning that the team haven't had a chance to bed in his philosophy over the course of an off-season.

The attack the past few weeks has been poor mainly because they have been playing in torrential conditions and you are never going to play champagne rugby in them conditions.

The internationals coming back from the World cup who don't look up to scratch like Furlong, Conan, VDF, JGP, Lowe and Henshaw have been in wars the past 12+ months. Two years of titanic battles against La Rochelle. 6 nations campaign, New Zealand Tour and competing in domestic and European competitions and the World cup and then after a few weeks break, right back into the season. They are probably not performing at an elite level for self preservation.

We will know what Leinster are really going to look like properly next season.

Nienaber will fully be able to introduce his philosophy, a new attacking coach will be brought in who will be able to introduce new tactics and game plans, players like RG Snyman and whoever they use the other NIQ designations on will only strengthen the team. Players who have been through the wars will get somewhat of a rest after a tough year.

Leinster will be a different animal next year. They will have the firepower in the forwards and backs. The coaching staff will be bedded in properly and the exhausted internationals will hopefully get a break.

With Furlong and Henshaw they have been dealing with several injuries. With Lowe he has played alot of the big games as well as carrying the occasional knock.

My understanding is it is under control, cause if itwasnt ther would be no way he could play any form of rugby , great positive story given all he has achieved, having had such a debilatently illness.

About half the league season over and some lads have stepped up and others have fallen down, imo.

Rising, Clarkson, Boyle, McCarthy, Connors.

Fallen down the standards, Ringrose, Park, JOB.

It's fascinating to watch. For me, Deegan has been immense. Probably our best player so far, imo. Will he stay? Another lad who's consistently superb is Penny. Massive workrate and always puts it on the line.

Time will tell how good this team will be. They've only lost twice, so they're still a premier team.

There's no doubt Leinster are in a good place. But surely it's obvious that this side is not playing well?

I wouldn’t write off any players who have come back from the World Cup just yet. They’ll be looking to start to peak in about a month and many will have to keep up that level of performance for another 5 months for the European and URC knockouts and summer tour to SA. It’s a long season and it’s not feasible for them to peak through the whole year.

How many of the WC 23 have gone notably well across the provinces this season? I’d suggest Sheehan, McCarthy, Beirne and Baird have been very good and Crowley has continued to develop. All had minimal minutes in France aside from Beirne. Few others have had a few decent performances but don’t think anyone is at the top of their game.

Let’s see where they’re at in a months time. Might find it easy to settle back into familiar Irish gameplan albeit without Sexton calling the shots. From a Leinster point of view, expect them to improve defensively once they work out Nienabers system and offensively when the weather improves and they have consistency of selection in back line and at 10.

True.

Any talk about 'cheap' tickets being released for the upcoming Stade game in the Aviva?