Leinster Team Talk Thread (Love you Furlong time)

I’m from Leinster, I just object to ‘fans’ whining about how Leinster get the short end of the stick when they’re literally to the manor born. It’s a very well organised club, great coaches and a positive if limited culture (limit exhibited well in this exchange) but the foundation is the assembly line of school kids being pumped out every year. I watched a few of the schools matches and the U20 games and you’d be hard pressed to inherit those players and not be great. As for Leinster’s work in the schools, that is relatively new. I attended one of the better schools (rugbywise) and I don’t believe I heard of Leinster rugby at the time, before professionalism. It came up if we played at Donnybrook or won something but that was it. As I said earlier, the structures and success of Irish rugby is largely down to decisions made at the union level over the past 3 decades, provincial administrative culture flows from that. Provinces have themselves succeeded and failed at their own initiative but the foundation for success has come from the top. The idea that Leinster contributes unreasonably given the benefits they accrue from the system is wildly self absorbed.

I disagree with you. Of course the schools system is class and does produce talent. The work that goes into scouting, training and prepping these lads is brilliant. How many school players get into Leinsters sub academy? Would you not agree that this area of scouting is good? Bear in mind, Leinster clubs are producing quality too! All under the supervision of the branch. Ronan Foxe being a good example or Fionn Gibbons.

If you're saying a fit Sexton playing in the final last year wouldn't have put Leinster in a better place to win it then I don't know what else to tell you - a player who picked up the injury due to being run into the ground with Ireland because no other province managed to develop a challenger to him, despite his age and them having a decade plus to do it.

Your post where you explain your evidence for your opinion is based on your experience of it 30+ years ago is showing ignorance - I don't apologise for calling it what it is. I'd treat your opinion with more respect if you showed evidence beyond your feelings and what you 'heard' back in the pre-professional days, when the majority of the current players weren't even born.

As a person claiming to be from Leinster, you seem to have a lot of pent up grievances about the province, given your multiple snipes at the province and their fans, while also dragging the location of the government and media into the conversation and weirdly implying that has more of a role in the success of rugby in the province than Leinster Rugby.

Leinster Rugby developed the schools competition over the decades, it wasn't handed to them no matter how many times you keep repeating it with zero credible evidence.

I fail to see this as a gift. Honestly, the work that goes in, the scouting and the ability to identify players is an artwork.

If Leinster have such a gift, how come no Leinster hurling team can win the A.I? Bigger population, more counties etc, and yet they suck!

Did anyone watch the friendly v Sarries?

@Dubinusa last time I visited Kilkenny was in Leinster and own the hurling AI. Dubs dominate football and won the hurling league in the mid teens, from nowhere. Hurling is a lot more popular these days than it’s ever been in Dublin. Population and wealth density means a lot in sport, check out swimming, cricket, tennis, etc. Leinster over represented across the board, to do with resource and population concentration. Same goes for lawyers, journalists, doctors unsurprisingly.

I did mention Gibbons! I did mention Foxe! So yea, South Dublin is not the only source for Leinster players. I'm also a Northsider! No ties to the South Dublin tribes. I've no idea what you're trying to imply! Of course the rugby stock has Leinster men from outside the pale. Absolutely love that Leinster scour the counties for talent! I'm so LEINSTER insulated!

Kilkenny have not won in yonks. Besides, no other Leinster County fare well in the A.I. Leinster hurling isn't as strong as Munster. I'm alluding to the demographic claims that Leinster rugby have all the cards! If population is a factor for rugby success, why aren't France more successful?

Thanks for confirming that as the last few posts made me think I clicked a wrong button somewhere on this site and got lost... 😀

Rugby thread indeed. Bought to its knees by provincial fans sniping.

Of course they will. Does that work only due to the demographics? Scouting would not be considered? Training and management?