Leinster Team Talk Thread (Love you Furlong time)

Yeah I've never understood people moaning about the bookies market. If you think La Rochelle should be favourites then you should put your money where your mouth is and put on a bet.

I have similar feelings to 2009 as we were getting ready to play Munster in croke park.

Really feel we have to win this one.

4 years in a row exiting to the same side is just too much

La Rochelle were always going to have dominant spells in the game. The thing that will always rankle is how easy Leinster made it for them. Those botched clearance kicks will always stay in the back of the mind of Lowe, Byrne and JGP.

It really depends how you're defining 'devastate', is it closer to your 'kick in the balls' or the previous 'break the squad'? Those two are worlds apart.

It would definitely be a kick in the balls but I believe it is hyperbolic that it'll devastate them to the point of breaking the squad.

Totally disagree with your opinion regarding the manner of a loss. If Leinster lost by double digits in the last two finals and were miles off the LAR pace it would be a completely different story regarding how they'd feel and the actions that would be required for the team. Looking at win vs loss and ignoring the context seems shortsighted and lazy.

To me there is little, if any, difference in the depth of pain Leinster will feel if they lose this weekend or lose in the final. Leinster's goal this season isn't to beat LAR, if it was that has already been checked off the list. The LAR boogeyman is a great narrative but matters little in the grand scheme of things - winning the trophy is where they are being judged and will judge themselves.

I think its very obvious that JGP is easily your most important player. His compatriot isnt the greatest 10 going so a 9s good performance takes huge pressure off Byrne and also off an inexperienced 12. leinster also play a lot off 9 very succesfully because he has the speed, vision and skills to let that happen.

jgp makes the right calls in attack and blends forwards and backs seamlessly, he does a lot more in defense than someone his size should.

Both attack and defense are excellent because of him and frankly whatever 9 is on the bench is a huge dropoff in quality and ability and means if they have to play significant time byrne has to take more of a play calling role.

I think LAR will target jgp in defense and try and get him involved in a lot of physical work to try and slow him down.

What do they suppose breaking the squad will look like? Are they meaning that most players get benched?

We need to win URC , champions Cup is a bonus

With the way the fixtures are this year they've no excuse not to go all out for both and win them

You're welcome.