Leinster Team Talk Thread (Love you Furlong time)

Former Former Former · 13-04-2025 08:38AM

Yeah the all-French game will be Sunday so we’ll be Saturday.

Hopefully a 5pm kickoff since there’s no soccer to clash with.

johnh6767 · 13-04-2025 08:54AM

Dream final is Leinster v Toulouse. Need to take the 5⭐️ with no shortcuts . Arrogance could kill us before if not careful at fan level.

conquestscarer · 13-04-2025 09:38AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123351699#Comment_123351699

Maybe the worst Tackaller, Penaud is out at sea almost all times in defence, something you can't say about Prendergast.

pickarooney · 13-04-2025 09:59AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123352010#Comment_123352010

Prendergast regularly just runs out of the line past the ball carrier with no attempt to lay a finger on him. If he literally just stood still he'd be a better defender. Luckily Glasgow were awful the other night or they'd have run through the middle more often.

WH BONNEY · 13-04-2025 11:08AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123352054#Comment_123352054

Absolute nonsense.

Sam can tackle and does, he's learning and improving week on week,

The ceiling for him is so high and yet again over the weekend he showed why he is the best 10 in Ireland, it's not even close.

johnh6767 · 13-04-2025 11:49AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123352197#Comment_123352197

you had me until ‘it’s not even close’ that’s inaccurate/ incorrect. It’s week to week who is superior. And Sam has the benefit over Crowley of a stronger go forward pack , receiving from the best 9 in the world with DuPont out, and Jordie Barrett outside which creates space . Let them dual away , good for irish rugby

Paul Smeenus · 13-04-2025 12:31PM

As an Ulster fan who hates both Leinster and Munster, the idea that it's "not even close" between Prendergast and Crowley is 24 carat stupidity.

pickarooney · 13-04-2025 01:26PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123352197#Comment_123352197

It's not nonsense, it's a regular occurrence. I'll post a couple of clips from the last few games later.

WH BONNEY · 13-04-2025 01:32PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123352393#Comment_123352393

Hate is such a strong word, but coming from an Ulster supporter I'm not surprised.

Paul Smeenus · 13-04-2025 01:57PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123352590#Comment_123352590

Ah, that infamous Southern sense of humour and nuance.

It's a self-aware joke, Bonney. And the idea that it's not even close between those two out halves is ludicrous.

Podge_irl · 13-04-2025 02:27PM

There isn't a huge amount between them, but to be honest I think the biggest gap is mental. Prendergast just doesn't seem to let mistakes impact him at all, whereas I feel like Crowley is too prone to either letting his head drop or trying too hard when things aren't going well.

Anyway, Ireland thread is over yonder.

AbusesToilets · 13-04-2025 02:45PM

How much of our offloading approach was based off of Toulouse, do you think? It's such a stark change from last year, it seems like a determined effort to evolve our attack by copying the best teams out there.

pickarooney · 13-04-2025 02:58PM

Snyman is surely the catalyst

El_Duderino 09 · 13-04-2025 03:05PM

I feel like Toulouse are having a one-off poor performance. I'd expect them to be right back in contention to win th tournament if they get through this game. It would be a huge advantage to everyone else (particularly Leinster) if Toulon could knock them out.

Foxtrol · 13-04-2025 03:18PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123352836#Comment_123352836

Well Bleyendaal joined this season so presume he has at least some impact on this

Eod100 · 13-04-2025 04:42PM

Semi final down for 5.30 the Saturday if the EPCR site is to be believed

jacothelad · 13-04-2025 05:53PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123352590#Comment_123352590

And why are you "not surprised?"

bingobango12 · 13-04-2025 06:25PM

Ulster have found some form the last few weeks. Stockdale, McCloskey and Zac Ward are playing some good stuff and they will be nicely prepped for this weekend. Hoping for a strong enough team and then rest them up for Scarlets the week after.

conquestscarer · 13-04-2025 07:25PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123352836#Comment_123352836

I'd say it's almost 100% based off it. It's intresting that we have unveiled it in the knockouts. Snyman always throws them but now everyone is.

darkened_scrum · 13-04-2025 07:49PM

Bleyendaal only joined over the summer, I think he was late arriving so missed at least some of pre-season, and it takes time to implement new ways of playing, especially when the front line players are off with Ireland for months at a time. It has probably just taken to the back half of the season to implement his attacking approach.

Same way the defence has evolved significantly this season in Nienaber's second year.

Clegg · 13-04-2025 08:34PM

It's a small sample to base an opinion on, but it really does look like we're seeing a new attacking structure bedding in. Leinster are focusing more on continuity and keeping the same attack going whether it's through offloading or sweeping wide passes to the wing for a line break, then offloading again.

When Lancaster was head coach we saw games where Leinster offloaded a lot, but it was only when we were utterly on top. We were all about dominating the ruck, quickly recycling and running at a defensive line that didn't have time to reset from the last ruck.

The switch up in style probably comes from the Bleyendaal influence, but also because we have more players that are comfortable in throwing offloads and running those support lines. Honestly I think a lot of it is down to Prendergast though. He has the best passing range of any 10 in the squad and any 10 in Ireland really. He's so good at those long sweeping passes to the wing, but also he's excellent at delaying his passing and committing a defender before releasing a runner into a gap.

clsmooth · 13-04-2025 10:21PM

I think it’s harder for teams to go through the phases and retain the ball. It’s harder to clear out the ruck with croc rolls/lower contact not allowed and you run the risk of yellows/reds if you get it wrong and make head contact. Between that, Snyman coming in and the weather getting better, I can see why we might have moved in that direction. Very hard to defend against if you get a bit of momentum and we have the carriers and ball handling ability to do it.

Former Former Former · 14-04-2025 06:50AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123354180#Comment_123354180

Yeah I think Prendergast is a big factor.

I know the “armchair ride” thing is true but there aren’t many 10s with his passing and handling skills that can take such advantage of it.

On top of that, everyone just seems to be on the same wavelength the last two weeks. You can’t throw a lovely offload if there isn’t a guy on your shoulder but the support lines we’re seeing now are amazing. If that’s down to Bleyendaal then hats off to him.

Hey_Ho_Lets_Go_3 · 14-04-2025 08:00AM

Lost in it all Leinster A remain undefeated with a 26-21 win over Connacht Eagles.

johnh6767 · 14-04-2025 09:38AM

The Leinster system coming together at the perfect time. Coaching team doing a great job which hopefully can translate to silverware which is much deserved and dare I say needed . Big challenges ahead