Leinster Team Talk Thread (Love you Furlong time)

A few lads need a bit of a bollocking after this performance. Some absolutely terrible decision making on display.

Backline have been absolutely dreadful today.

Far too many changes in that team and to compound it some of the more experienced players really played poorly.

Mod Edit

Warning issued,.

Mod Edit

Warning issued.

Soroka has a huge heart and apparently a small brain if he thought he'd get away with that!!

One of the most inept and frustrating games I have seen Leinster play in a long time. I think we discovered today that our much vaunted "depth" is not actually as deep as we like to think. Heavily rotated or not, I have rarely seen a Leinster side play so poorly. So many moments of just utter wtf. Ross Byrne has been a good servant but is nowhere near good enough. The whole coaching staff will have had their head in their hands watching that but I would imagine Nienaber will be having fits. Dire stuff.

They got what they deserved today.

Boyle had a great impact, let's pretend the rest didn't happen.

I wouldn’t be too frustrated with the performance considering the selection. 

I am frustrated with the selection!

Frawley switched back to 15.

Osborne switched back to 12 (1st since Oct).

Baird switched back to 4.

It’s confusing for the team, the players themselves and ultimately doesn’t help either. 

Depth? Not if you are continually shuffling players like that around.

By Ian Cameron 2 hours ago

Leinster player ratings: Leo Cullen’s men fell only their second loss of the season, but they can have no complaints with this 35-22 loss to Scarlets, as it probably was Leinster’s messiest performance of the season.

We rate the Leinster players:

1. Cian Healy – 7
A typically combative showing from the veteran, scrapping for every inch at scrum time. Carried with plenty of venom too, even if he didn’t quite get Leinster on the front foot as much as he wanted.

2. Ronan Kelleher – 4
Could easily have seen yellow for an aerial challenge and never fully recovered his rhythm. Flashes of his dynamic carrying game were there, but his poor discipline left plenty to be desired. Not an ideal showing for the Lionslong-shot.

3. Thomas Clarkson – 6
A gorgeous pass to put Culhane away showed he’s not just a scrummager, but he creaked under Scarlets’ pressure at the set-piece. Gave away a costly penalty for holding on.

4. Ryan Baird – 6
Didn’t put a foot wrong but struggled to stamp his authority on the contest.

5. Brian Deeny – NA
Lasted less than a quarter of an hour before injury struck.

6. Alex Soroka – 5.5
Tried to tread the fine line between aggressive and reckless but fell foul of the referee more than once. Came close to scoring late on but it wasn’t quite his afternoon.

7. Will Connors – 6
Steady and industrious without really catching the eye. A classic shift full of unseen donkey work.

8. James Culhane – 7.5
Showed a nose for the line with a well-taken close-range try. Strong in the carry and busy throughout.

9. Fintan Gunne – 7
Passing was crisp and his decision-making kept Leinster ticking. Not at fault here.

10. Ross Byrne – 6.5
Kicked accurately and even pulled out a side-step or two. Blotted his copybook slightly with a needless intercepted pass, but otherwise a decent outing.

11. Jimmy O’Brien – 6
Linked play nicely and distributed well in attack. Gave away an avoidable penalty which handed Scarlets field position at a bad time.

12. Jamie Osborne – 5.5
Took his try well after the Mangan charge-down but was guilty of missing several tackles. A mixed bag but still showed flashes of what he can do.

13. Liam Turner – 7
Made a couple of important turnovers and was willing to bustle in heavy traffic. Couldn’t quite finish off a clean break but put in a shift.

14. Andrew Osborne – 4.5
Lost a ball in the air early and never fully recovered his confidence. Caught out for Tom Rogers’ try too.

15. Ciaran Frawley – 6.5
A steady presence under the high ball and ran back kicks with real intent. One of Leinster’s best on a night when they needed a few more to front up.

REPLACEMENTS

16. Gus McCarthy – 5
Bounced around with energy but a messy offside boot at a ruck gifted Scarlets points.

17. Jack Boyle – 6
Conceded a penalty for hands in the ruck after arriving at the breakdown like a runaway shopping trolley.

18. Rabah Slimani – 6
Improved the stability of the Leinster scrum after Clarkson departed.

19. Diarmuid Mangan – 6.5
Charged down Costelow’s kick superbly to set up Osborne’s try and got himself a meat pie too. A lively cameo with just a few rough edges.

20. Scott Penny – 5
Threw himself into everything but didn’t really swing the momentum back Leinster’s way.

21. Cormac Foley – 5
Sniffed out a defensive lapse for a late break and was solid overall.

22. Charlie Tector – 5
Needs to add a little more polish — fired too many missiles at his forwards’ ankles.

23. Ruben Moloney – NA
Not on long enough to leave an imprint.

Very low for a Leinster performance 3 or 4 over 7, and lots 5 or below. Always will be a few ajar and you spotted the outliers as did I. Boyle to me was a 7 and Ross a 6 only due to his points from tee, 5.5 in main play just not dialled in. But no matter who does a rating there will always be disagreement it’s nearly the point of them