Leinster Team Talk Thread (Love you Furlong time)

Leinster are facing a carbon copy of the Ireland debate on 10 right now it has to be said.

Why are we blaming Prendergast here? It's pretty obvious there are multiple issues with regards to the quality of coaching. We're getting cut to ribbons when the ball goes wide and our attack is seriously suffering through a lack of decoy runners and a too obvious reliance on one out carrying.

We've seen that earlier in the season the attack wasn't functioning with Harry Byrne at 10. It was only when Sam came onto the pitch that any subtlety was introduced. He isn't the problem. Tbh it's looking like we only really look threatening when there's a second distributor at 12 or 15.

Not placing the blame on Sam for tonight's performance whatsoever, it's totally on the coaching ticket. But that includes throwing a clearly out of form 10 straight back into the action and placing even more pressure on him.

Was discussed last night about how being a top coach is getting players to want to play for you, there is no sign of that being the case at Leinster.

I doubt they'd have gotten any credit for leaving Sam out either.

Everyone called for Sam to be fast tracked for Leinster and Ireland. It would be rich to blame the coaches for thinking he was ready if everyone who called for him to be fast tracked, fans, media, pundits, and Boards posters (myself included) not to admit it hasn't worked out.

I imagine every coach he's ever had has said something along the lines of: fantastic player, great hands, kicking from hand and vision, but will need to work on his physicality on both sides of the ball before he gets to top level. And he hasn't improved on physicality enough to be a top 10.

Maybe not playing him is the best solution in the short (and maybe long) term until/unless he gets to a decent level of physicality.

He's not a rounded player. No matter how good his strengths are, his weaknesses are so glaring that it makes a more rounded Byrne or Crowley preferable.

He wasn't the problem tonight. That's not the point.

Coaches have earned the criticism I think.

I know it’s not easy, and especially so this year with the Lions, getting only intermittent access to your best players etc, but to a certain extent that’s how it’s been for Leinster for the better part of a decade or more.

I can’t think of one comprehensive performance this season where we produced anything close to an 80 mins performance. Even the wins against La Rochelle which was dramatic and satisfying; we should have too much for them now given their struggles and we made hard hard work of it.

We won a lot of games in a row, but made hard work of it. Flattered to deceive in a lot of games. Defensively we’re a shambles, giving up line breaks and tries too easily. Offensively we’re arguably worse. We’re relying on just battering teams into submission, and grinding out penalties for access.

The frustrating thing is we were one of the most fluid attacking sides in European rugby not that long ago, and we still see glimpses of how good our players can be playing for Ireland.

We made a mistake letting Lancaster go - he was a guy who actively improved players all the time. Maybe we couldn’t have kept him with the money Racing put on the table, but I feel like Leo should have been the one walking then, and feel the same now.

Nah, I feel almost exactly the opposite on Lancaster. The jury is still out as to whether or not he has the emotional skills, judgment, tactical nous etc to be the key guy in a team, but I think as a technical coach of players on the training field he is one of the very best in the world.

Season over season we just saw players get actively better under his tutelage.

In terms of players showing up: I think that’s what’s concerning me on Leinster this season. I don’t think we lost yesterday because of a lack of commitment or focus. We just looked tactically inept. Lots of possession and territory but no concept how to break down a defence that fanned out and didn’t compete on the deck. A defensive system that gives up line breaks all too easily.

There are obviously some players struggling for form in there, but for the most part our issues are in the coaching box.

Agree. With the quality of players at leinster's disposal last night it seems obvious that the issue is coaching...attack and defence both inept

Yeah they have great players, But that wasn't anything approaching the best players leinster has.

Leinster essentially plays scratch sides most weeks. The first team plays together regularly and the others are mixed and matched all season.

They'll look a different team against Edinburgh because they'll be a different team against Edinburgh.

Last night was poor, but the first team will play the important games so it's not as bad as last night suggested

Oh this is fascinating. He wasn't picked largely because of his 'huge potential', 'higher ceiling' and all the other phrases that were being used in every conversation around Prendergast for the last 2 years? It's genuinely fascinating to watch revisionism happening in real time.

Don't think Glasgow would beat us at full strength. We had 13 men when the game was lost. We have consistently been one of the top teams in Europe under Leo and produced outstanding home grown players. Be careful what you wish for further fields are not always greener. No team wins every match or plays perfect rugby all the time. Have a look at LAR or Saracens or Exeter. Teams are cyclical.