Leinster Team Talk Thread (Love you Furlong time)

Benneton could have scored 3 tries in the first 15 minutes The Leinster defence is susceptible to any rubber kick , chip over the top or quick hands. It is shocking to think that the words best defence coach ( hah) has destroyed this teams cohesion.

Big opportunity missed. I can’t comment on the game as I only saw bits and pieces but the result was really poor for the team that was out there.

I am still somewhat confident for next week due to the 15 that will be on the field together but Toulon racked up 52 points today and rested some of the pack so less confident as I was after Ulster. I really thought that may be the turning point of the season.

Whatever happens next week and beyond, I think it’s pretty clear that this coaching team aren’t working. We may still end up in 1/2 finals but the performances have been pretty shocking for most of the year.

Very underwhelming and disappointing performance. We lacked a physical presence in the pack to disrupt the Benneton maul. And until Soroka came on we lacked any sort of counter jumper able to steal lineout ball.

If McCarthy is unavailable for next weekends game I'd be tempted to start Soroka at lock. He's a bit on the shorter side, but he's very physical and has strong lineout ability. We're actually short of quality lineout operators for Toulon. Deegan is suspended and there's no positive word about Baird either. We can't go into the semi final with only James Ryan as a recognised quality jumper.

The Lions playing with a pep in their step, not sure how well they travel but we'll be need to be a lot better then current form, to beat them.

I do find that Leinster fans tend to catastrophize defeats and put their blinkers on with regards to what's happening outside the provincial bubble.

A strong Bordeaux side lost fairly dismally this weekend at home. But they're still unimpeachable favourites to win the Champions Cup apparently. A lot of Leinster fans were unfavourably comparing their province to Toulouse across the season, but the latter lost twice in the Champions Cup pool stages and were beaten out the gate in the quarter final.

The defeat to Benneton does damage the league standing, but it has little to do with the Champions Cup fixture next weekend.

Absolutely right Clegg , set back yes and disappointing, but by the same token I expect the Benetton loss to Munster last week off such a poor showing was a big part of their performance of the season

Yeah exactly this. Leinster has played and lost to Benetton at this stage before a knock out game in previous years. It doesn't mean the team is rubbish. It probably means they're focusing on next weekend.

There's probably an element of not wanting to be injured for next week and they can't be at peak emotional high every week. Between this week and next week, the obvious emotionally high game is next week.

We'll see how they do next week. If I had to bet, I'd bet they'll be at their normal European knock out standard, which is a lot better than last night.

At this stage it feels more like Leinster fans being honest then catastrophizing though. Last night was not a once off, it was one of many bad performances this season, as pundits and fans alike wonder will they finally click. We've looked poor all year and have greatly benefited from draws and other results going our way in the champions cup.

Whats happening outside the provincial bubble won't help us in the slightest. Bordeaux loosing a match at home doesn't make us better or reduce the absolute chasm of quality between the two teams.

I think UBB have proven what they can do already this season.. them having an off-day is not the same as where we are and not comparable.. we have a defensive system that clearly isn't working and hasn't proven to have worked. I

Its OK to try a system and admit its not working..to have blind faith is another thing..

Agreed. But the level of performance, again and again this season leads me to look at coaching. But yes, the players can't get a free pass either.

Onto Saturday, and if fit, I hope to see something like:

1. Porter 2. Sheehan 3. Clarkson 4. Joe McC 5. Ryan 6. Baird? Conan if injured 7. JVDF 8. Doris. 9. Gibson Park 10. Byrne 11. Ioane 12. Henshaw 13. Ringrose 14. TOB 15. Keenan 16. Kelleher 17. Cahir 18. Slimani 19. O'Tighearnaigh 20. Soroka 21. Penny 22. McGrath 23. Frawley

No idea on the fitness of some while Furlong and Osbourne have been poor last few weeks. Both aren't deserving of a spot. Reckon Toulon may go 6/2 and Leinster possibly will also to match. If Leinster go 5/3 would go 19. Soroka 20. Penny 21. McGrath 22. Prendergast 23. Frawley

Toulon seem to have a dire injury list at the moment.

From the Irish Times:

Their opponents on Saturday, Toulon, are sweating on the fitness of forwards Charles Ollivon, David Ribbans, Lewis Ludlam, Swan Rebbadj and Brian Alainu’uese.

Former French international wing Gabin Villere tore his cruciate and joined prop Dany Priso and fullback Marius Domon as the long-term absentees

Leinster under Lancaster could play Deeny and CO'T and would still beat this Toulon team comfortably.

Really?

There was me thinking that many of the failures that still haunt this Leinster team happened under Lancaster's watch.