Leinster Team Talk Thread (Love you Furlong time)

bingobango12 · 20-06-2026 12:28AM

Just back from the game. I went into it negative around it being in Croke Park but that was an absolutely brilliant atmosphere. Fair play to the Leinster Supporters Club for getting so many flags into the stadium. Looked like thousands of them.

That was a really solid performance and absolutely killed the Bulls early. Leinster won the kicking battle that the Bulls kept going to until 60ish minutes.

Sam was brilliant. Couldn’t be happier for the guy after the amount of crap he has taken. He should be Irelands number 1 with or without injuries when he is able to show what he can do in a proper important game.

I thought Max Deegan was brilliant today. Proper stood up all game. Joe McC another who was brilliant. Conan excellent off the bench also.

Special shoutout to Reiko Ioane who took a lot of **** all year. Really showed his worth today and chased absolutely everything. He will be a massive loss next year.

Moaners will moan but once again, Leinster show their class and why there is so many on the Irish team. That first half was unplayable for any team.

Heroditas · 20-06-2026 12:54AM

A relatively satisfactory end to the season (the downside obviously being Bilbao) particularly after a very slow disjointed start and the loss to Munster being a particularly low point (asking with the capitulation to Glasgow and the awful end of match against Benetton).

Despite all that and the immense disruption due to the Lions last year and players missing for the 6N, we managed to come second in the table and finished off with a home final. Quite the rollercoaster ride. URC is becoming a lot harder to win.

Very impressed with the win tonight but I still think our attack is a bit blunt and we're huffing and puffing a lot after a few phases. Anyway, till on next season and a proper pre-season under their belts

FtD v2 · 20-06-2026 01:02AM

**** hell - I thought of all the nights tonight there wouldn’t be the usual misery and negativity in this thread but apparently not.

“Relatively satisfactory” - like, honestly, for the second year in a row we absolutely smashed a team dominated by a load of World Cup winning Springboks and people aren’t happy?!

bingobango12 · 20-06-2026 01:08AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124565194#Comment_124565194

100%.

Leinster absolutely demolished the best the league has to offer. Nothing else can be asked of them.

Probably the best performance of the season, when it matters.

user060916 · 20-06-2026 01:09AM

I thought our attack was much better tonight, felt like closer to Leinster of old.

First half in particular, Bulls just resorting to box kicking and Leinster actually played some rugby.

Second half, when the game was basically already lost, bulls decided to try play and caused us issues.

FtD v2 · 20-06-2026 01:10AM

I thoroughly enjoyed that. The Bulls are a quality side, and they are stuffed with exceptional test Springboks all over the field, and for the second year in a row when it counts Leinster have crushed them.

Atmosphere was great in the stadium, and virtually every Leinster player showed up and delivered. Delighted for Sam - he showed lots of class in attack but also had a huge moment chasing back and putting his head basically in front of Jacob’s’ boot to save a try when the game was still in the balance.

Would echo others - the Deegan selection was huge, he made **** of their lineout time and again. Both locks were exceptional - Ryan’s rucking is vicious and Joe McCarrhy delivered multiple huge moments and could easily have been MOTM. JGP was superb, and Keenan showed all of his class.

It’s nights like tonight that really remind you just how good this team can be.

I’m not taking wins like this for granted - it’s a bloody hard competition to win, stuffed with quality sides and the day you’re blasé about winning a trophy like this in those circumstances is the day rugby isn’t for you.

NB - word of appreciation for the absolutely classy Canan Moodie. He stayed out on the field for an eternity after the game, signed autographs for probably 70-100 kids, gave away his boots, shorts and socks (including to my very excited 7 year old niece). Absolute class on what must’ve been a very tough night for him. Will always be a player I look out for now going forward because of this.

FtD v2 · 20-06-2026 01:12AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124565205#Comment_124565205

They’re a brilliant side though. They’d won 8 in a row coming into tonight, they’ve got 12 Springboks in their team, and were always going to have a purple patch.

We still won all the small moments that matter (and the ones that all went against us on Bilbao).

user060916 · 20-06-2026 01:18AM

Oh absolutely, and Leinster made them look like an average team.

Whether that was because their game plan was poor, Leinsters was brilliant or some combination is hard to know.

Either way, great end to the season. Some performance to finish on

Dave_The_Sheep · 20-06-2026 02:09AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124565137#Comment_124565137

I'm (still) not a fan of Croke Park for rugby - then again I don't like the Aviva either - but have to say the atmosphere there this evening was fantastic.

ersatz · 20-06-2026 02:23AM

Fair play to Leinster, phenomenally good today. Game was over after the first quarter basically. Interesting listening to Jake White the other day saying for the bulls to win they had to take the home crowd out by not letting Leinster get a big early lead. Leinster really do have the ability to dominate anyone on their day. Season ending on a very high note is good, even if its been a bit of mixed bag overall.

darkened_scrum · 20-06-2026 07:05AM

That was great. Good crowd showed up, the team showed up, the rain stopped, very enjoyable evening.

Heroditas · 20-06-2026 07:19AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124565194#Comment_124565194

My comment came across badly. I'm absolutely delighted with the result last night. I'd swap the result for a better one in Bilbao though. The rest of my post was more a mulling over of the season. Despite all the ups and downs, that was a very strong finish

puntosporting · 20-06-2026 08:48AM

Delighted to see Sam Prendergast have an inspired game last night !

Hes had a rough couple of months great to see him finnish so strong from a Munster man!

KaneToad · 20-06-2026 09:06AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124565214#Comment_124565214

Leinster didn't get one bit of luck in Bilbao. And the Bulls didn't get a scrap of it in Croke Park.

But I do think there is some truth in the adage 'you make your own luck'.

jacothelad · 20-06-2026 09:41AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124565105#Comment_124565105

I am predominantly an Ulster supporter but I too want S.P. to develop his talent even further. It really is joy to see his skills. He looks awkward and gangly and some might see this rather than the silk. For those still calling for the removal of T.B. and J.N., neither are responsible for the star players getting older, less robust, losing form or retiring. Lancaster had them at their peak by and large. Leinster are clearly the top team in the URC and perennially in the top 2 or 4 in Europe. To expect them to play Harlem Globetrotters style rugby and stuff everyone out of sight is redolent of a sense of entitlement. It was great watching them since the days if Cheika. They have evolved…and continue to do so as new players filter in, When you have 'back up' players like Max Deegan you are swimming in rugby gravy.

johnh6767 · 20-06-2026 09:45AM

Nice to see Leo get some well deserved praise from Doris who is classy even when confronted with personal disappointment

“Delighted for the group, the lads leaving, but also for the coach himself. The effort that they’ve put in, Leo in particular, is Leinster through and through. He wants the best for the group and has desired this more than anyone. Not for himself, but for the group and the collective.”

P.Walnuts · 20-06-2026 10:48AM

Second time in the last couple seasons beside young lads from Munster waving the opposition flags and cheering them on, all good natured really but I just find it.......odd

shinana abu · 20-06-2026 10:57AM

Agree....as a munsterman if you do not want to support fellow irishmen..S.T.F.u.

darkened_scrum · 20-06-2026 11:29AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124565594#Comment_124565594

Pathetic is what it is.

But sure look, they've had yet another miserable season, let them take whatever bit of joy they can. It's not going to come from their own team.

theVersatile · 20-06-2026 11:38AM

Classy as always, darkened...

Congratulations on last night lads - ye earned it after a rough start to the season, peaked at the right time. Didn't get the chance to watch the game but looking forward to watching it back - great to hear Sam did well. He'll need to be in peak form/confidence for the Summer.

The Macho Man · 20-06-2026 11:42AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124564921#Comment_124564921

I would actually rather we did get them in the group phase, argument could be made we don't get tested enough earlier in the competition.

bingobango12 · 20-06-2026 12:47PM

A short 3 part story:

For Petes Sake · 20-06-2026 02:26PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124565594#Comment_124565594

It is utterly bizarre and obsessive behaviour. Living rent free in their heads.

If only they gave as strong support to their own team they might not have started the season in 2 competitions and end it having got knocked out in 3.

arsebiscuits1 · 20-06-2026 03:21PM

My favourite moment from Sam yesterday.

https://www.reddit.com/r/rugbyunion/comments/1uaxt2o/a_65m_goal_line_drop_out/

Heroditas · 20-06-2026 04:05PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124565932#Comment_124565932

Apparently we’re the sensitive ones though if we even comment on it. 🙄

AbusesToilets · 20-06-2026 04:44PM

What's the nature of Doris's foot injury?

pickarooney · 20-06-2026 05:11PM

Doris missed a golden opportunity at the interviews to be the first Mayo man to lift Sam in Croke Park.

The Macho Man · 20-06-2026 06:55PM

Post match interviews

https://youtu.be/Xy-K_dLmyB0?is=2SmAQhG3xFJ2oOdJ

Blut2 · 20-06-2026 07:50PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124565105#Comment_124565105

Serving alcohol in the bar area, but not letting drinks be brought to seats, is 100% the way to do it.

It lets the stadium still collect plenty of money from alcohol sales, and it lets the people just there to drink have their drinks, but it massively reduces the up/down circus show during the game for people actually there to enjoy the match.

I'd love if the Aviva copied it.

Lost Ormond · 20-06-2026 08:11PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124566570#Comment_124566570

From someone who works both stadiums. Yeah would love it but cant see irfu/stadium and caterers wantinf a change as would defintely see big reduction in sales whixh reduces income a lot

Leinster Team Talk Thread (Love you Furlong time)

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