Leinster v Saracens

thomond2006 · 19-09-2020 3:53pm

The first time I've lumped on Leinster since the restart and you decide to do this today?!

leakyboots · 19-09-2020 3:53pm

Wow, powerful stuff from Sarries. Healy is getting absolutely mullered in the scrum. Luke McGrath and Sexton both put pressure needlessly on their team at key times.

Sarries really pushing the offside line, surprised they haven't been pinged for it.

If Leinster don't sort the scrum there'll be cards soon

Big teamtalk coming up for Les Bleus

VANG1 · 19-09-2020 3:54pm

Penalty count is killing us

JohnniDrama · 19-09-2020 3:54pm

To be fair, Saracens are spot on. They came to play.

The concern of Leinster being a bit off pace because they haven’t had to get out of 3rd gear is playing out sadly.

Dare I say, some forwards looking a little old. Healy, Cronin, Toner.

Pack haven’t turned up.

Still time for a great escape.

eclipsechaser · 19-09-2020 3:54pm

ceannbui wrote: »

Jesus this is painful to watch. I seriously don't want to hear pundits waxing lyrical about leinster when this is what they serve up when it counts

Do you suggest that the pundits put them down the next time they win 25 games in a row?

dh1985 · 19-09-2020 3:54pm

lawrencesummers wrote: »

Isn’t it a cop out by the organizers that Sarries are even still in the competition.

They have achieved their place in the competition by means of their league place that has been proven to be in contravention of this rules.

They should have been thrown out of Europe as soon as the cheating was confirmed.

It’s complete hypocrisy that they are not eligible to complete in their league but can compete with that squad in Europe.

Let's not be looking for excuses as to why saracens are thumping leinster in the same vein that they done last may. Saracens are also down their most influential player in Farrell and we still cant lay a glove on them. Whether they cheated or not who cares. If we were winning there wouldnt be a word about it

Happy4all · 19-09-2020 3:54pm

it's that Ireland in a World Cup Q/F feeling.

WoollyRedHat · 19-09-2020 3:54pm

Did someone forget to tell the lads the QF was rescheduled?

Buer · 19-09-2020 3:54pm

Squidgy Black wrote: »

It's probably gone more against us that we've been too cocky in resting players and rotating since we came back.

Sexton not starting last week, Cronin coming in ahead of Kelleher despite little game time, VdF starting over Connors last week. It shows that majority of the Sarries squad have played a big chunk of their games since the return.

I don't think they has any influence and Saracens first choice team has only played 3 or 4 matches before today. They're simply better.

thomond2006 · 19-09-2020 3:55pm

There has to be changes in the front five. I don't see a chance regardless but the scrum as is gives zero chance of a comeback.

ktex2 · 19-09-2020 3:55pm

Too good for the pro14 not good enough for europe. They cakewalk every match in the pro14 yet when they come up against the best team in europe saracans they get hammered.

JRant · 19-09-2020 3:55pm

Sardines playing well but Leinster have been braindead. Ref isn't interested in offside, only the breakdown so need to play to that in the second half.

Not over yet but will need something special this half.

RugbyLover123 · 19-09-2020 3:55pm

Credit where credit is due to Sarries. They’re below the cap with the squad they have now, don’t have their star player in Farrell and pumping Leinster at their home stadium.

Itoje is a different level to Ryan.

OldRio · 19-09-2020 3:55pm

Squidgy Black wrote: »

It's probably gone more against us that we've been too cocky in resting players and rotating since we came back.

Sexton not starting last week, Cronin coming in ahead of Kelleher despite little game time, VdF starting over Connors last week. It shows that majority of the Sarries squad have played a big chunk of their games since the return.

No. Sarries have been rotating players.

blackcard · 19-09-2020 3:56pm

bilston wrote: »

Yeah...Craig Doyle and Brian O'Driscoll will be loving it...:rolleyes:

Brian nearly always bends over backwards to not show any sense of partiality to Leinster to the extent that he favours opposing teams

KH25 · 19-09-2020 3:56pm

thomond2006 wrote: »

The first time I've lumped on Leinster since the restart and you decide to do this today?!

Look what you’ve done!!

pickarooney · 19-09-2020 3:56pm

JRant wrote: »

Sardines playing well but Leinster have been braindead. Ref isn't interested in offside, only the breakdown so need to play to that in the second half.

Not over yet but will need something special this half.

Sardines

Bleating Lamb · 19-09-2020 3:56pm

Squidgy Black wrote: »

It's probably gone more against us that we've been too cocky in resting players and rotating since we came back.

Sexton not starting last week, Cronin coming in ahead of Kelleher despite little game time, VdF starting over Connors last week. It shows that majority of the Sarries squad have played a big chunk of their games since the return.

I agree....and was kinda what I was getting at.....it’s all very well protecting likes of Sexton but you would think Leinster should have gone with a strong side in last 25 mins of game last week in prep for this week.

thomond2006 · 19-09-2020 3:56pm

lawrencesummers wrote: »

Isn’t it a cop out by the organizers that Sarries are even still in the competition.

They have achieved their place in the competition by means of their league place that has been proven to be in contravention of this rules.

They should have been thrown out of Europe as soon as the cheating was confirmed.

It’s complete hypocrisy that they are not eligible to complete in their league but can compete with that squad in Europe.

Saracens have lost a lot of starters during the lockdown and Farrell is suspended. There's no excuses.

Hurrache · 19-09-2020 3:56pm

thomond2006 wrote: »

The first time I've lumped on Leinster since the restart and you decide to do this today?!

Well, it's either your fault for splashing out in the bookies on them for the first time, or mine for paying to watch the game.

kingofthekong · 19-09-2020 3:57pm

This Sarries and England pack have dominated Ireland, leinster and Munster for the last few years at club and international level. It’s embarrassing at this stage they’ve had no answer to Itoje and the vunipolas for about 2 years

mfceiling · 19-09-2020 3:58pm

Are you Ulster in disguise?

thomond2006 · 19-09-2020 3:59pm

I wonder if Munster provided the blueprint a few weeks ago in the first game. Leinster struggled mightily against an excellent kicking game that day. Saracens have the power game and scrum that Munster didn't.

Buer · 19-09-2020 3:59pm

Bleating Lamb wrote: »

I agree....and was kinda what I was getting at.....it’s all very well protecting likes of Sexton but you would think Leinster should have gone with a strong side in last 25 mins of game last week in prep for this week.

Why? Saracens have completely wrapped their side up in cotton wool to prepare for today.

This game isn't being won due to game time or lack thereof. It's not being lost because Leinster are crap. It's because Saracens remain the clear best side in Europe on today's evidence.

Leinster can't lay a glove on them in attack.

aloooof · 19-09-2020 4:00pm

Feck sake. One of the few matches where I'd support Leinster and this happens....

That was an absolutely class try from Saracens, in fairness.

All_in_Flynn · 19-09-2020 4:00pm

Leinster have been their own worst enemies. Saracens have had to do very little to earn this lead which is probably unassailable now.

Early try is only chance I think.

tbm · 19-09-2020 4:01pm

kingofthekong wrote: »

This Sarries and England pack have dominated Ireland, leinster and Munster for the last few years at club and international level. It’s embarrassing at this stage they’ve had no answer to Itoje and the vunipolas for about 2 years

This. Simple as.

I can see this ending up a cricket score. Imagine that Sarries dressing room now? They’re not letting this go. They’re loving it.

Burkie1203 · 19-09-2020 4:01pm

kingofthekong wrote: »

This Sarries and England pack have dominated Ireland, leinster and Munster for the last few years at club and international level. It’s embarrassing at this stage they’ve had no answer to Itoje and the vunipolas for about 2 years

Fat Billy hasnt really done much damage wit the ball in hand. But unlike Munster/Ireland with Stander, they have 4 or 5 others who can truck it up.

Buer · 19-09-2020 4:01pm

thomond2006 wrote: »

I wonder if Munster provided the blueprint a few weeks ago in the first game. Leinster struggled mightily against an excellent kicking game that day. Saracens have the power game and scrum that Munster didn't.

Saracens are the box kicking masters and Wigglesworth is the king. That has always been their plan. Their chase and organisation in the back three makes even the average box kicks into good ones.

Neil3030 · 19-09-2020 4:01pm

kingofthekong wrote: »

This Sarries and England pack have dominated Ireland, leinster and Munster for the last few years at club and international level. It’s embarrassing at this stage they’ve had no answer to Itoje and the vunipolas for about 2 years

The Vunipolas are one story, but there's just no answer to what Itoje does best.

razorblunt · 19-09-2020 4:02pm

Fair to say it was a big ask for James Ryan to hit the ground running coming back from the lay-off.

All the lauding of his quicker than expected return, no one questioning if that was a good/right thing. Hindsight and all that .

Buer · 19-09-2020 4:02pm

All_in_Flynn wrote: »

Leinster have been their own worst enemies. Saracens have had to do very little to earn this lead.

That is incredibly inaccurate and unfair on an incredibly powerful and accurate Saracens performance.

mangobob · 19-09-2020 4:02pm

thelad95 wrote: »

Heartening to know that the only team that can over power Leinster are a bunch of absolute cheats.

Not too take away from the players Saracens have fielded moreso that the club overall has been rotten to the core for many years and this is the last kick.

There is nothing heartening about this abject humiliation. Leinster are being schooled a by a team that is just playing way, way better. Our pack is getting absolutely humped. You cannot win a game of rugby when your pack is so utterly outclassed.

Sarries are not winning because they are cheats. They are winning because they are a phenomenal team and they are justifying everything their fans think about them.

Leinster look undercooked, underprepared and out of ideas. Yes they managed to turn around a similar scoreline around against Northampton so a comeback is not impossible. But Sarries are not Saints. Unless we do something incredible, the final score could be f*cking traumatic.

AbusesToilets · 19-09-2020 4:03pm

Buer wrote: »

Of course they've a plan for it. But it's near impossible to combat this level of aggression and work rate. It's not helping that we're collapsing but it's very hard for any plan to negate pure power.

Where's our aggression and work rate. These aren't supermen, we hardly lacking in strength ourselves. Pathetic performance so far

duskyjoe · 19-09-2020 4:03pm

AbusesToilets wrote: »

What has this team been doing?

They have been outmuscled and out manoeuvred - simple as

ktex2 · 19-09-2020 4:04pm

Neil3030 wrote: »

The Vunipolas are one story, but there's just no answer to what Itoje does best.

south africa had an answer so there is one...

Buer · 19-09-2020 4:04pm

Leinster aren't coming back. Saracens are not going to concede more than 10 points for the rest of this game. Their defence doesn't allow it.

ktex2 · 19-09-2020 4:05pm

The only way leinster are going to improve is if they play in a more compeditive league. They dominate the weak teams in the Pro 14 league and have no real competition bar munster to drive them on. The only way it'll improve is if they invite the 4 south african super rugby teams into the Pro 14 it which it looks like they will do.

Clegg · 19-09-2020 4:05pm

Saracens clearly pinpointed Leinster's scrum as a big weakness and exploited it. Which is incredible for them as I don't think any side we've come up against prior to then has ever gotten the upper hand.

pickarooney · 19-09-2020 4:05pm

razorblunt wrote: »

Fair to say it was a big ask for James Ryan to hit the ground running coming back from the lay-off.

All the lauding of his quicker than expected return, no one questioning if that was a good/right thing. Hindsight and all that .

I don't really see how Ryan is in any way at fault for this embarrassment.

CMcsporty · 19-09-2020 4:06pm

Buer wrote: »

Leinster aren't coming back. Saracens are not going to concede more than 10 points for the rest of this game. Their defence doesn't allow it.

Their defence allows it!
Sexton is a joke at this stage

A-Train · 19-09-2020 4:07pm

Take your points

Bridge93 · 19-09-2020 4:07pm

Hit the ****ing penalty more than 5m up the ****ing line Sexton.

RugbyLover123 · 19-09-2020 4:07pm

McGrath is a big weak link for Leinster at this level.

blackcard · 19-09-2020 4:07pm

McGrath's passing is diabolical

sydthebeat · 19-09-2020 4:07pm

Sextons line kicking has been way too conservative, judging by his last kick and dalys kick off that pen

AbusesToilets · 19-09-2020 4:07pm

Ffs what are you at

razorblunt · 19-09-2020 4:08pm

Ah Porter just watching Itoje pick that, cmon man it’s 2 mins into the second half.

Hurrache · 19-09-2020 4:08pm

Crooked throw in that line out that you'll see.

19-09-2020 4:08pm

Totally crooked line out.

Leinster v Saracens

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