Leinster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread X: [****]

What channel is this gonna be on and any suggestion for a pub in Kinsale...?

Such a technical, professional display from Leinster today. Didn't really matter what Toulouse did, Leinster had a platform that Toulouse couldn't consistently live with and Leinster could rely on that platform to continuously build pressure.

It's impressive seeing the team so well drilled, consistency pulling the right decision from the pre determined pool of best options and executing despite plenty of pressure from the French. Saracens won their game in a similar fashion and consequently I thought Toulouse and Munster both lost in different ways but for the same reason. Poor coaching.

Toulouse are loaded with gifted, inventive players and yet they can't create enough cohesion with their huge forward pack to deliver a consistent platform for the backs. You can see the difference in how well teams are drilled by watching the top French teams play any of the top teams from other competitions.

Similarly, but on the opposite end of the spectrum Munster are so ultra constrained by their adherence to defensive shape that their counter attacking game is less existent than Ireland's. There was a real lack of leadership in that backline in the void left by Earls and Haley offered himself up as the target for a good few early territory boosters for Saracens.

It's probably the most comprehensively I've seen that first team Munster squad capitulate since they lost at home to Leinster in Thomond two seasons ago. It's a real worrying sign as this is the best Munster squad in a good while and I didn't expect the game to be so one sided. Even Sexton described Saracens as 'dominant' in his post match interview. That's a strong word in the context.

I'm not sure what all that means for Leinster. I always think Leinster and Munster get the best out of each other, and there hasn't been a lot to separate the teams this season. Munster were closed down entirely by Saracens albeit we did similar with an in form Toulouse.

I think this is about as even as I've seen two teams arrive at a European final. Saracens are in better form, both teams have similar levels of talent and Leinster have a really good track record in Europe. Saracens internationals have been just about better in the six nations, Farrell is showing more form, confidence and variety in his game than Sexton.

I dunno. I think this could be a new statistic for us in a final. But at the same time we're bloody good in finals and despite being well on top at the weekend, Saracens did look a bit rattled in that first half and I think we can get them into that kind of distress earlier and more deliberately.

It's going to be some game. The result will certainly impact differently on the two groups of players heading into the tournament of many of their lives this September. Massive final, Leinster by 3, SOB motm.