The Leinster thread

[Leonormous Boozer]

Jesus Christ

 

[munstermuffin]

Jesus Christ

I know hopefully you see it some time
Also should of added there are bigger contracts abroad yes if a) teams have the interest to pay and b) player and club agree on role. It not for everyone and equally some aren't thought of as the same abroad to command a big wage

 

[irisht]

Milnes extension announced.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

HB too

 

[big ginger 8]

19 seasons for Healy is absolutely insane, nevermind the injuries he's had and the nature of the position.

 

[irisht]

I imagine they are done now.

 

[big ginger 8]

Ruddock announcing his retirement at the end of the season. Absolute Leinster legend and definitely someone who was unlucky not to get more international caps during certain periods. Obviously didn't play much this season but would imagination his loss will be felt in the dressing room as a leader.

 

[corny]

Hard to fathom. Leinster have gone from being the most accurate side in European rugby to a team that can't string coherent phases together at all. Some of the players definitely deserve to be criticised for that but the coaching setup has to take the fall.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Hard to fathom. Leinster have gone from being the most accurate side in European rugby to a team that can't string coherent phases together at all. Some of the players definitely deserve to be criticised for that but the coaching setup has to take the fall.

Yep. Clear disregard for attack, it'd got worse as the year got on. Bleyendaal has a big job on his hands.

Can't stand by RB or Larmour anymore. Look so out of their depth when it gets tough.

 

[Reiser99]

Definitely based on results Leinster are going backwards. Not by much, but it's their lowest placed finish and lowest points since 2014/15. 3 years in a row of without a ***le. Underneath, I can see the thread The 'problem' of Leinster 'dominance'. Don't see that applying anymore. They are obviously not a bad team, but definitely seem to have lost their way slightly.

 

[munstermuffin]

Just seen highlights and being honest Blenyendaal won't change much. He is a good coach but Nienaber is the head coach. His style will ring through more as time goes through. Forwards rugby, big men etc and will it work. I don't know as Leinster don't have huge physical forwards.
Leinster have discarded their attack in favour of defence a bit.
This leads to Leinster issue where they have players but not a style to suit that.
Take a Schmidt. He was military style too but had an attacking structure built in his like the Sexton loop.
Nienaber is South African style of bully teams. It is hard to transition that with the usual Leinster flair in attack due to physical demands

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Just seen highlights and being honest Blenyendaal won't change much. He is a good coach but Nienaber is the head coach. His style will ring through more as time goes through. Forwards rugby, big men etc and will it work. I don't know as Leinster don't have huge physical forwards.
Leinster have discarded their attack in favour of defence a bit.
This leads to Leinster issue where they have players but not a style to suit that.
Take a Schmidt. He was military style too but had an attacking structure built in his like the Sexton loop.
Nienaber is South African style of bully teams. It is hard to transition that with the usual Leinster flair in attack due to physical demands

Bleyendaal has been brought in from one of the most attacking SR sides, there's plenty of better coaches to bring in if you want to bully teams. Snyman and JB don't exactly scream signings made with an intention to bludgeon teams into submission either, both play ball.

Neinaber hasn't been here a full season yet, his primary focus this year was the defence and in a season where the attack has been transitioning from being led by Sexton to one led by Keenan and Ringrose (for now) it never really fired. Next season was always the season that Neinaber will be judged on, I'd be amazed if he was happy to disregard the attack.

 

[munstermuffin]

Bleyendaal has been brought in from one of the most attacking SR sides, there's plenty of better coaches to bring in if you want to bully teams. Snyman and JB don't exactly scream signings made with an intention to bludgeon teams into submission either, both play ball.

Neinaber hasn't been here a full season yet, his primary focus this year was the defence and in a season where the attack has been transitioning from being led by Sexton to one led by Keenan and Ringrose (for now) it never really fired. Next season was always the season that Neinaber will be judged on, I'd be amazed if he was happy to disregard the attack.

While they are all fair comments. I'm basing it on few things.
1. Neinaber history. I've seen him up close and personal here in Munster. And his views on the game.
2. Look at Leinster this year. Box kicking has become a more prominent part of the game. That is his views regards territory over possession.
3. Blenyendaal is a superb coach. But if Nienaber uses the approach him and Rassie use for Springboks and tried here then it hard to mix any fluid attack due to the demands on styles.

As you say anything can only be judged from this season coming. Snyman is seen by Sprinkboks as a physical specimen not a baller. As such. He can play no doubt.

 

[Stade Rochelais]

Having known Leinster for over 20 years, I am the only one to think that this team has lost its rugby for ten years.
The possession-based game system is not part of Leinster's identity and the recruitments that were made did not bring what was expected.
Leinster, it was conquests in the rucks and in the counter rucks, scrapes, domination in the ground, unstoppable mauls, today I see a team without soul and without identity which plays with the pass at 15.
Leinster grafted the playing system of a super rugby team but the technical staff of Leinster have rightly forgotten that it is a European team and must play European rugby.

 

[big ginger 8]

Yes when I think of Leinster of 20 years ago I certainly think of our rampaging pack and not our backline with BOD, D'arcy, Contepomi, Hickie et al.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Yes when I think of Leinster of 20 years ago I certainly think of our rampaging pack and not our backline with BOD, D'arcy, Contepomi, Hickie et al.

And came third in the Celtic league and we're thrashed in the QF of the Heineken Cup. We were **** until 2008 really.

Incredibly disappointing not to get a trophy this year but it's a result of overachieving in the Heineken Cup in a transitional year. If we'd gone out in the QF like you'd have expected having to play La Rochelle twice In fairly confident we'd be playing in Croke Park on Saturday.

 

[munstermuffin]

Leinster is hard to call if this crop has massively failed or not. In 1 sense 1 European Cup in 8 years considering the resources is terrible. But then record getting to finals is superb. Most other clubs crave that. The URC is a poor return too but that van be attributed to poor approach at times

 

[Reiser99]

Leinster is hard to call if this crop has massively failed or not. In 1 sense 1 European Cup in 8 years considering the resources is terrible. But then record getting to finals is superb. Most other clubs crave that. The URC is a poor return too but that van be attributed to poor approach at times

In any sport, people rarely remember runners up.

 

[corny]

Yep. Clear disregard for attack, it'd got worse as the year got on. Bleyendaal has a big job on his hands.

Can't stand by RB or Larmour anymore. Look so out of their depth when it gets tough.

Yeah Ross kind of retreated into himself too as the game wore on which wasn't a good look. Has Barrett any talent as a 10!

You know what though, even though i lament the lack of structure macro issues kind of concern me less tbh. I want to see Leinster return to what made them a great club.... a huge push to perfect basic skills. Lancaster and Schmidt would squirm watching what we're witnessing now. Misplaced passess, overruns, dropped balls, no footwork pre contact,...

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Leinster is hard to call if this crop has massively failed or not. In 1 sense 1 European Cup in 8 years considering the resources is terrible. But then record getting to finals is superb. Most other clubs crave that. The URC is a poor return too but that van be attributed to poor approach at times

Lancasters tenure I would deem as a small failure (Or more accurately a huge success for the first half and then consistent shortcomings). I won't judge Neinaber on this season at all, he came in in late November like.