The Leinster thread

[big ginger 8]

That was a really ****e performance. There's no excuses to make for it, but we have managed to become the whiniest fans in the league. The way some fans are acting it won't be long before MO'C is brought before the mob and guillotined.

 

[Feicarsinn]

That was a really ****e performance. There's no excuses to make for it, but we have managed to become the whiniest fans in the league. The way some fans are acting it won't be long before MO'C is brought before the mob and guillotined.

We have the best squad and the league and we play like a mid table side. That's not good enough. You can call it whiny if you like, but given the quality at his disposal people have the right to demand a lot more from the coach. As cmac pointed out Leinster have barely won half of their games this season, making us an average side. Unacceptable.

 

[big ginger 8]

We have the best squad and the league and we play like a mid table side. That's not good enough. You can call it whiny if you like, but given the quality at his disposal people have the right to demand a lot more from the coach. As cmac pointed out Leinster have barely won half of their games this season, making us an average side. Unacceptable.

You clearly haven't seen what some fans have been saying then. I agree we have not been good enough, I didn't suggest otherwise but it doesn't mean that some of the things being spouted is justified. We do not have a God given right to play incredible attractive rugby and win everything. Expectations must be tempered somewhat, we are nowhere near as good as we were circa 2012 and other teams have improved. We are sill good enough to expect to be in the playoffs yes so where we are right now isn't good enough but we can still make the playoffs it's not as if we're in the bottom three or anything. The attitude that it's all on the coach as well is a bit much. Yes he must take the majority of the responsibility but the players have not been good enough and really it's our lack of talented playmakers that is killing us.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

You clearly haven't seen what some fans have been saying then. I agree we have not been good enough, I didn't suggest otherwise but it doesn't mean that some of the things being spouted is justified. We do not have a God given right to play incredible attractive rugby and win everything. Expectations must be tempered somewhat, we are nowhere near as good as we were circa 2012 and other teams have improved. We are sill good enough to expect to be in the playoffs yes so where we are right now isn't good enough but we can still make the playoffs it's not as if we're in the bottom three or anything. The attitude that it's all on the coach as well is a bit much. Yes he must take the majority of the responsibility but the players have not been good enough and really it's our lack of talented playmakers that is killing us.

Thats bull**** really, the individual performances aren't a huge problem, it's neither lack of effort nor skill. The team clearly hasn't got a clear system, they're easily stretched and the defence is creating a lot of doglegs. The players this year are the same as last year apart from BO'D, although the teams best player this year is the 13, and Cullen who was little more than a penalty machine last year. The constant and rapid decline is due to a head coach, and possibly forwards coach, who are out of their depth and nothing else, the squad of players should walk to a home semi and not have an uphill battle to make a playoff with 5 games left. It's horrifyingly similar to what went on with Deccie in Ireland.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

@big ginger 8
Do you think Matt O'Connor is getting the best out of the players at his disposal?

That's what I expect of a coach, not European triumphs every year. You can only do the best with what you have. I don't believe Matt O'Connor is doing this and that's what it boils down to. I'd rather get somebody in who can do that.

I think the man to do the job is Girvan Dempsey. As a player he was extremely intelligent and as a coach he has delivered a pipe line of talented young players who play attacking, winning rugby at A and underage level. He's overseen a massive turnaround in the A squad and kept up a high level of performance. That's what's required of the senior Leinster coach. I can understand there would be reservations about hiring a head coach who hasn't got much top level experience though.

 

[Feicarsinn]

@big ginger 8
Do you think Matt O'Connor is getting the best out of the players at his disposal?

That's what I expect of a coach, not European triumphs every year. You can only do the best with what you have. I don't believe Matt O'Connor is doing this and that's what it boils down to. I'd rather get somebody in who can do that.

I think the man to do the job is Girvan Dempsey. As a player he was extremely intelligent and as a coach he has delivered a pipe line of talented young players who play attacking, winning rugby at A and underage level. He's overseen a massive turnaround in the A squad and kept up a high level of performance. That's what's required of the senior Leinster coach. I can understand there would be reservations about hiring a head coach who hasn't got much top level experience though.

Mixed bag though isn't it? Joe wasn't a head coach when he came to Leinster (although he did have some ITM experience.) Nor did MOC though. Shouldn't be a deciding factor if the candidate looks good. I'd go with Dempsey, although Jackman would be my preference.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

I agree with you that it shouldn't be the be all and end all if making a decision.

Bernard Jackman is definitely a contender down the line.

I think a Conor O'Shea as Director of Rugby with Girvan Dempsey could be a very good team. O'Shea has a track record of bringing up young talent at Quins and winning too even if his star has dimmed a little. He has experience setting up the English underage structure in rugby with tremendous success as well as administrative experience as director of the English Institute of Sport.

 

[Peat]

Idle thought

The IRFU are looking to tighten control on the provinces, particularly in this World Cup year.

Schmidt's team is kicking a lot.

Ulster have been whacking the leather off of the ball themselves, albeit in a very ramshackle and awful manner. From what you guys are saying, not that different either. Haven't really seen enough of Munster to comment. I'm just wondering if words haven't been had in ears about how the provinces are going to play.

 

[munstermuffin]

Certainly not with us in Munster Peat. I think it's just coincidence and Matt O'Connor is just using that style with no IRFU input

 

[ruggabee]

Lol still with the Inception music.

 

[big ginger 8]

Our forwards need to look up intensity in the dictionary and then play with it.

 

[munstermuffin]

MOCwill go to town on not having internationals available now.

 

[big ginger 8]

MOCwill go to town on not having internationals available now.

Understandably. I'm in no way whatsoever defending this performance but any coach is going to be ****** at not being able to field his optimum team in a vital game, especially when the opposition pretty much is. Every coach in Ireland has complained about it at one stage or another.

EDIT: Better second half so far (although that wasn't hard). Lovely try for Murphy.

 

[big ginger 8]

Where has this come from?! Great revival here. Boss has been fantastic.

 

[munstermuffin]

Understandably. I'm in no way whatsoever defending this performance but any coach is going to be ****** at not being able to field his optimum team in a vital game, especially when the opposition pretty much is. Every coach in Ireland has complained about it at one stage or another.

EDIT: Better second half so far (although that wasn't hard). Lovely try for Murphy.

100% agree

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Bare ****ing minimum to get by... Story of the season

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Had a bloody tenner on Glasgow.

Why can't yous lot be as crap as you make out you are?!

 

[munstermuffin]

In fairness great result for Leinster.

 

[bw245]

Drives me mad that Madigan plays 12 for leinster and 10 (usually) for ireland. The IFRU treat him terribly.

 

[iINDOMINUSxx]

I'm just going to put this hear. How on earth did Glasgow waste that they were 27 - 7 up and ended the game 34 - 34 ?, Is the play well but not the right result from the Scotland team starting to take they're toll on Glasgow ?. Sorry Glasgow but you were dominating in the first how did you waste a big result.