URC 2023/2024 - Round 18

[munstermuffin]

Feels like Bulls and Munster are given wins in the quarters. Leinster Ulster is interesting, but I just can't see Ulster getting that win, I expect it to be close to the 50-60th minute before a bit of a pull away in the end.

Stormers Glasgow I don't know. We travel poorly, but Glasgow seem to be in a really poor run at the moment, almost slipping to Zebre in the end. Likely close with us slipping in the end.

Agreed on all this but knockout rugby is a strange thing

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Leinster's biggest issue will be playing next week. Then the travel and altitude as well as that game being on at day time heat and being a battle. Then if they win that they have to return to Ireland and face a final 7 days later. The hard bit is deciding do you rotate or keep going.
It's argubally worst case for IRFU too as alot of lads then return for 2 tests vs South Africa

I don't think we're a club that need to be told winning ain't easy!

I don't think we can go full whack next week (or need to), expect to see a lot of bench guys from last week start, possibly Sam P too. Hopefully Ringrose comes back too. Hypothetical Semi and Final will have to be all in.

 

[munstermuffin]

I don't think we're a club that need to be told winning ain't easy!

I don't think we can go full whack next week (or need to), expect to see a lot of bench guys from last week start, possibly Sam P too. Hopefully Ringrose comes back too. Semi and Final will have to be all in.

It not about winning easy or hard.
It's the logistics side. Like the other side is if Leinster don't go all in and struggle or worst again lose then it will be a serious shout for Leo's head.
Like gambling on rotation is what got Leinster in to this scenario.

 

[saulan]

I don't think we're a club that need to be told winning ain't easy!

I don't think we can go full whack next week (or need to), expect to see a lot of bench guys from last week start, possibly Sam P too. Hopefully Ringrose comes back too. Hypothetical Semi and Final will have to be all in.

Hmmm… I mean there isn't another tournament still running and you've rested players against Connacht as well as having the Friday game. Ulster isn't a pushover, evident given the result a week ago. Surely everyone goes full strength from here on, especially Leinster not wanting a repeat of their Bulls nightmare in the first URC

Edit: adding that it is a hard path, but Munster made that hard cross continental travel path work for them in the knock outs last season without the resting of players.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Hmmm… I mean there isn't another tournament still running and you've rested players against Connacht as well as having the Friday game. Ulster isn't a pushover, evident given the result a week ago. Surely everyone goes full strength from here on, especially Leinster not wanting a repeat of their Bulls nightmare in the first URC?

I just don't see how you can play the same 23 or so guys three times in 15 days with a trip to SA in between. Going out in a QF, SF or Final is all the same for Leinster at this point, those lads need a trophy.

I don't think it should be a full second string team but a few front liners on the bench and maybe one or two guys like Moloney who wouldn't necessarily be in the starting 23 for a final makes a lot of sense to me.

It not about winning easy or hard.
It's the logistics side. Like the other side is if Leinster don't go all in and struggle or worst again lose then it will be a serious shout for Leo's head.
Like gambling on rotation is what got Leinster in to this scenario.

Leo's fine, no one want rid of him. He's handled a World Cup season with a change of coach halfway through and losing the iconic club captain ridiculously well. Don't think any Leinster fan expected a Heineken Cup final this year. The wrong side of a drop goal and an intercept from being European champions and top seeds isn't the time to be changing things up.

Never gambled on rotation either, it's the central contract system that forces rotation.

 

[munstermuffin]

I just don't see how you can play the same 23 or so guys three times in 15 days with a trip to SA in between. Going out in a QF, SF or Final is all the same for Leinster at this point, those lads need a trophy.

I don't think it should be a full second string team but a few front liners on the bench and maybe one or two guys like Moloney who wouldn't necessarily be in the starting 23 for a final makes a lot of sense to me.



Leo's fine, no one want rid of him. He's handled a World Cup season with a change of coach halfway through and losing the iconic club captain ridiculously well. Don't think any Leinster fan expected a Heineken Cup final this year. The wrong side of a drop goal and an intercept from being European champions and top seeds isn't the time to be changing things up.

Never gambled on rotation either, it's the central contract system that forces rotation.

I don't know. They could've went stronger in 1st game in South Africa and that really was an issue.

I do think still for all the investment in Leinster that no silverware returned in 2 years would be poor given circumstances last 2 years especially in URC

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I don't know. They could've went stronger in 1st game in South Africa and that really was an issue.

I do think still for all the investment in Leinster that no silverware returned in 2 years would be poor given circumstances last 2 years especially in URC

It is poor but I don't think sacking Leo achieves a thing.

 

[Groundhog]

Think Leo will have another year regardless of what happens from here. If nothing else they won't want to upset the applecart for Nienaber.

 

[munstermuffin]

It is poor but I don't think sacking Leo achieves a thing.

No but a big review of structure would be needed.
I do think Leo is superb for his director role and is a superb organiser of whole thing and I accept it not all just Leo.

Like now Leinster have sacrificed some attack style to incorporate Jacques Nienaber defensive style. Maybe it a case of the whole thing needing to just marry together.
Some Leinster fans have called for Leo's head already but I do agree sacking him will change nothing

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

No but a big review of structure would be needed.
I do think Leo is superb for his director role and is a superb organiser of whole thing and I accept it not all just Leo.

Like now Leinster have sacrificed some attack style to incorporate Jacques Nienaber defensive style. Maybe it a case of the whole thing needing to just marry together.
Some Leinster fans have called for Leo's head already but I do agree sacking him will change nothing

Does Leinster's structures need to change? They are giving themselves chances at every cup they're involved in every year. Toulouse are the only other team in Europe playing at that level, they've won recently but had a seven year barren period up until 2019, it happens.

I don't think any Leinster fan calling for Leo's job is given much time in the terraces tbh.

 

[Tooting Carmen]

I attended Judgement Day. I did enjoy both matches, but the atmosphere was often rather subdued and their were lots of handling errors considering the weather was alright. Congratulations on the Ospreys reaching the play-offs against all the odds though.

 

[munstermuffin]

Does Leinster's structures need to change? They are giving themselves chances at every cup they're involved in every year. Toulouse are the only other team in Europe playing at that level, they've won recently but had a seven year barren period up until 2019, it happens.

I don't think any Leinster fan calling for Leo's job is given much time in the terraces tbh.

Not structures of organisation but in terms of between how they approach certain things. It may be the difference between winning those cups and not. Toulouse had a barren spell but in a much harder climate regards league.

 

[dullonien]

I attended Judgement Day. I did enjoy both matches, but the atmosphere was often rather subdued and their were lots of handling errors considering the weather was alright. Congratulations on the Ospreys reaching the play-offs against all the odds though.

Scarlets v Drangons match was a bit meh, but the Ospreys v Cardiff game was superb imo.

Cardiff played some great stuff, but once again came up just short. Ben Thomas was class I thought, gotta be on the plane to Aus after that performance - possibly straight into the starting 12 jersey. Winnet was also excellent, combining solid aerial game with some great touches in attack. Shame about Cobango, scored a stunner, then pulls a hammy (probably) 5min. later.

Ospreys did what they do best, set piece play, direct runnig, and mostly playing penalty to penalty. When they have their best players avaiable (Tips, Morgan, Lake, Smith), they can be a match for most. Munster away will be a big ask, but I think they have a shot, albeit small.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Not structures of organisation but in terms of between how they approach certain things. It may be the difference between winning those cups and not. Toulouse had a barren spell but in a much harder climate regards league.

Let's see how the next month plays out.

 

[higgik]

Think the old play off format would be better than new one.
Munster v Benetton
Bulls v Ulster
Glasgow v Stormers
Ospreys v Leinster

 

[higgik]

Think the old play off format would be better than new one.
Munster v Benetton
Bulls v Ulster
Glasgow v Stormers
Ospreys v Leinster

Actually better would be just 6 teams so,
Munster and Bulls bye week
Glasgow v Stormers
Ospreys v Leinster

 

[saulan]

Think the old play off format would be better than new one.
Munster v Benetton
Bulls v Ulster
Glasgow v Stormers
Ospreys v Leinster

This has never been the playoff format. It's always been the top 4 teams getting the home quarter final. Only thing that happened before was the top of each sub-group got Champions Cup qualification.

Looking at the table again, I really do feel for the Lions and believe they deserved the quarters more than Ospreys. Ospreys had double games against 2nd, 5th and 14th (who were capable of pitching up, evidenced by their Challenge Cup win), whereas Ospreys got double games against 12th, 13th and 15th. Two of their wins featured being down to 14 men for more than half the game. In the end desperately unlucky, but in the end for overall audience engagement and having some Welsh presence, not the worst that Ospreys are there.

Also nice that all the countries are represented in the quarters.

 

[higgik]

This has never been the playoff format. It's always been the top 4 teams getting the home quarter final. Only thing that happened before was the top of each sub-group got Champions Cup qualification.

Looking at the table again, I really do feel for the Lions and believe they deserved the quarters more than Ospreys. Ospreys had double games against 2nd, 5th and 14th (who were capable of pitching up, evidenced by their Challenge Cup win), whereas Ospreys got double games against 12th, 13th and 15th. Two of their wins featured being down to 14 men for more than half the game. In the end desperately unlucky, but in the end for overall audience engagement and having some Welsh presence, not the worst that Ospreys are there.

Also nice that all the countries are represented in the quarters.

That's why I put the group leaders at home.
That should be the benefit of winning your group.

 

[pagliaccio_euforico]

lions definitely better squad and the welsh division would probably struggle in pro d2. That being said that's the format and you play who is on your schedule.
if Leinster can't play three games in three weeks they need to get checked for mitochondrial disorders.

 

[saulan]

That's why I put the group leaders at home.
That should be the benefit of winning your group.

I think you misinterpreted my perspective. It's good that we have full representation in the quarters, but Ospreys barely deserve being in the quarters and definitely don't deserve a home quarter final. Lions and Connacht had a much tougher ask of them and almost scraped it.

To be clear, not questioning our current structure. You play what is in front of you, and the Lions can look at their own performances as to why they aren't in the quarters. But in no world do Ospreys deserve a home quarter final.