Champions Cup 24/25 - Quarter Finals - 11 - 13 May

[OllyM97]

Toulouse weren't great in that game, but all-French games in Europe never are. I think Toulouse-UBB in the semi will be a better watch for a neutral. Leinster are favourites I'll admit but I still wouldn't put money on them in the final against one of the French sides. I just feel like if they don't get into a clear lead early, the mental gremlins of losing 3 finals in a row will come into play at some point - Leinster will always have that question mark against them until they prove otherwise. Being realistic, they'll have too much for Saints in the semis but the final is where the real crunch comes.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Furbank was fine after the game, it's hard playing again after a bone break. You get that same pain although it's not broken again, it's really odd. Like your body is saying no. It goes away after a game or two though.

 

[McTallshort]

Toulouse weren't great in that game, but all-French games in Europe never are. I think Toulouse-UBB in the semi will be a better watch for a neutral. Leinster are favourites I'll admit but I still wouldn't put money on them in the final against one of the French sides. I just feel like if they don't get into a clear lead early, the mental gremlins of losing 3 finals in a row will come into play at some point - Leinster will always have that question mark against them until they prove otherwise. Being realistic, they'll have too much for Saints in the semis but the final is where the real crunch comes.

Nearly bottled the semi against Saints last year...

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Saints are on form as well after getting a lot of our players back finally but can't see us beating the Irish. We will cut them open at times but I'm sure they'll do the same to us.
I see their power getting them home.

 

[McTallshort]

The pressures all on Leinster. If they don't win the cup this year with that team then they will never win it.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

It's a shame Saints are on this side of the tournament, I could see them running Toulouse close

UBB is a tough one to gauge, running rampant but get the feeling they're missing a bit of dog in them. Bit of rain, a team willing to play it tight?

 

[Which Tyler]

Furbank was fine after the game, it's hard playing again after a bone break. You get that same pain although it's not broken again, it's really odd. Like your body is saying no. It goes away after a game or two though.

Neuroplastic pain - it's a fascinating thing (IMO)

I know the link is YouTube - but Lorimer IS an acknowledged expert, probably THE biggest name in the field - which probably explains the relatively low viewing figure.

As this is part of my job, I have more if anyone's interested:

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

The pressures all on Leinster. If they don't win the cup this year with that team then they will never win it.

Not sure if that's entirely true, Leinster will be one of the top teams in this competition for a few more years yet, but this seems like a huge huge chance. Being the best isn't enough when trying to get past a huge mental block like this, you need to have a bit extra to account for nerves negatively affecting performance.

A decent amount of mirroring with Rory McIlroy in this Leinster team. Rory was good last year, definitely a top 4 player in the world, without really being successful and didn't win anything of massive note (obviously Rory plays for more trophies so won a couple but not big ones). So far this year he's been the best by a distance and he played the best golf of anyone the last few days by a distance and only scraped by because nerves made him play some of the worst golf too.

Don't think the same pressure is on Leinster but if we make the final this year it will be tense as anything. Cardiff for the final and inspiration from 2011 could help massively too.

Toulouse and Bordeaux can raise their games also. Not taking anything for granted.

 

[Lé Ddanno]

Furbank was fine after the game, it's hard playing again after a bone break. You get that same pain although it's not broken again, it's really odd. Like your body is saying no. It goes away after a game or two though.

Good to hear, cheers

 

[McTallshort]

Not sure if that's entirely true, Leinster will be one of the top teams in this competition for a few more years yet, but this seems like a huge huge chance. Being the best isn't enough when trying to get past a huge mental block like this, you need to have a bit extra to account for nerves negatively affecting performance.

A decent amount of mirroring with Rory McIlroy in this Leinster team. Rory was good last year, definitely a top 4 player in the world, without really being successful and didn't win anything of massive note (obviously Rory plays for more trophies so won a couple but not big ones). So far this year he's been the best by a distance and he played the best golf of anyone the last few days by a distance and only scraped by because nerves made him play some of the worst golf too.

Don't think the same pressure is on Leinster but if we make the final this year it will be tense as anything. Cardiff for the final and inspiration from 2011 could help massively too.

Toulouse and Bordeaux can raise their games also. Not taking anything for granted.

Don't see the comparison with McIlroy but given Leinsters team they should be sweeping all before them. By far the best squad in Europe if not the world. Failure to win this year would be an absolute failure.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Don't see the comparison with McIlroy but given Leinsters team they should be sweeping all before them. By far the best squad in Europe if not the world. Failure to win this year would be an absolute failure.

Consistently falling short with high expectations and pressure growing is the comparison for me anyway.

Failure yes but absolute failure probably not. Absolute failure sounds to me like massive change is needed, get ris of the coaches, big change in players etc... I don't think losing to these Toulouse or Bordeaux squads warrants that, they're both also completely star studded.

 

[pagliaccio_euforico]

Just watching replay now and did a guy just get yellow carded for a 1/4 gator roll on a guy just laying on the ground?

 

[Jimbo]

Consistently falling short with high expectations and pressure growing is the comparison for me anyway.

Failure yes but absolute failure probably not. Absolute failure sounds to me like massive change is needed, get ris of the coaches, big change in players etc... I don't think losing to these Toulouse or Bordeaux squads warrants that, they're both also completely star studded.

I still think the Leinsters defence will be the difference, you'd know better than I, I'm under the impression they have always had a fairly well rounded game either side of the ball but never really lent into the defensive side as the cornerstone in the way say Sarries did, that seems to have recently changed and they have an exceptional attack to pair with it when they need it, the last two opponents attacks are no jokes, but we're truly nullified.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I still think the Leinsters defence will be the difference, you'd know better than I, I'm under the impression they have always had a fairly well rounded game either side of the ball but never really lent into the defensive side as the cornerstone in the way say Sarries did, that seems to have recently changed and they have an exceptional attack to pair with it when they need it, the last two opponents attacks are no jokes, but we're truly nullified.

Yeah to put it real simply I think (/ I hope) we're ******* hard this year. We've always been 95% the way there but got out grafted. We built the first half of our season purely on graft amd have added an attack.

Like Rory, everything is telling me we should do it this time, but ai'm not confident enough to bet on it based on precedent. Hope we do it, won't be as big for me as Rory's green jacket, but jt'll be pretty ******* huge.