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Champions Cup 24/25 - Semi Finals - 3 & 4 May

UBB as expected, shame Northampton ruined the party, I mean everyone wanted them to, and 99% of neutrals probably cheered them on, but how dare they hahaha
 
Lé Ddanno said:
Oh it'd have to be a match where I'm supporting France, I'm not going over there to spend three hours feeling grumpy
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Grumpy?!?!

6 of the 8 I travelled with were gone by the 65th minute...

I refuse to leave any ground early before I get to applaud the Victor's and losers, stubborn ego driven arsehole I am lol
 
Leonormous Boozer said:
Yeah, was having that conversation last night. Let players have the option of a two year IRFU approved contract before they're ~28 where they can still play for Ireland, if they extend then block them.

Frees up budget, gets players out of their comfort zone and they'll learn different skills to bring home. Just make sure they're not going to poorly coached, basket case clubs like La Rochelle.
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Curious who would you let go abroad?
I feel Penny and Boyle alone would've been great playing in France for a bit especially against bigger packs
 
Given Toulouse injuries and the fact that's the third time that UBB have beaten them this season, I don't think it was a major shock yesterday. What a final its going to be a great occasion. Both teams could win it, both playing exciting rugby. I can't wait to be there. Racing were the only team to let me down this weekend as a Racing - Bath warm up on Friday would have also been exciting.
 
I think Leinster will still be competing in the next 2-3 years given age profile, but I am starting to wonder if there is a genuine mental block now in Irish rugby - even the 6N wins, the last games have been much harder than they needed to be. Don't want to be too harsh because losing 3 of the the most epic finals is better than being well beaten in 3 (someone has to lose those games). However, weirdly enough, I don't know what the solution is - Leo needs to go that is clear, the selections are not good enough, but what else? The players are...chokers...how is that coached out? It makes the Barret bench decision baffling - truly baffling - the team needs winners.

In my view, let the Irish players go abroad - now is the time. It develops talent domestically (as more players able to come up to first team) and abroad and enables them to win abroad - look at Joey C potentially this year.

If I was Andy F, I would keep Sam P at home this summer and put him on a 3-month bulking programme with speed training. He is too slow and small for Champions Cup / International rugby.
 
O'Doyle Rules said:
I think Leinster will still be competing in the next 2-3 years given age profile, but I am starting to wonder if there is a genuine mental block now in Irish rugby - even the 6N wins, the last games have been much harder than they needed to be. Don't want to be too harsh because losing 3 of the the most epic finals is better than being well beaten in 3 (someone has to lose those games). However, weirdly enough, I don't know what the solution is - Leo needs to go that is clear, the selections are not good enough, but what else? The players are...chokers...how is that coached out? It makes the Barret bench decision baffling - truly baffling - the team needs winners.

In my view, let the Irish players go abroad - now is the time. It develops talent domestically (as more players able to come up to first team) and abroad and enables them to win abroad - look at Joey C potentially this year.

If I was Andy F, I would keep Sam P at home this summer and put him on a 3-month bulking programme with speed training. He is too slow and small for Champions Cup / International rugby.
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And people are saying "he is very young" - M and F Smith, Ntamack, Farrell, Ford all started young and, to be honest, were more advanced at SP's age.

I think Irish people are desperate for another world class 10 - almost making out/willing he is the best young 10 because we cannot accept a period without a world class 10 - when now the overwhelming evidence is he lacks 50% of his game.

Frustrated Leinster fan here :D
 
O'Doyle Rules said:
And people are saying "he is very young" - M and F Smith, Ntamack, Farrell, Ford all started young and, to be honest, were more advanced at SP's age.

I think Irish people are desperate for another world class 10 - almost making out/willing he is the best young 10 because we cannot accept a period without a world class 10 - when now the overwhelming evidence is he lacks 50% of his game.

Frustrated Leinster fan here :D
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F Smith aside, I'd say all of those players had their flaws starting out. Sam's is impossible to miss and it's something constantly targeted. If defence isn't added to his game, it'll be onto the next guy in the next few years and he'll know that.

For a kid in his first season, I think his work on the ball and ability to go through phase play is pretty unrivalled. He's better than F Smith in that regard but not enough to make up for Smith being a better runner and defender. One thing that he could take from F Smith, and becoming a better runner will help this, is becomkng a bit more of a decoy to bring other players into the game.

Ireland and Leinster haven't really been making too many pass off 9 breaks. It's down to defenders knowing they can give Prendergast that bit of extra space (and Crowley being far too obvious the relatively few times he calls the ball on himself for Ireland for Ireland).

Both 10s are developing without being a focal point, it could come back to bite us considering how Ireland have found success in the past.
 
Leonormous Boozer said:
F Smith aside, I'd say all of those players had their flaws starting out. Sam's is impossible to miss and it's something constantly targeted. If defence isn't added to his game, it'll be onto the next guy in the next few years and he'll know that.

For a kid in his first season, I think his work on the ball and ability to go through phase play is pretty unrivalled. He's better than F Smith in that regard but not enough to make up for Smith being a better runner and defender. One thing that he could take from F Smith, and becoming a better runner will help this, is becomkng a bit more of a decoy to bring other players into the game.

Ireland and Leinster haven't really been making too many pass off 9 breaks. It's down to defenders knowing they can give Prendergast that bit of extra space (and Crowley being far too obvious the relatively few times he calls the ball on himself for Ireland for Ireland).

Both 10s are developing without being a focal point, it could come back to bite us considering how Ireland have found success in the past.
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I want him to do well and it looks like he is a good lad who will put the graft in, but I fear the hype may have already actually set him back a few years by being found out early. Management now owe it on themselves to help with his defense and physicality because it is ultimately them who have put it out there for all to see (he wasn't going to say no to starting for Leinster and Ireland). Thankfully, I would say these are two aspects easier to fix/improve than eye for a pass etc.. He has plenty of frame to fill and, if he is destined to be slow, he might as well be physical.

His range of passing is fantastic, but I worry he is purely a "systems" player - almost playing like a 35 year old than a 22 year old. This may partly be due to how slow he is. Ireland and Leinster need a playmaking 12 to ease the burden if anything.
 
O'Doyle Rules said:
His range of passing is fantastic, but I worry he is purely a "systems" player - almost playing like a 35 year old than a 22 year old.
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If that's the case then both teams need to start hiding him in defence ASAP as part of their system. From what I've seen he really shirks a tackle
 

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