Leinster v Racing

First topic message reminder :

Not sure why no thread up. This year reminds me of 2000 (I think) when the mighty Munster who had beaten the big teams to get there played Northampton and everyone expected an easy win. Munster let the situation kill them and they lost.

While Leinster are strong favourites I am worried they will just show up to collect the trophy and get beat all over the place. I don't think anyone has had a harder route when you look at who they played. Will they have the winning mentality or will they lack leaders. While they made up a large portion of the grand slam team they didn't provider either winger, and the leadership of Murray, Mahoney or Best will not be there. But they have shown very little weakness except the first half at home against Exeter. Can this young team with a few old heads hold their nerve for one more game.

Racing are a team all about the start, behind by 7 at half time they might not come back. Losing their scrum half is probably the worse thing that could have happened. Since the days of Napoleon the french army has marched best to the organisation of a grumpy small general. Is the replacement good enough. Teddy will most likely score but will it be the cherry on top or a consolation for one of Europe's top wingers. Their bench is experienced but will they still be in the game.

Leinster: 15 Rob Kearney; 14 Jordan Larmour, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 Isa Nacewa; 10 Johnny Sexton, 9 Luke McGrath; 1 Cian Healy, 2 Sean Cronin, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 4 Devin Toner, 5 James Ryan, 6 Scott Fardy, 7 Dan Leavy, 8 Jordi Murphy .

Replacements:16 James Tracy, 17 Jack McGrath, 18 Andrew Porter, 19 Rhys Ruddock, 20 Jack Conan, 21 Jamison Gibson-Park, 22 Joey Carbery, 23 Rory O'Loughlin

Racing 92: 15 Louis Dupichot; 14 Teddy Thomas, 13 Virimi Vakatawa, 12 Henry Chavancy, 11 Marc Andreu; 10 Pat Lambie, 9 Teddy Iribaren; 1 Eddy Ben Arous, 2 Camille Chat, 3 Cedate Gomes Sa, 4 Donnacha Ryan, 5 Leone Nakarawa, 6 Wenceslas Lauret, 7 Bernard Le Roux, 8 Yannick Nyanga.

Replacements: 16 Ole Avei, 17 Vasil Kakovin, 18 Census Johnston, 19 Boris Palu, 20 Baptiste Chouzenoux, 21 Antoine Gibert, 22 Dan Carter, 23 Joe Rokocoko

Artful_Dodger wrote:

VinceWLB wrote:This was a very poor advert for rugby. Leinster got there in the end but this must have been torture for their fans.

A lot of teams approach Leinster by undermining Leinster's game rather than playing their own.  Racing did it exceptionally well, probably better than any other team this season.  It wasn't enough to win a turgid game of rugby.

I think the plan was Iribaren controlling territory and then Lambie adding pace to the attack. That went out of the window early and they looked one dimensional with Tales at flyhalf.

The control the Racing 9 exercised in that game was incredible. Even in defeat still my man of the match.

Ha! Ha!  I can wear four stars!  I'm a bloody four star General!   Get making that new shirt Leinster.  I don't usually wear them but I'll make an exception for a few weeks and then store it away with all my hundred other tee shirts I never wear.

Anyway, I felt bad about this one.  I got a strange feeling it wouldn't go our way...just when a 'perfect' year needed it to, just when I needed Nacewa to go out in style (what a story he can tell his kids and grandkids now - back from retirement to pull off the big one again), just when this would have probably been our only chance at four in the next number of years (it is a very tough contest to get through, as Toulon and Saracens know only too well)  Leinster know how tough it is too and I just got that bad feeling early in the morning and it didn't rise.  My hunches are bad things, they have a tendency to come through.  And it nearly did tonight.

But a glorious night to prove Leinster truly are a rugged, sometimes beautiful, sometimes grinding, very very good team, that have consistently walked the walk in an unforgiving contest.  Ireland don't get many of those kinds of teams in virtually any other sport but rugby seems to like us more than most Irish people even feel they love it (grudgingly for die-hard GAAers/football boys)  Leinster - legendary European rugby team - and I live in it!

Happy night.

Well done Leinster - enjoy the party.

See Nacewa and Murphy giving the honour of holding the cup as departing players

Nice touch

VinceWLB wrote:Strange there was no build up thread for this.. Guess everyone is thinking Leinster is going to win this. The truth is we can't really be so certain.

Where is Lowe? The guy is a try machine and i rate him above both Nacewa and Larmour and yes both Ireland wingers too.

As for Racing, good to see a French side that isn't primarily made of foreign players.

Hard to get excited over the new Anglo French tournament. Doesnt have the same allure as the Heineken cup.

Collapse2005 wrote:

VinceWLB wrote:Strange there was no build up thread for this.. Guess everyone is thinking Leinster is going to win this. The truth is we can't really be so certain.

Where is Lowe? The guy is a try machine and i rate him above both Nacewa and Larmour and yes both Ireland wingers too.

As for Racing, good to see a French side that isn't primarily made of foreign players.

Hard to get excited over the new Anglo French tournament. Doesnt have the same allure as the Heineken cup.

Well, I suppose there was no build-up thread because Leinster fans didn't create one.

Takes 30 seconds to do it, innit.

We're ladyboys. We don't like getting our fingernails dirty doing menial work, George

Congrats Leinster, but Racing weren't the push over that I think most where expecting.

But unlike the Challenge final, this was a complete bore fest to watch . And I know I'll be slated, but that's my opinion and I'm not going to justify it with any further responses..

No9 wrote:Congrats Leinster, but Racing weren't the push over that I think most where expecting.

But unlike the Challenge final, this was a complete bore fest to watch . And I know I'll be slated, but that's my opinion and I'm not going to justify it with any further responses..

You’re a bit late. Everyone else has said that already. It would be useful to read what people have already posted in a thread before commenting yourself. Just sayin like...

I did not think it was a bore fest at all, I thought it was a very good game of attrition. Leinster showed that they can play any sort of style and still come out on top and as such are deserved champions.

I thought Racing played a lot better than they did against Munster, the difference being that Leinster were able to negate their early onslaught.

Again, congrats to Leinster and their fans, 4 star champions of Europe

George Carlin wrote:

Collapse2005 wrote:

VinceWLB wrote:Strange there was no build up thread for this.. Guess everyone is thinking Leinster is going to win this. The truth is we can't really be so certain.

Where is Lowe? The guy is a try machine and i rate him above both Nacewa and Larmour and yes both Ireland wingers too.

As for Racing, good to see a French side that isn't primarily made of foreign players.

Hard to get excited over the new Anglo French tournament. Doesnt have the same allure as the Heineken cup.

Well, I suppose there was no build-up thread because Leinster fans didn't create one.

Takes 30 seconds to do it, innit.

I was at the homecoming yesterday. There were about 400 people there. In '09 there were thousands. I think people in general aren't as excited about this tournament as the old one.

Maybe there is an element of with success comes indifference but I just feel this tournament has regressed a lot.

No9 wrote:Congrats Leinster, but Racing weren't the push over that I think most where expecting.

But unlike the Challenge final, this was a complete bore fest to watch . And I know I'll be slated, but that's my opinion and I'm not going to justify it with any further responses..

I think Leinster have entertained you all enough for one year.  They have a right to phone home a performance now and again, and why not the final, when they have the *yawn* skills in them to do it?

And yes too, there are some cracker top notch games between under 7 sides all over Europe, I'm sure.  Games where there is more fire and brimstone and adventure and spice than anything an adult game might try to mimic.  And the parents chew into it with greedy delight.  But I still don't think any U7 side could beat Racing or Leinster  So yes, the Challenge Cup is more exciting, so we'll leave the fireworks to you boys and we'll play the boring bone cruncher adult games on other days.

Collapse2005 wrote:

George Carlin wrote:

Collapse2005 wrote:

VinceWLB wrote:Strange there was no build up thread for this.. Guess everyone is thinking Leinster is going to win this. The truth is we can't really be so certain.

Where is Lowe? The guy is a try machine and i rate him above both Nacewa and Larmour and yes both Ireland wingers too.

As for Racing, good to see a French side that isn't primarily made of foreign players.

Hard to get excited over the new Anglo French tournament. Doesnt have the same allure as the Heineken cup.

Well, I suppose there was no build-up thread because Leinster fans didn't create one.

Takes 30 seconds to do it, innit.

I was at the homecoming yesterday. There were about 400 people there. In '09 there were thousands. I think people in general aren't as excited about this tournament as the old one.

Maybe there is an element of with success comes indifference but I just feel this tournament has regressed a lot.

The BBC sports section on their main news bulletin mentioned every version of English football that night that you could care to mention, (I don't know how many leagues got a mention) I think even a few U7 football Leagues must have had their results given - and not one mention of the European Rugby Final or who won it or lost it.
So yes, it's tough to market something that only seems relevant when you have a team or two in it. Football must pay a lot of backroom money to the media to keep other 'competitor' sports off the 'and now the sport....' sections. Ouch, you cad, Fly!

SecretFly wrote:

Collapse2005 wrote:

George Carlin wrote:

Collapse2005 wrote:

VinceWLB wrote:Strange there was no build up thread for this.. Guess everyone is thinking Leinster is going to win this. The truth is we can't really be so certain.

Where is Lowe? The guy is a try machine and i rate him above both Nacewa and Larmour and yes both Ireland wingers too.

As for Racing, good to see a French side that isn't primarily made of foreign players.

Hard to get excited over the new Anglo French tournament. Doesnt have the same allure as the Heineken cup.

Well, I suppose there was no build-up thread because Leinster fans didn't create one.

Takes 30 seconds to do it, innit.

I was at the homecoming yesterday. There were about 400 people there. In '09 there were thousands. I think people in general aren't as excited about this tournament as the old one.

Maybe there is an element of with success comes indifference but I just feel this tournament has regressed a lot.

The BBC sports section on their main news bulletin mentioned every version of English football that night that you could care to mention, (I don't know how many leagues got a mention)  I think even a few U7 football Leagues must have had their results given - and not one mention of the European Rugby Final or who won it or lost it.  
So yes, it's tough to market something that only seems relevant when you have a team or two in it.  Football must pay a lot of backroom money to the media to keep other 'competitor' sports off the 'and now the sport....' sections.  Ouch, you cad, Fly!

I agree that the coverage of sports on the BBC is shockingly poor (unless it's football) but the BBC does pander to the majority and I'm sorry to say that it is still football. The fact that the final was contested by two teams out with the BBC coverage area would not have helped the case here though.

Wasn't expecting it to be first, second, third, fourth, fifth or even sixth news item on the night, tattie - I know BBC priorities - but it WAS a competition that English Clubs DID have a stake in at one point in the year so it was still somewhat relevant to give Rugby followers in the BBC influence zone at least an acknowledgement that big events in their sport do get a mention.
Maybe it did get a mention in other bulletins on the night, but the one I watched so was so pointed that it never even got a line.

Completely slugfest of a game. The conditions, a great defensive system by Racing, messy line out by both sides really slowed down Leinster. The fact that they only led in the match for less than the final 2 minutes of the game says a lot for how close it was.

Conspiracy watch, the RFU linesman called the offside over the headset to Barnes! I would have preferred if that linesman hadn't been involved in the game for obvious reason. I think it was the correct call, but it was in favour of my team and I'm well aware that is the biased direction I see every call.

Leinster played a wide variety of styles throughout the competition, playing to the conditions, taking on the opposition at their own style of game. Taking on Montpelier, Glasgow, Exeter, Saracens, Scarlets and Racing.



And Munster are waiting in the long grass! Bring it on.

Collapse2005 wrote:

George Carlin wrote:

Collapse2005 wrote:

VinceWLB wrote:Strange there was no build up thread for this.. Guess everyone is thinking Leinster is going to win this. The truth is we can't really be so certain.

Where is Lowe? The guy is a try machine and i rate him above both Nacewa and Larmour and yes both Ireland wingers too.

As for Racing, good to see a French side that isn't primarily made of foreign players.

Hard to get excited over the new Anglo French tournament. Doesnt have the same allure as the Heineken cup.

Well, I suppose there was no build-up thread because Leinster fans didn't create one.

Takes 30 seconds to do it, innit.

I was at the homecoming yesterday. There were about 400 people there. In '09 there were thousands. I think people in general aren't as excited about this tournament as the old one.

Maybe there is an element of with success comes indifference but I just feel this tournament has regressed a lot.

The first one is always going to be special though.
You might be lowballing the number at 400 a little bit, I printed off the free ticket at around 11am that morning and it was ticket 679, plenty of the morning still to go but probably only pushed to 1,100 at the very top end.
There is a chance that Dublin playing Kilkenny in Parnell Park (and other GAA fixtures), the final games of the premiership kicking off at 3pm and a decent number of fans travelling to Bilbao meant a lot of people already had other plans on the day or were still en route back from Spain.

I didn't get the feeling that Sky Sports put much effort into advertising the final (do they have any of it next year). Also BT didn't seem to put much advertising into it either (probably fearful that their ads would end up having punters flicking on SS channel by mistake). Maybe that's just down to a lack of English representation (they can ask the EPCR to fix that for them next season).

Its happened before if no English team in it and the game isn't at Twickenham the broadcasters scale down

thebandwagonsociety wrote:Completely slugfest of a game.  The conditions, a great defensive system by Racing, messy line out by both sides really slowed down Leinster.  The fact that they only led in the match for less than the final 2 minutes of the game says a lot for how close it was.

Conspiracy watch, the RFU linesman called the offside over the headset to Barnes! I would have preferred if that linesman hadn't been involved in the game for obvious reason.  I think it was the correct call, but it was in favour of my team and I'm well aware that is the biased direction I see every call.

Leinster played a wide variety of styles throughout the competition, playing to the conditions, taking on the opposition at their own style of game.  Taking on Montpelier, Glasgow, Exeter, Saracens, Scarlets and Racing.

And Munster are waiting in the long grass! Bring it on.

Fair point. I missed that one. It is probably a conflict of interest IMO.

Although I just never trust Barnes games to be predictable and I don't think he suits Irish teams or to be fair either team in this game so its good to get the rub of the green.

thebandwagonsociety wrote:

The first one is always going to be special though.
You might be lowballing the number at 400 a little bit, I printed off the free ticket at around 11am that morning and it was ticket 679, plenty of the morning still to go but probably only pushed to 1,100 at the very top end.
There is a chance that Dublin playing Kilkenny in Parnell Park (and other GAA fixtures), the final games of the premiership kicking off at 3pm and a decent number of fans travelling to Bilbao meant a lot of people already had other plans on the day or were still en route back from Spain.

I didn't get the feeling that Sky Sports put much effort into advertising the final (do they have any of it next year). Also BT didn't seem to put much advertising into it either (probably fearful that their ads would end up having punters flicking on SS channel by mistake).  Maybe that's just down to a lack of English representation (they can ask the EPCR to fix that for them next season).

Possibly a bit but Id say people came and went throughout the day and I doubt there was much more than 500 or so at any one time. Tickets were also free so Id say some people got them but decided not to go as it was so nice out. Leinster didn't have much food or entertainment there either so that didn't help. Whereas in the past they at least had a band.

I just hope there is no deflation of intent now for next season.  Nacewa won't be there (at least as a player) - Sexton and other central characters will be even more conscious of International distractions and WC on horizon.  
So it might be all too easy for the juggernaut - that took time to refocus and recalibrate after the ending of the HEC system - to rest a degree easier into the new season.  A percentage of relaxation will drop you out of this competition pretty quick....and next time a real record is up for grabs.  Intensity and single minded obsession must surge through coaching team and players again.  Five stars and then this team can relax for a few seasons.  Then Munster can take over again at the top (let's keep it Irish).... with a new coach  Not sure the new man was the right choice.

Munster wont win a European cup in the next 10 years unless they develop some sort of academy. I mean there are only two outstanding local players in the Munster squad, Murray and POM and even POM is a little over rated.

Collapse2005 wrote:Munster wont win a European cup in the next 10 years unless they develop some sort of academy. I mean there are only two outstanding local players in the Munster squad, Murray and POM and even POM is a little over rated.

Hey, hes the All Ireland Elbow balancing champion !

Turgid game but Leinster won't complain. It's good for the competition that there's a non French or English winner even though Leinster has now won it 4 times. Good for the pro14 too to that Cardiff and Leinster both won their competitions.

That was an awful final (and almost went ahead without any fanfare). The last couple have been really good.

Here’s hoping for a better one next year.

Cyril wrote:That was an awful final (and almost went ahead without any fanfare). The last couple have been really good.

Here’s hoping for a better one next year.

Yes Barnes does tend to kill games with his idiosyncratic pedantic refereeing.

You hardly expect BT sport to promote an Irish French final do you? It wont be long before they are campaigning for more favourable terms for English teams again.

Was it on BT and Sky then ?

Didn't BT show a re-run of last year's final instead?

It was on BT Sport 2 ...

Heaf wrote:It was on BT Sport 2 ...

I watched it on SKY Arena on Saturday, weird

Don't BT and Sky still share the coverage for this competition?

Heaf wrote:Don't BT and Sky still share the coverage for this competition?

Not anymore, after this final was played it's only on BT from here on out.