EPCR - Round 1 Leinster v Wasps (Friday, 12 Oct @7:45pm)

First topic message reminder :

Leinster: Rob Kearney; Jordan Larmour, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, James Lowe; Johnny Sexton (C), Luke McGrath; Cian Healy, Seán Cronin, Tadhg Furlong; Devin Toner, James Ryan; Dan Leavy, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan.

Subs: James Tracy, Jack McGrath, Andrew Porter, Scott Fardy, Seán O’Brien, Nick McCarthy, Ross Byrne, Joe Tomane.


Wasps: Willie Le Roux; Josh Bassett, Juan de Jongh, Michael Le Bourgeois, Elliot Daly (C); Lima Sopoaga, Joe Simpson; Zurabi Zhvania, Tommy Taylor, Kieran Brookes; Will Rowlands, James Gaskell; Brad Shields, Thomas Young, Nizaam Carr.

Subs: Tom Cruse, Ben Harris, Will Stuart, Kearnan Myall, Ashley Johnson, Craig Hampson, Billy Searle, Rob Miller


Wasps thumped Leinster the last time they played each other at the RDS. Will this be a repeat.
Nervous anticipation for the game, hoping for some high quality rugby.

Leinster 10, Wasps 5, Officials 3 ...

Wasps problems were laid bare last night. Not enough dog or quality behind a thin decent team. Too much of our budget goes on journeyman marquee players when investment in a deeper squad is needed when injuries inevitably happen. There are green shoots in our academy but we are talking at least five years to really see the fruition of this. When a club can't keep hold of the likes of lozowski and Billy vunipola as youth players there is a problem. That being said of all the starts for a Euro Cup run leinster away would be the worst place. Also the younger players have now experienced what it feels like and can aspire to play like leinster.

Far from the strongest Wasps side, but.....Leinster were just outstanding, especially in the 2nd half. The physicality and defence was just something else, the attacking play obviously came after that. What a squad Leinster have, they're going to be very hard to beat this season. Congratulations lads

Who were Wasps missing?

Tadhg Furlongs draw the man, dummy and offload is something Ive never seen a tight head prop do before. A lot of the Irish backs just wouldnt know how to do that. He has a great ability to interpret and manipulate the space in front like a game of tetris to create something.

Launchbury, Hughes, Willis, Robson, Gopperth, Wade.

Some big players out, but even playing, they'd have made little difference with the mood Leinster were in. Scary, scary performance....

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Launchbury, Hughes, Willis, Robson, Gopperth, Wade.

Some big players out, but even playing, they'd have made little difference with the mood Leinster were in. Scary, scary performance....

Some good players alright. Im sure they would have made a difference. That said Fardy, O'Brien, Leavy and McGrath didnt start for Leinster.

Collapse2005 wrote:

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Launchbury, Hughes, Willis, Robson, Gopperth, Wade.

Some big players out, but even playing, they'd have made little difference with the mood Leinster were in. Scary, scary performance....

Some good players alright. Im sure they would have made a difference. That said Fardy, O'Brien,  Leavy and McGrath didnt start for Leinster.

I'm not sure they would have that much difference tbh, Leinster were unplayable.

Agreed, leinster are reaping their hard work and develop over the years of professional era. They could turn over most international teams. Tougher games await though, but can't see them slipping up in this pool.

Careful everyone.  I love when Leinster are ruthless and beautiful in equal measure.

BUT............... it doesn't always transmit in a Title win.  How many Heineken Cups did Clermont enter with the plaudits of the team with everything - star players, fantasy level rugby, favourites status?

In truth it's going to be a tough season for Leinster to keep the engine burning.  It's a big International year coming and they have a heap of International players who are going to become increasingly distracted by the increasing momentum of International.  It will be difficult for them to keep focus on European Cup PLUS a forthcoming International WC.  There will have to be brakes applied at some stages during the year to control form and make sure certain hot players don't burn out too soon.

Promising start of course, but a long long way to go.  No guarantees as Cullen has already alluded to.

Anyone who beats this team with so many test players in it deserves everything they get.

Leinster are not the Irish provinces or the PRO14 or NH rugby.

Let’s not go ripping off our bras yelling ‘ freedom at last’ just yet.

Wales are waiting silently to strike.

I watched that game on Friday night. Jeez that was rough. Wasps firmly put in their place by a very impressive Leinster side.

They are the benchmark.

Super performance by Leinster.

James Lowe is unstoppable right now, last season he perhaps forced the offloads a bit and maybe struggled a bit defensively but now has ironed those out he could be the player of the season - if he hadn't of tried to offload to Sexton he would have had a hat trick.

Beirne was equally impressive but across the board they look like such a complete side.

Ruddock was very unlucky to be dropped initially, it shows how competitive it is with Leavy dropping out, Ruddock comes in, has a super game and they can still bring O'Brien and Fardy off the bench. Gibson-Park has been in super form and not even in the 23.

It's very early but it does look Leinster's competition to lose, they look even better than last year.

Beirne moonlighting already? Cheeky basterde!

SecretFly wrote:Beirne moonlighting already?  Cheeky basterde!

Flip meant Furlong. Mind you he's everywhere that Tadhg Beirne.

Anyway, things are looking too sweet.  The wheels is going to come off somewhere.  I feel an AB humiliation coming.

I'm going to try to Baa Humbug us through the next few weeks/months to try to keep the Jinx-of-Death from our doorstep.

Some good little bits to Leinster at the weekend but rather disappointing in the amount of try scoring chances they fluffed.  Will need to tighten up in all areas to last long in this competition.  By no means the best of the weekend - that would be Saracens.  Even the Guardian agrees.

Saracens, are you serious? Glasgow were extremely unlucky, Leinster would have put 30 points on them.

Yeah I thought Sarries looked weak enough too. They were in touch for their first try but a win in Glasgow is hard to come by. Cant see them winning but good enough start for them.

No. Leinster were poor. it’s Sarries for me all the way.

(I see where you’re going with this, Fly. I’m your trusty wingman.)

Guardian did a great job of creative writing though. The headline was that Saracens stood head and shoulders above everyone else at the weekend ( I gulped in shock)...... it's only when you floated through the thing that you realise they mean in terms of English Premiership sides.

I've been watching a bit of the premiership and I'm not surprised to see the English sides get a bit of a reality check, the intensity in the premiership, particularly in defense and the breakdown is a long way off the pro14. Saracens and Exeter in particular were both shell shocked by the pace and physicality of Glasgow and Munster respectively.

On another note, Lowe has deservedly stolen a lot of headlines but the recent performances of Henshaw and Ringrose deserves a mention too. Henshaw wasn't far off man of the match here and when you consider Sexton's good form too Joe will be a happy camper heading into the AIs.

Henshaw was dreadful...a real disappointment.

rodders wrote:I've been watching a bit of the premiership and I'm not surprised to see the English sides get a bit of a reality check, the intensity in the premiership, particularly in defense and the breakdown is a long way off the pro14. Saracens and Exeter in particular were both shell shocked by the pace and physicality of Glasgow and Munster respectively.

On another note, Lowe has deservedly stolen a lot of headlines but the recent performances of Henshaw and Ringrose deserves a mention too. Henshaw wasn't far off man of the match here and when you consider Sexton's good form too Joe will be a happy camper heading into the AIs.

To be fair to Sarries very few pro 14 teams go to Glasgow and get a win. They were lucky though especially given they were in touch for their try.

SecretFly wrote:Henshaw was is usually dreadful...a real disappointment surprise.

Fixed it for you fly!

One of the commentators suggested during Glasgae/Saracens that pro14 teams weren't used to the pace of the English league....

munkian wrote:One of the commentators suggested during Glasgae/Saracens that pro14 teams weren't used to the pace of the English league....

Are they 'avin' a Larf? Are they 'avin' a Larf?

Pro14 rugby has gotta be the sexiest rugby in Europe these days. So it'll still be unpopular I guess...can't be having Ladyboy rugby infesting the purity of a man's game!

Give me 10 man rugby or give me death

munkian wrote:One of the commentators suggested during Glasgae/Saracens that pro14 teams weren't used to the pace of the English league....

If the pace between the two leagues is different, then this would be true.

Pot Hale wrote:

munkian wrote:One of the commentators suggested during Glasgae/Saracens that pro14 teams weren't used to the pace of the English league....

If the pace between the two leagues is different, then this would be true.

You're too smart for 606 Pot. I've always said so.

That's why I'm starting a petition to have you banned forthwith!

munkian wrote:One of the commentators suggested during Glasgae/Saracens that pro14 teams weren't used to the pace of the English league....

They aren't, it's too bloody slow.

rodders to be banned too.

Oh I'm enjoying the purges!