Champions Cup Final - Leinster v Racing

[Oldschool]

Luke is starting.

Biggest question is JGP on the bench or not.

Luke is 50/50 at best and that's not a good place to be for a ERC final, JGP will be in the 23.

[riocard911]

Something soothing for the nerves from Matt Williams, who only sees the match going in one way i.e. Leinster's:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXsXdt3gqr8

[mildlyinterested]

Something soothing for the nerves from Matt Williams, who only sees the match going in one way i.e. Leinster's:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXsXdt3gqr8

haven't seen any pundit saying leinster will lose, which is itself is worrying.

If Leinster lose it will be a huge choke job.

[riocard911]

Nice stuff from the club for the fans pre-ERCC final:

The Road to Bilbao - Part 1 (group stage):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTSpXUizq4U

The Road to Bilbao - Part 2 (knockouts):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujskUSjQ2Fs


Enjoy!!!!!

[LeinsterLeader]

Something soothing for the nerves from Matt Williams, who only sees the match going in one way i.e. Leinster's:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXsXdt3gqr8

haven't seen any pundit saying leinster will lose, which is itself is worrying.

If Leinster lose it will be a huge choke job.

As a nation we really don't do the tag of 'favorites' very well

I wonder do the All Blacks supporters go through this self doubt before every big match

[wixfjord]

It ain’t going to happen, but I’d also prefer to see Barry Daly at 23 than ROL. I hope Isa can make the full 80.

[offshorerules]

Something soothing for the nerves from Matt Williams, who only sees the match going in one way i.e. Leinster's:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXsXdt3gqr8

haven't seen any pundit saying leinster will lose, which is itself is worrying.

If Leinster lose it will be a huge choke job.

As a nation we really don't do the tag of 'favorites' very well

I wonder do the All Blacks supporters go through this self doubt before every big match

I dunno, we wore it pretty well at Twickers.

[LeRouxIsPHat]

I'm very uncomfortable with the talk of how great Lancaster is when we haven't actually won anything yet. We should be confident, but I do feel like the media have portrayed it as a foregone conclusion. That said, there's no reason to think that the players and coaches are feeling that way.

As for Larmour, if he was starting for Racing then I'd be far more worried about what he would do to us than excited about how we could exploit his inexperience. I know he's been inconsistent over the last few months, but I think his poor performances (bar the defensive errors against Italy) have come in the lesser games and expect him to slot in well tomorrow.

[wixfjord]

He hasn't really put in a big performance in a big game at wing though as far as I remember.

[riocard911]

Pre-match words from captain Isa Nacewa:

https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/ ... 95260.html

[OTT]

I'm very uncomfortable with the talk of how great Lancaster is when we haven't actually won anything yet. We should be confident, but I do feel like the media have portrayed it as a foregone conclusion. That said, there's no reason to think that the players and coaches are feeling that way.

As for Larmour, if he was starting for Racing then I'd be far more worried about what he would do to us than excited about how we could exploit his inexperience. I know he's been inconsistent over the last few months, but I think his poor performances (bar the defensive errors against Italy) have come in the lesser games and expect him to slot in well tomorrow.

I think win or lose tomorrow Lancaster has been great for us. After the Scarlets league semi last year a lot of people on here blamed it on Sexton and Lancaster (if you want to read a depressing thread look at the Scarlets match thread) and a few weeks previous the same posters (and journos) were saying how the pair had brought the Leinster culture back to where it needed to be. It is basically the same thing now except we are a bit further along. I think we are back to where we should be and I think we should win tomorrow but if we don't it wont be because Lancaster is not the right guy he has been a breath of fresh air in everything he has done here.

I agree with you on Larmour I think he will be okay tomorrow, he will have enough quality leaders around him guiding him through and helping him make the right decisions and he undoubtedly has the talent.

I am so nervous for this game right now, its bloody great to be back in a European Final!

[LeRouxIsPHat]

Ah I wasn't knocking Lancaster in the slightest. I'm a huge fan, have heard some very positive things from inside LR, and believe the players are genuine when they rave about him. I was simply saying that the tone of the praise in the media is more akin to what you get after trophies have been won, maybe that wasn't clear.

[LeRouxIsPHat]

He hasn't really put in a big performance in a big game at wing though as far as I remember.

Suppose it depends how you define "big" but I thought he was very good in Montpellier. IIRC he didn't get much ball but coped very well with Nadolo.

[OTT]

Ah I wasn't knocking Lancaster in the slightest. I'm a huge fan, have heard some very positive things from inside LR, and believe the players are genuine when they rave about him. I was simply saying that the tone of the praise in the media is more akin to what you get after trophies have been won, maybe that wasn't clear.

Ah yeah I am with you and you were clear, I was just meandering on my own point because I remember the sh!t show that went on last year after we were rubbish against Scarlets. The guys who had turned us back into the team/club we aspire to be got thrown under the bus and I can imagine the same thing happening if the result does not go our way tomorrow. Anyway enough negativity from me we are winning this bloody match tomorrow!

[blockhead]

Something soothing for the nerves from Matt Williams, who only sees the match going in one way i.e. Leinster's:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXsXdt3gqr8

haven't seen any pundit saying leinster will lose, which is itself is worrying.

If Leinster lose it will be a huge choke job.

As a nation we really don't do the tag of 'favorites' very well

I wonder do the All Blacks supporters go through this self doubt before every big match

Leinster have been heavy favourites for every final they have played in Pro12 or Heino. We don't choke.
Maybe 2009 V Leicester we were not "heavy" favourites but we were certainly favourites.

[riocard911]

I'm very uncomfortable with the talk of how great Lancaster is when we haven't actually won anything yet. We should be confident, but I do feel like the media have portrayed it as a foregone conclusion. That said, there's no reason to think that the players and coaches are feeling that way.

As for Larmour, if he was starting for Racing then I'd be far more worried about what he would do to us than excited about how we could exploit his inexperience. I know he's been inconsistent over the last few months, but I think his poor performances (bar the defensive errors against Italy) have come in the lesser games and expect him to slot in well tomorrow.

I think win or lose tomorrow Lancaster has been great for us. After the Scarlets league semi last year a lot of people on here blamed it on Sexton and Lancaster (if you want to read a depressing thread look at the Scarlets match thread) and a few weeks previous the same posters (and journos) were saying how the pair had brought the Leinster culture back to where it needed to be. It is basically the same thing now except we are a bit further along. I think we are back to where we should be and I think we should win tomorrow but if we don't it wont be because Lancaster is not the right guy he has been a breath of fresh air in everything he has done here.

I agree with you on Larmour I think he will be okay tomorrow, he will have enough quality leaders around him guiding him through and helping him make the right decisions and he undoubtedly has the talent.

I am so nervous for this game right now, its bloody great to be back in a European Final!

+1

[blockhead]

Adam Byrne and Deegan in the A squad.
Ruddock must be OK.

[QBer]

Leinster Rugby (caps in brackets):

15. Rob Kearney (195)
14. Jordan Larmour (19)
13. Garry Ringrose (47)
12. Robbie Henshaw (23)
11. Isa Nacewa (182) CAPTAIN
10. Johnny Sexton (146)
9. Luke McGrath (92)
1. Cian Healy (188)
2. Seán Cronin (150)
3. Tadhg Furlong (81)
4. Devin Toner (215)
5. James Ryan (12)
6. Scott Fardy (19)
7. Dan Leavy (52)
8. Jordi Murphy (104)

16. James Tracy (63)
17. Jack McGrath (130)
18. Andrew Porter (27)
19. Rhys Ruddock (140)
20. Jack Conan (71)
21. Jamison Gibson-Park (50)
22. Joey Carbery (35)
23. Rory O’Loughlin (40)

Referee: Wayne Barnes (RFU)

[olaf the fat]

I dont remember a match being more treated as a forgone conclusion since '09 when Munster rocked up to Croke Park carrying a big jar of vasolin.

We all remember how that worked out for them.

[LeinsterLeader]

haven't seen any pundit saying leinster will lose, which is itself is worrying.

If Leinster lose it will be a huge choke job.

As a nation we really don't do the tag of 'favorites' very well

I wonder do the All Blacks supporters go through this self doubt before every big match

Leinster have been heavy favourites for every final they have played in Pro12 or Heino. We don't choke.
Maybe 2009 V Leicester we were not "heavy" favourites but we were certainly favourites.

No I understand that alright. I Wasn't referring to the team who have dealt with the tag without issue. I was referring to us, the fans (on here particularly) if you look back on the Sarecens and Scarlets pre-match thread it's virtually the same stuff (eg "Oh I don't know why the bookies have us as favorites etc."). It's mad!

Having said all that I judge nobody because of this as I myself am bricking it and am full of fear and doubt