Like what does that even mean? It's totally hollow. We were told again and again after Sarries & La Rochelle that it was down to one thing - power.
We needed a big powerful 20 stone 6'8 SH second row who could help us compete in the tight and get guaranteed go forward.
We had enough good ball players in the pack and LAR were able to take us apart because we didn't have the power to go up against them.
Here's the thread, go back and have a look - https://www.leinsterfans.com/forum/view ... &start=520
backrower8 wrote: ↑May 3rd, 2021, 1:50 pm100%carlow man wrote: ↑May 2nd, 2021, 9:41 pm We really to sign a big brute of a lock to help out JR. That lad is being asked to do too much and his body will be shot by the time he's 30. He needs help, being asked to run the lineout, be the pack leader, carry over and over again, hit rucks and overpower people is too much for a player with a bit of history with hia and operations on his shoulders this early in his career.
One big signing of this nature asap please.
neiliog93 wrote: ↑May 3rd, 2021, 1:51 pm
Given we have come unstuck several times against Pacific Island-inspired power teams, I think it's very clear we are not able to 'play around' teams who are truly excellent at applying their power. We won't win another European Cup without a big second row. On that topic, there's a low budget option playing in the Pro D2 - Maselino Paulino, 6'9" and 120kg, obviously not on Skelton's level, but a very powerful guy.
Blueberry wrote: ↑May 3rd, 2021, 3:35 pm
Bottom line is if you watch the game back yesterday (especially the second half) we were physically on the back foot up front for most of it...
There is nothing 'wrong' with our approach but by being behind the curve on the big physical lumps we are putting huge pressure on other areas.
So we either counter the big physical deficit by signing a couple of lumps or we plug away as we are but accept that when it comes to the crunch we have to win 2-3 at best 50:50 game and the odds are against us.
I'm not saying either route is ideal but anyone who is denying immense physicality isn't an issue after what has happened in 2019,2020 and 2021 is I think just not being realistic.
LeRouxIsPHat wrote: ↑May 3rd, 2021, 4:16 pm Important to remember that we lost for multiple reasons. Power was the big one for me and it’s not just a case of them rumbling forward and us not being able to stop them, it obviously has the knock on effect of tiring us out and trying to do things on the back foot etc etc.
...
But just in terms of trying to sign some power, in an ideal world I think we’d sign a big lump in the second row but it’s not going to happen. The good news is that IMO we could look a lot better this time next year if we have Porter and Furlong both starting with Alaalatoa on the bench, Sheehan on the bench, Baird a year older, Ryan fitter and sharper, proper depth in the back row again, someone like Soroka breaking through etc etc.
LeRouxIsPHat wrote: ↑May 3rd, 2021, 4:20 pm
Personally I think we need to stop thinking of signing the likes of Skelton or Snyman and think more about someone being Damian Browne 2.0, and I think we can achieve that.
curates_egg wrote: ↑May 3rd, 2021, 8:36 am
The top teams in Europe at the moment all seem to have one or two absolute units (Skelton is 140kg and Atonio 150kg). Pretty much every second row in the Top14 you can think of is just a massive (in the literal sense) object - I'm talking over 120kg.
We don't really have any, and I agree it seems unlikely we will be allowed to sign one.
Sheehan looks like he has potential (as did Salanoa). But, while we have great players 4-8, we don't have a wrecking ball and, unless I have missed someone, nobody with the physical attributes to become one.
So then we go out and sign a 124kg, 6'8 SA lock who's game is literally based on power in the tackle, tight and carry.
And now he doesn't fit into our system?