Pro 14 Final vs Munster, March 27th. 5pm. @ The RDS.

[cormac]

MUNSTER SENIOR COACH Stephen Larkham says the Pro14 final defeat to Leinster last weekend was “fairly evenly matched.”

The southern province were level at 6-6 at half time after Leinster had missed a series of try-scoring chances but Leo Cullen and Staurt Lancaster’s scored through Jack Conan to help them pull clear in the second 40 minutes.

Munster failed to threaten Leinster to any great extent in attack but Larkham today stated his belief that there wasn’t any clear gap between the teams.

“It was one of those games that just crept away from us,” said Larkham. “We’ve spoken a fair bit about belief this morning. That’s a key message. Are they better than us? They were better than us on the day.

“There’s some stats that if you look at it, they made more mistakes than us when they had their hands on the ball. They kicked more than us throughout the game.

“It was fairly evenly-matched throughout the whole game and the one thing we really take out of it is that we’ve got the game plan and the skill there. We’ve just got to beat them on the day by better execution in certain parts of the game.”

https://www.the42.ie/munster-leinster-s ... 6-Mar2021/

Taxi for Larkham

[hugonaut]

MUNSTER SENIOR COACH Stephen Larkham says the Pro14 final defeat to Leinster last weekend was “fairly evenly matched.”

The southern province were level at 6-6 at half time after Leinster had missed a series of try-scoring chances but Leo Cullen and Staurt Lancaster’s scored through Jack Conan to help them pull clear in the second 40 minutes.

Munster failed to threaten Leinster to any great extent in attack but Larkham today stated his belief that there wasn’t any clear gap between the teams.

“It was one of those games that just crept away from us,” said Larkham. “We’ve spoken a fair bit about belief this morning. That’s a key message. Are they better than us? They were better than us on the day.

“There’s some stats that if you look at it, they made more mistakes than us when they had their hands on the ball. They kicked more than us throughout the game.

“It was fairly evenly-matched throughout the whole game and the one thing we really take out of it is that we’ve got the game plan and the skill there. We’ve just got to beat them on the day by better execution in certain parts of the game.”

https://www.the42.ie/munster-leinster-s ... 6-Mar2021/

See now, I would just lose confidence in my leaders if they were full of shite. This is pure Sean Spicer level bullshit.

The guy is a legend of the game, but that's just not accurate. And in fact, it's enough of a distortion to be dishonest.

I get the idea about belief. Just stick with that. They've only lost 3 of 19 games this season, and they weren't hockeyed out the gate in any of those three games - a 5 point loss in Ravenhill, a 3 point loss in Thomond [to us] and a 10 point loss in the RDS.

[Blueberry]

MUNSTER SENIOR COACH Stephen Larkham says the Pro14 final defeat to Leinster last weekend was “fairly evenly matched.”

The southern province were level at 6-6 at half time after Leinster had missed a series of try-scoring chances but Leo Cullen and Staurt Lancaster’s scored through Jack Conan to help them pull clear in the second 40 minutes.

Munster failed to threaten Leinster to any great extent in attack but Larkham today stated his belief that there wasn’t any clear gap between the teams.

“It was one of those games that just crept away from us,” said Larkham. “We’ve spoken a fair bit about belief this morning. That’s a key message. Are they better than us? They were better than us on the day.

“There’s some stats that if you look at it, they made more mistakes than us when they had their hands on the ball. They kicked more than us throughout the game.

“It was fairly evenly-matched throughout the whole game and the one thing we really take out of it is that we’ve got the game plan and the skill there. We’ve just got to beat them on the day by better execution in certain parts of the game.”

https://www.the42.ie/munster-leinster-s ... 6-Mar2021/

Well if that’s what he’s saying and he believes it you can understand why Munster have not improved since our semifinal with them last year. If I was a Munster fan reading that I’d pull my hair out

Understand he has to put up a brave front but if actually believes any of that shi*e my 6 old has more 'rugby knowledge' than this clown.

[Blueberry]

MUNSTER SENIOR COACH Stephen Larkham says the Pro14 final defeat to Leinster last weekend was “fairly evenly matched.”

The southern province were level at 6-6 at half time after Leinster had missed a series of try-scoring chances but Leo Cullen and Staurt Lancaster’s scored through Jack Conan to help them pull clear in the second 40 minutes.

Munster failed to threaten Leinster to any great extent in attack but Larkham today stated his belief that there wasn’t any clear gap between the teams.

“It was one of those games that just crept away from us,” said Larkham. “We’ve spoken a fair bit about belief this morning. That’s a key message. Are they better than us? They were better than us on the day.

“There’s some stats that if you look at it, they made more mistakes than us when they had their hands on the ball. They kicked more than us throughout the game.

“It was fairly evenly-matched throughout the whole game and the one thing we really take out of it is that we’ve got the game plan and the skill there. We’ve just got to beat them on the day by better execution in certain parts of the game.”

https://www.the42.ie/munster-leinster-s ... 6-Mar2021/

Well if that’s what he’s saying and he believes it you can understand why Munster have not improved since our semifinal with them last year. If I was a Munster fan reading that I’d pull my hair out

Understand he has to put up a brave front but if actually believes any of that shi*e my 6 old has more 'rugby knowledge' than this clown.

[Ruckedtobits]

If one team has 70% possession, it's likely they'll also make more mistakes in possession than the team without only 30% - in absolute numbers. However if Larkham believes Munster had the right Game Plan and the match was fairly even, he is deluding himself and lacks any objectivity.

[Oldschool]

Belief.
Munster are usually a confident team that believe in themselves.
If you park the pr in Larkham's comments it's quite clear that he thinks Munster don't believe in themselves when they are playing Leinster - "we talked about belief a lot".
A LOT
Basically we're now a monkey on Munster's shoulders.
Larkham is right but it's also clear that he's at a loss as to how to rectify the problem.
I don't know whether I rate Larkham as a coach or not but I don't rate VDG and if he signed/recommended Larkham then therein is another problem.
Munster need a reboot.
Penney was the nearest coach to achieving that
They need to find another like him and this time stick with him (ie Stop signing SA coaches and start looking at NZ coaches) and then they need to be patient, patience is a virtue.
EDIT
And the IRFU need to tell them to "make it so" As soon as Contractual Obligations permit.

[blockhead]

You can't expect Larkham to come out and be a realist (ie all doom and gloom) a few days before a game that will be either total redemption or absolute disaster.
And Munster are a good team, one of the very best in Europe, that's a fact. Their record in Europe is testament to that and they are one game away from another semi against Wasps or a team they have already beaten this season.
They are unbeaten at fortress Thomond in 4 years, if you dont count Leinster of course who win down their 75% of the time.
And that's their problem, us .

[Theleinsterlad]

You can't expect Larkham to come out and be a realist (ie all doom and gloom) a few days before a game that will be either total redemption or absolute disaster.
And Munster are a good team, one of the very best in Europe, that's a fact. Their record in Europe is testament to that and they are one game away from another semi against Wasps or a team they have already beaten this season.
They are unbeaten at fortress Thomond in 4 years, if you dont count Leinster of course who win down their 75% of the time.
And that's their problem, us .

No it’s not just us, they have been left wanting against other major teams in Europe for the last several years. I would say the opposite he should have come out and said our tactics were poor the team showed fight in holding out Leinster for so long but they gave too much of momentum to Leinster and that needed to change for Toulouse at weekend. Any half decent rugby fan can see how poor their tactics were in the final

[ronk]

3 provinces have squad building coaches and setups. They understand that their ultimate job is to supply players to the national team and winning is secondary but still very important.

They are building sustainable success (and Connacht did get a solid 2nd place this year).

Munster haven’t really bought into that and from before JvG.

[bluemagic]

You can't expect Larkham to come out and be a realist (ie all doom and gloom) a few days before a game that will be either total redemption or absolute disaster.
And Munster are a good team, one of the very best in Europe, that's a fact. Their record in Europe is testament to that and they are one game away from another semi against Wasps or a team they have already beaten this season.
They are unbeaten at fortress Thomond in 4 years, if you dont count Leinster of course who win down their 75% of the time.
And that's their problem, us .

One game away from a quarter*

[blockhead]

My favourite post from MFS on the matchtread

Look at that pr1ck Lowe jump up and cheer when Earlsie knocks on. Langer

Classic MFSs

[Oldschoolsocks]

My favourite post from MFS on the matchtread

Look at that pr1ck Lowe jump up and cheer when Earlsie knocks on. Langer

Classic MFSs

that place is pure entertainment

[Serb]

They just hate Lowe so much, it’s gas.

[John23]

I seem to recall they hated Felipe in pretty much the same way. Loathed him in actual fact.

[Theleinsterlad]

I seem to recall they hated Felipe in pretty much the same way. Loathed him in actual fact.

For the same reason:- both of them understood the rivalry between Leinster and Munster and show it on their sleeve when playing against Munster

[LeinsterLeader]

This will hurt a bit down in Shelbyville. The power of the Parish

https://extra.ie/2021/04/02/sport/rugby ... sty-parish

Things can change very quickly in sport though.

[Xanthippe]

This will hurt a bit down in Shelbyville. The power of the Parish

https://extra.ie/2021/04/02/sport/rugby ... sty-parish

Things can change very quickly in sport though.

It’s more than a bit nasty to Lames Lowe - had to look at the journo’s name as I fully expected to see Luke Fitzgerald’s name up there!!!

[Oldschoolsocks]

This will hurt a bit down in Shelbyville. The power of the Parish

https://extra.ie/2021/04/02/sport/rugby ... sty-parish

Things can change very quickly in sport though.

It’s more than a bit nasty to Lames Lowe - had to look at the journo’s name as I fully expected to see Luke Fitzgerald’s name up there!!!

Hugh Farrelly, another utter tool of a man

[Jonny tight lips]

Looks like they will be spending the next 2 weeks plotting their revenge, as they have nothing else to play for you would
imagine they will be sending up their best 23. Be interesting to see what team Leo puts out if we’re still in Europe, would be great to do them for the 7th time in a row.

[Oldschoolsocks]

So now the reason that Munster lost is that Joy Neville was afraid to tell the ref that Andrew Porter should have been given a red card.

It’s gas