Leinster v Toulouse HC SF Sat 14th May 3:00pm

[johng]

Penalty against Robbie was because he joined the maul behind kelleher without taking the ball. Making kelleher offside. Or are you talking about a different incident?

Nahhhh he blew before Robbie joined the maul and said "my arms are still in the air and players moved forward ................. 12 moving in" pointing right at Robbie.

Not making a big deal of it, I just havent really seen it called before and he didn't need to blow it, the lineout was well over. I'm talking about the penalty on our attacking maul, just before half-time. Anyhoo, thought the ref had a good game over all.

Nah. The Law says you can't break the 10m gap before the line-out is over, nothing about joining the maul. The referee's signal with two arms in the air is for when he considers the maul has "moved through the line of touch" which is the imaginary width of the two player lines & the gap between them - say about 2m wide.

The wide camera shot from behind the Leinster line-out clearly showed Robbie breaking the 10m curfew early and his facial expression after the whistle & explanation confirms he knew exactly what it was for.

That's fair enough. I have only seen it in the ground. So couldn't hear what was said. I presumed it was an "offside in the maul" offence. Like you say. You don't often see breaking the 10m line called

[the spoofer]

Nahhhh he blew before Robbie joined the maul and said "my arms are still in the air and players moved forward ................. 12 moving in" pointing right at Robbie.

Not making a big deal of it, I just havent really seen it called before and he didn't need to blow it, the lineout was well over. I'm talking about the penalty on our attacking maul, just before half-time. Anyhoo, thought the ref had a good game over all.

Nah. The Law says you can't break the 10m gap before the line-out is over, nothing about joining the maul. The referee's signal with two arms in the air is for when he considers the maul has "moved through the line of touch" which is the imaginary width of the two player lines & the gap between them - say about 2m wide.

The wide camera shot from behind the Leinster line-out clearly showed Robbie breaking the 10m curfew early and his facial expression after the whistle & explanation confirms he knew exactly what it was for.

That's fair enough. I have only seen it in the ground. So couldn't hear what was said. I presumed it was an "offside in the maul" offence. Like you say. You don't often see breaking the 10m line called

Robbie has a bit of history with maul penalties!

[Laighin Break]

Was thinking the same. Wales in 2017!

[ronk]

That's fair enough. I have only seen it in the ground. So couldn't hear what was said. I presumed it was an "offside in the maul" offence. Like you say. You don't often see breaking the 10m line called

They've been clamping down on it and Leinster have been called a few times.

The giveaway in the ground is where the spot is, it looks like the ref has given an extra 10m and moved infield (usually).

[Morf]

I like to look at other clubs fans forums (or is that fora?) after matches. You get some good bits that we miss here through our blue tinted specs. There is absolute comedy gold on munsterfans with claims that JGP was completely outplayed by Dupont and complaints that Leinster didn't adopt the same tactics as Munster.

The other thing I have been reading and hearing since the final whistle is how tired Toulouse were. I would accept that if they were falling off tackles in the last quarter but this game was won in the 1st 20 minutes. For these world class Toulouse players, they cant blame tiredness after 20 mins!

Meafou & Arnold didn't look as if they could finish the warm up..... That sounds like a (not so) funny line, but it is true. Fitness is still a big issue with these packs. John Beatie on his podcast last Wednesday talked about all the Toulouse forwards were in Burger King Dublin Airport before the flight back after the QF. On same podcast Aki talked about them all going to Trevors bar and drinking Magners and eating Fois Gas.

It was far from Fois Gras that Trev was raised!

[wixfjord]

Fascinating twitter thread on our attacking shape at the weekend - https://twitter.com/SamLStandsUp/status ... 3952604161

[LeRouxIsPHat]

The other thing I have been reading and hearing since the final whistle is how tired Toulouse were. I would accept that if they were falling off tackles in the last quarter but this game was won in the 1st 20 minutes. For these world class Toulouse players, they cant blame tiredness after 20 mins!

Meafou & Arnold didn't look as if they could finish the warm up..... That sounds like a (not so) funny line, but it is true. Fitness is still a big issue with these packs. John Beatie on his podcast last Wednesday talked about all the Toulouse forwards were in Burger King Dublin Airport before the flight back after the QF. On same podcast Aki talked about them all going to Trevors bar and drinking Magners and eating Fois Gas.

It was far from Fois Gras that Trev was raised!

I think he’s sold it hasn’t he? Either way I think it sounds like the Toulouse players have their prep right and it’s everyone else who’s wrong!

[Morf]

Either way I think it sounds like the Toulouse players have their prep right and it’s everyone else who’s wrong!

Solid assertion.

[Oldschool]

Fascinating twitter thread on our attacking shape at the weekend - https://twitter.com/SamLStandsUp/status ... 3952604161

Sam isn't doing us any favours is he?

[wixfjord]

Fascinating twitter thread on our attacking shape at the weekend - https://twitter.com/SamLStandsUp/status ... 3952604161

Sam isn't doing us any favours is he?

I don't think a random Twitter thread is going to have much insight that ROG et al won't be able to see from studying hours of tape!

One thing knowing what we do in attack, another thing stopping it. In fact the point of the thread is the variety is so hard to stop.

[hugonaut]

I like to look at other clubs fans forums (or is that fora?) after matches. You get some good bits that we miss here through our blue tinted specs. There is absolute comedy gold on munsterfans with claims that JGP was completely outplayed by Dupont and complaints that Leinster didn't adopt the same tactics as Munster.

The other thing I have been reading and hearing since the final whistle is how tired Toulouse were. I would accept that if they were falling off tackles in the last quarter but this game was won in the 1st 20 minutes. For these world class Toulouse players, they cant blame tiredness after 20 mins!

Meafou & Arnold didn't look as if they could finish the warm up..... That sounds like a (not so) funny line, but it is true. Fitness is still a big issue with these packs. John Beatie on his podcast last Wednesday talked about all the Toulouse forwards were in Burger King Dublin Airport before the flight back after the QF. On same podcast Aki talked about them all going to Trevors bar and drinking Magners and eating Fois Gas.

I was looking through some French squads the other day and the number of 130kg+ props is mental*. What is also fascinating is the relationship between league position and really heavy props: with the exception of Brive, the top half of the table all have 130kg+ props, and the bottom half don't.

1. Montpellier:
Hamadache - 142kg [22st 5lbs]
Arroyo - 134kg [21st 1lb]
Lamositele - 132kg [20st 11lbs]

2. Bordeaux:
Tameifuna - 148kg [23st 4lbs]
Kourdes - 141kg [22st 2lbs]

3. Castres:
Guillamon - 139kg [21st 12lbs]
Tierney - 134kg [21st 1lb]

4. Racing 92:
Colombe - 135kg [21st 4lbs]
Oz - 135kg [21st 4lbs]

5. Lyon
Sebastien Taofifenua - 130kg [20st 7lbs]

6. Toulouse:
Faumuina - 130kg [20st 7lbs]

7. La Rochelle:
Atonio - 145kg [22st 11lbs]
Sclavi - 144kg [22st 9lbs]

8. Toulon:
Tolofua [hooker] - 132kg [20st 11lbs]

9. Clermont
-

10. Pau:
-

11. Stade Francais
-

12. Brive
Brennan - 132kg [20st 11lbs]

13. Perpignan
-

14. Biarritz
-

*For reference:
146.0kg = 322lbs = 23 stone
139.5kg = 308lbs = 22 stone
133.5kg = 294lbs = 21 stone
127.0kg = 280lbs = 20 stone
120.5kg = 264lbs = 19 stone
114.5kg = 242lbs = 18 stone

[Oldschool]

Fascinating twitter thread on our attacking shape at the weekend - https://twitter.com/SamLStandsUp/status ... 3952604161

Sam isn't doing us any favours is he?

I don't think a random Twitter thread is going to have much insight that ROG et al won't be able to see from studying hours of tape!

One thing knowing what we do in attack, another thing stopping it. In fact the point of the thread is the variety is so hard to stop.

And yet you found it fascinating.

[wixfjord]

Sam isn't doing us any favours is he?

I don't think a random Twitter thread is going to have much insight that ROG et al won't be able to see from studying hours of tape!

One thing knowing what we do in attack, another thing stopping it. In fact the point of the thread is the variety is so hard to stop.

And yet you found it fascinating.

I do indeed. What has that got to do with the price of turnips?

[TrapperChamonix]

The other thing I have been reading and hearing since the final whistle is how tired Toulouse were. I would accept that if they were falling off tackles in the last quarter but this game was won in the 1st 20 minutes. For these world class Toulouse players, they cant blame tiredness after 20 mins!

Meafou & Arnold didn't look as if they could finish the warm up..... That sounds like a (not so) funny line, but it is true. Fitness is still a big issue with these packs. John Beatie on his podcast last Wednesday talked about all the Toulouse forwards were in Burger King Dublin Airport before the flight back after the QF. On same podcast Aki talked about them all going to Trevors bar and drinking Magners and eating Fois Gas.

I was looking through some French squads the other day and the number of 130kg+ props is mental*. What is also fascinating is the relationship between league position and really heavy props: with the exception of Brive, the top half of the table all have 130kg+ props, and the bottom half don't.

1. Montpellier:
Hamadache - 142kg [22st 5lbs]
Arroyo - 134kg [21st 1lb]
Lamositele - 132kg [20st 11lbs]

2. Bordeaux:
Tameifuna - 148kg [23st 4lbs]
Kourdes - 141kg [22st 2lbs]

3. Castres:
Guillamon - 139kg [21st 12lbs]
Tierney - 134kg [21st 1lb]

4. Racing 92:
Colombe - 135kg [21st 4lbs]
Oz - 135kg [21st 4lbs]

5. Lyon
Sebastien Taofifenua - 130kg [20st 7lbs]

6. Toulouse:
Faumuina - 130kg [20st 7lbs]

7. La Rochelle:
Atonio - 145kg [22st 11lbs]
Sclavi - 144kg [22st 9lbs]

8. Toulon:
Tolofua [hooker] - 132kg [20st 11lbs]

9. Clermont
-

10. Pau:
-

11. Stade Francais
-

12. Brive
Brennan - 132kg [20st 11lbs]

13. Perpignan
-

14. Biarritz
-

*For reference:
146.0kg = 322lbs = 23 stone
139.5kg = 308lbs = 22 stone
133.5kg = 294lbs = 21 stone
127.0kg = 280lbs = 20 stone
120.5kg = 264lbs = 19 stone
114.5kg = 242lbs = 18 stone

58 min in they tell a story why Malik Hamadache went from 146kg up to 162kg in 4 weeks

https://youtu.be/Fr9gS-QXHEs?t=3474

[the spoofer]

The other thing I have been reading and hearing since the final whistle is how tired Toulouse were. I would accept that if they were falling off tackles in the last quarter but this game was won in the 1st 20 minutes. For these world class Toulouse players, they cant blame tiredness after 20 mins!

Meafou & Arnold didn't look as if they could finish the warm up..... That sounds like a (not so) funny line, but it is true. Fitness is still a big issue with these packs. John Beatie on his podcast last Wednesday talked about all the Toulouse forwards were in Burger King Dublin Airport before the flight back after the QF. On same podcast Aki talked about them all going to Trevors bar and drinking Magners and eating Fois Gas.

I was looking through some French squads the other day and the number of 130kg+ props is mental*. What is also fascinating is the relationship between league position and really heavy props: with the exception of Brive, the top half of the table all have 130kg+ props, and the bottom half don't.

1. Montpellier:
Hamadache - 142kg [22st 5lbs]
Arroyo - 134kg [21st 1lb]
Lamositele - 132kg [20st 11lbs]

2. Bordeaux:
Tameifuna - 148kg [23st 4lbs]
Kourdes - 141kg [22st 2lbs]

3. Castres:
Guillamon - 139kg [21st 12lbs]
Tierney - 134kg [21st 1lb]

4. Racing 92:
Colombe - 135kg [21st 4lbs]
Oz - 135kg [21st 4lbs]

5. Lyon
Sebastien Taofifenua - 130kg [20st 7lbs]

6. Toulouse:
Faumuina - 130kg [20st 7lbs]

7. La Rochelle:
Atonio - 145kg [22st 11lbs]
Sclavi - 144kg [22st 9lbs]

8. Toulon:
Tolofua [hooker] - 132kg [20st 11lbs]

9. Clermont
-

10. Pau:
-

11. Stade Francais
-

12. Brive
Brennan - 132kg [20st 11lbs]

13. Perpignan
-

14. Biarritz
-

*For reference:
146.0kg = 322lbs = 23 stone
139.5kg = 308lbs = 22 stone
133.5kg = 294lbs = 21 stone
127.0kg = 280lbs = 20 stone
120.5kg = 264lbs = 19 stone
114.5kg = 242lbs = 18 stone

I doubt our props are much over 122KG.

[mildlyinterested]

Furlong listed at 125, Mike A at 126kg, Vakh at 120kg and Clarkson at 118kg

[the spoofer]

Furlong listed at 125, Mike A at 126kg, Vakh at 120kg and Clarkson at 118kg

Mike looks a very lean 126KG

[outcast eddie]

Of course Leinster and Ireland (Bealham must be one of the smallest international tighthead props) may actually prefer lighter mobile props and will sacrifice a monster scrum to suit a quick and accurate playing style. If this is the case Tadhg's physique is directly related to the pace that JGP can play and also might be why Marty Moore is not favoured for Ireland. Maybe.

[blockhead]

Furlong listed at 125, Mike A at 126kg, Vakh at 120kg and Clarkson at 118kg

Mike looks a very lean 126KG

Some girth on those thighs though.

[ronk]

Props that size wouldn't make it through the Irish system and generally haven't been signed. When half the league have similar size players it makes it easier. If we signed a player that big they'd be playing most of their games against more mobile players.

Brennan is the obvious candidate to get such a player into the Irish setup fast. But ai don't think the IRFU really want a jumbo prop.