Taking media & other coverage of Leinster to the next level

[backrower8]

There is a lack of serious media coverage of Leinster (the leading Irish, European & one of the two best clubs in the world in the last 10 years) compared to Munster (winners of nothing). They got all the coverage they deserved and more in their glory days (10-15 years ago) and every year since despite and because of their slide...it's never-ending, hours and hours and hours of "do you think they were marginally less bad/ there were greenshoots this week?"

Why isn't there at least the same level of focus on Leinster? The media seem to suggest that it is boring to talk about serial winners. Funny that, but soccer punditry has no problem poring over every detail of Man City, Liverpool, Barcelona, etc

Quinny even has a dedicated podcast for all things Munster. Presumably all this is because the hard-nosed bean-counters in Newstalk and in other media believe there is a paying audience to be served?

Seemingly, because we win well most of the time, there is a lower appetitie for similar analysis of Leinster and how we are faring in terms of putting to right the last 5 years of Champions Cup performances when we were seen to be good enough but yet have only one win in 5 years of Leocaster.

As the best ever Irish rugby franchise, one of the two leading club sides in the world in the last decade and arguably with our best ever squad backboning the national team, surely there is an appetite for more analysis of every aspect of Leinster?

"How do we ensure a 5th Champions Cup victory and 2nd in 6th and final year of Johnny and Stuart?"

"Who should be the next coach? With what coaching support structures/personnel?"

"What is happening our scrum and back-up prop stocks?"

"How do we grow the proportion of pro players beyond the two big supplier private schools?"

"What NIQs should we be targeting for next year?"

Analysis of indidiual player (lack) of development

Regular analysis of all the key units of play - scrum, lineout (lineout-maul), attack (counter-attack), defence

etc, etc

[riocard911]

There is a lack of serious media coverage of Leinster (the leading Irish, European & one of the two best clubs in the world in the last 10 years) compared to Munster (winners of nothing). They got all the coverage they deserved and more in their glory days (10-15 years ago) and every year since despite and because of their slide...it's never-ending, hours and hours and hours of "do you think they were marginally less bad/ there were greenshoots this week?"

Why isn't there at least the same level of focus on Leinster? The media seem to suggest that it is boring to talk about serial winners. Funny that, but soccer punditry has no problem poring over every detail of Man City, Liverpool, Barcelona, etc

Quinny even has a dedicated podcast for all things Munster. Presumably all this is because the hard-nosed bean-counters in Newstalk and in other media believe there is a paying audience to be served?

Seemingly, because we win well most of the time, there is a lower appetitie for similar analysis of Leinster and how we are faring in terms of putting to right the last 5 years of Champions Cup performances when we were seen to be good enough but yet have only one win in 5 years of Leocaster.

As the best ever Irish rugby franchise, one of the two leading club sides in the world in the last decade and arguably with our best ever squad backboning the national team, surely there is an appetite for more analysis of every aspect of Leinster?

"How do we ensure a 5th Champions Cup victory and 2nd in 6th and final year of Johnny and Stuart?"

"Who should be the next coach? With what coaching support structures/personnel?"

"What is happening our scrum and back-up prop stocks?"

"How do we grow the proportion of pro players beyond the two big supplier private schools?"

"What NIQs should we be targeting for next year?"

Analysis of indidiual player (lack) of development

Regular analysis of all the key units of play - scrum, lineout (lineout-maul), attack (counter-attack), defence

etc, etc

Is that not what we have Dave, Jason and John with Blues Talk TV for?...

[paddyor]

There is a lack of serious media coverage of Leinster (the leading Irish, European & one of the two best clubs in the world in the last 10 years) compared to Munster (winners of nothing). They got all the coverage they deserved and more in their glory days (10-15 years ago) and every year since despite and because of their slide...it's never-ending, hours and hours and hours of "do you think they were marginally less bad/ there were greenshoots this week?"

Why isn't there at least the same level of focus on Leinster? The media seem to suggest that it is boring to talk about serial winners. Funny that, but soccer punditry has no problem poring over every detail of Man City, Liverpool, Barcelona, etc

Quinny even has a dedicated podcast for all things Munster. Presumably all this is because the hard-nosed bean-counters in Newstalk and in other media believe there is a paying audience to be served?

Seemingly, because we win well most of the time, there is a lower appetitie for similar analysis of Leinster and how we are faring in terms of putting to right the last 5 years of Champions Cup performances when we were seen to be good enough but yet have only one win in 5 years of Leocaster.

As the best ever Irish rugby franchise, one of the two leading club sides in the world in the last decade and arguably with our best ever squad backboning the national team, surely there is an appetite for more analysis of every aspect of Leinster?

"How do we ensure a 5th Champions Cup victory and 2nd in 6th and final year of Johnny and Stuart?"

"Who should be the next coach? With what coaching support structures/personnel?"

"What is happening our scrum and back-up prop stocks?"

"How do we grow the proportion of pro players beyond the two big supplier private schools?"

"What NIQs should we be targeting for next year?"

Analysis of indidiual player (lack) of development

Regular analysis of all the key units of play - scrum, lineout (lineout-maul), attack (counter-attack), defence

etc, etc

You'll never make it as a producer. Alot of those topics are incredbily dry and wil have very little appeal outside anoraks.

Our success is at this point is a bit boring I suspect, so any increased coverage is likely to be negative.

[Oldschoolsocks]

There is a lack of serious media coverage of Leinster (the leading Irish, European & one of the two best clubs in the world in the last 10 years) compared to Munster (winners of nothing). They got all the coverage they deserved and more in their glory days (10-15 years ago) and every year since despite and because of their slide...it's never-ending, hours and hours and hours of "do you think they were marginally less bad/ there were greenshoots this week?"

Why isn't there at least the same level of focus on Leinster? The media seem to suggest that it is boring to talk about serial winners. Funny that, but soccer punditry has no problem poring over every detail of Man City, Liverpool, Barcelona, etc

Quinny even has a dedicated podcast for all things Munster. Presumably all this is because the hard-nosed bean-counters in Newstalk and in other media believe there is a paying audience to be served?

Seemingly, because we win well most of the time, there is a lower appetitie for similar analysis of Leinster and how we are faring in terms of putting to right the last 5 years of Champions Cup performances when we were seen to be good enough but yet have only one win in 5 years of Leocaster.

As the best ever Irish rugby franchise, one of the two leading club sides in the world in the last decade and arguably with our best ever squad backboning the national team, surely there is an appetite for more analysis of every aspect of Leinster?

"How do we ensure a 5th Champions Cup victory and 2nd in 6th and final year of Johnny and Stuart?"

"Who should be the next coach? With what coaching support structures/personnel?"

"What is happening our scrum and back-up prop stocks?"

"How do we grow the proportion of pro players beyond the two big supplier private schools?"

"What NIQs should we be targeting for next year?"

Analysis of indidiual player (lack) of development

Regular analysis of all the key units of play - scrum, lineout (lineout-maul), attack (counter-attack), defence

etc, etc

I'd watch that

[fourthirtythree]

We are not as popular.

You don't get the audience share and it's noticeable from the URC viewing figures last year that while Leinster supporters will watch other provinces there is a glaring lack of Munster supporters willing to watch anything about us.

Including a match they are also playing in.

That's how strong the anitpathy to watching anything Leinster is in the largest rugby watching population in Ireland.

[backrower8]

There is a lack of serious media coverage of Leinster (the leading Irish, European & one of the two best clubs in the world in the last 10 years) compared to Munster (winners of nothing). They got all the coverage they deserved and more in their glory days (10-15 years ago) and every year since despite and because of their slide...it's never-ending, hours and hours and hours of "do you think they were marginally less bad/ there were greenshoots this week?"

Why isn't there at least the same level of focus on Leinster? The media seem to suggest that it is boring to talk about serial winners. Funny that, but soccer punditry has no problem poring over every detail of Man City, Liverpool, Barcelona, etc

Quinny even has a dedicated podcast for all things Munster. Presumably all this is because the hard-nosed bean-counters in Newstalk and in other media believe there is a paying audience to be served?

Seemingly, because we win well most of the time, there is a lower appetitie for similar analysis of Leinster and how we are faring in terms of putting to right the last 5 years of Champions Cup performances when we were seen to be good enough but yet have only one win in 5 years of Leocaster.

As the best ever Irish rugby franchise, one of the two leading club sides in the world in the last decade and arguably with our best ever squad backboning the national team, surely there is an appetite for more analysis of every aspect of Leinster?

"How do we ensure a 5th Champions Cup victory and 2nd in 6th and final year of Johnny and Stuart?"

"Who should be the next coach? With what coaching support structures/personnel?"

"What is happening our scrum and back-up prop stocks?"

"How do we grow the proportion of pro players beyond the two big supplier private schools?"

"What NIQs should we be targeting for next year?"

Analysis of indidiual player (lack) of development

Regular analysis of all the key units of play - scrum, lineout (lineout-maul), attack (counter-attack), defence

etc, etc

Is that not what we have Dave, Jason and John with Blues Talk TV for?...

And credit to them for what they do, but I am talking about something with the established pundits and production values that would draw a larger audience.

[backrower8]

There is a lack of serious media coverage of Leinster (the leading Irish, European & one of the two best clubs in the world in the last 10 years) compared to Munster (winners of nothing). They got all the coverage they deserved and more in their glory days (10-15 years ago) and every year since despite and because of their slide...it's never-ending, hours and hours and hours of "do you think they were marginally less bad/ there were greenshoots this week?"

Why isn't there at least the same level of focus on Leinster? The media seem to suggest that it is boring to talk about serial winners. Funny that, but soccer punditry has no problem poring over every detail of Man City, Liverpool, Barcelona, etc

Quinny even has a dedicated podcast for all things Munster. Presumably all this is because the hard-nosed bean-counters in Newstalk and in other media believe there is a paying audience to be served?

Seemingly, because we win well most of the time, there is a lower appetitie for similar analysis of Leinster and how we are faring in terms of putting to right the last 5 years of Champions Cup performances when we were seen to be good enough but yet have only one win in 5 years of Leocaster.

As the best ever Irish rugby franchise, one of the two leading club sides in the world in the last decade and arguably with our best ever squad backboning the national team, surely there is an appetite for more analysis of every aspect of Leinster?

"How do we ensure a 5th Champions Cup victory and 2nd in 6th and final year of Johnny and Stuart?"

"Who should be the next coach? With what coaching support structures/personnel?"

"What is happening our scrum and back-up prop stocks?"

"How do we grow the proportion of pro players beyond the two big supplier private schools?"

"What NIQs should we be targeting for next year?"

Analysis of indidiual player (lack) of development

Regular analysis of all the key units of play - scrum, lineout (lineout-maul), attack (counter-attack), defence

etc, etc

You'll never make it as a producer. Alot of those topics are incredbily dry and wil have very little appeal outside anoraks.

Our success is at this point is a bit boring I suspect, so any increased coverage is likely to be negative.

My point is that we should at least be looking for parity in terms of the share-of-voice that Munster get and there is lots of meat-on-the-bone as regards Leinster to analyse, most of it to do with us being 'unsuccessful' in not achieving our potential (Europe) for 4 years running.

This year is teed up for media as we are in 'last chance saloon' for Leocaster and Johnny and Cian. Plenty of jeopardy there to be spun into serious critiques of why we are failing, how we are doing beneath the surface of 14 Ws from 14, etc.

'Dry' depends on the sause you pour over it.

[Oldschool]

Phone rings.
Gerry speaking.
Ah the very man, THE Mirror here.
Ah MR Mirror long time no hear.
Gerry there is a lot of consternation amongst the Leinster fans regarding the coverage of our er I mean their team by the media. I was wondering could you perhaps suggest something to help the situation.
Well Mirror that's a big ask because Leinster aren't very marketable whereas by comparison Munster is a much easier sell.
Jaysus Gerry I'm surprised to hear that. Leinster regularly win trophies, etc etc
What are the issues do you think and have you any suggestions.
Well tbh Mirror, Leinster are what I would describe as a very dry team to watch. For example there is no drama watching Leinster because they regularly win by huge margins, nothing to get the pulse racing whereas Munster provide nail biting, down to the wire, often heroic performances, win or lose.
Watching Leinster is like watching paint dry.
Frankly Gerry I'm shocked to hear you say that.
What would you suggest that Leinster do to remedy the situation.
In simplistic terms, there are two immediate things that can be done.
Go on Gerry.
Firstly a bit of rebranding might help, change the club name to Lunster.
This would perhaps make Lunster seem more like Munster and less like Leinster. The fans would have to call themselves Lunsters but that's a minor change.
Secondly stop those boringly big winning margins and generate more drama. It's all about game management.
Jaysus Gerry that's great stuff, I'd never have come up with that approach in a million years.
You're welcome Mirror, anytime.
Thanks Gerry, I really appreciate your input,
Oh, eh Gerry just one last question, does your advice mean that we've got to stop winning trophies.

[Dexter]

We are not as popular.

You don't get the audience share and it's noticeable from the URC viewing figures last year that while Leinster supporters will watch other provinces there is a glaring lack of Munster supporters willing to watch anything about us.

Including a match they are also playing in.

That's how strong the anitpathy to watching anything Leinster is in the largest rugby watching population in Ireland.

Yeah they can't bear to watch Leinster since 2009.
Also the Irish sports media have no interest in writing/talking about "Well run and successful club continues to be well run and successful". They much prefer making a story about the struggles of the perennial underdog and their heroic feats.

[5starfan]

Maybe this is an Irish thing, but one only has to look at GAA and the media's fascination with perennial heirs to Sam in Mayo.

The achievements of this current Leinster set up in regularly cutting quality opposition apart in addition to providing up to 18 players in our International squad of 23 are nothing short of remarkable in an Irish sporting context.

In the same way as I presume Leocaster are happy to continue to run the show without the media spotlight, so too did Jim Gavin in his era of 5 in a row.

Long may our lack of media focus continue I say!!

[munster#1]

We are not as popular.

You don't get the audience share and it's noticeable from the URC viewing figures last year that while Leinster supporters will watch other provinces there is a glaring lack of Munster supporters willing to watch anything about us.

Including a match they are also playing in.

That's how strong the anitpathy to watching anything Leinster is in the largest rugby watching population in Ireland.

That is a very interesting stat.
I, like most, have see the viewer numbers for last season’s URC, but I didn’t see the breakdown of which teams fans watch each match.

Can you please share this data as I find it interesting that the figures can show that Munster fans don’t watch Leinster while Leinster fans do watch Munster?

[munster#1]

There is a lack of serious media coverage of Leinster (the leading Irish, European & one of the two best clubs in the world in the last 10 years) compared to Munster (winners of nothing). They got all the coverage they deserved and more in their glory days (10-15 years ago) and every year since despite and because of their slide...it's never-ending, hours and hours and hours of "do you think they were marginally less bad/ there were greenshoots this week?"

Why isn't there at least the same level of focus on Leinster? The media seem to suggest that it is boring to talk about serial winners. Funny that, but soccer punditry has no problem poring over every detail of Man City, Liverpool, Barcelona, etc

Quinny even has a dedicated podcast for all things Munster. Presumably all this is because the hard-nosed bean-counters in Newstalk and in other media believe there is a paying audience to be served?

Seemingly, because we win well most of the time, there is a lower appetitie for similar analysis of Leinster and how we are faring in terms of putting to right the last 5 years of Champions Cup performances when we were seen to be good enough but yet have only one win in 5 years of Leocaster.

As the best ever Irish rugby franchise, one of the two leading club sides in the world in the last decade and arguably with our best ever squad backboning the national team, surely there is an appetite for more analysis of every aspect of Leinster?

"How do we ensure a 5th Champions Cup victory and 2nd in 6th and final year of Johnny and Stuart?"

"Who should be the next coach? With what coaching support structures/personnel?"

"What is happening our scrum and back-up prop stocks?"

"How do we grow the proportion of pro players beyond the two big supplier private schools?"

"What NIQs should we be targeting for next year?"

Analysis of indidiual player (lack) of development

Regular analysis of all the key units of play - scrum, lineout (lineout-maul), attack (counter-attack), defence

etc, etc

Might be worth canvassing a couple of the former players.
It doesn’t take massive investment to start a podcast and with the right players it would probably gather a lot of free promotional media.

I listen to Quinny and Briggs every week, both would be household names in Munster and well known beyond the province.
They both bring a wealth of knowledge, but what I like about them is that they are easy to connect with and are well able to look at Munster objectively.
They are not afraid to call out Munster’s failing while also downplaying a lot of the hype that exists in other media outlets.

I would listen to a Leinster podcast if it were the same, the existing one is very amateurish and lacking real depth.
I think someone like Leavy or Toner would be very good at this.

[RoboProp]

Get Shane Byrne to chair a podcast called 'Mull It Over"

Or The Templeogue Tower chairs a show between sets of fans named "Malcolm in the middle "
You're welcome

[blockhead]

There is a lack of serious media coverage of Leinster (the leading Irish, European & one of the two best clubs in the world in the last 10 years) compared to Munster (winners of nothing). They got all the coverage they deserved and more in their glory days (10-15 years ago) and every year since despite and because of their slide...it's never-ending, hours and hours and hours of "do you think they were marginally less bad/ there were greenshoots this week?"

Why isn't there at least the same level of focus on Leinster? The media seem to suggest that it is boring to talk about serial winners. Funny that, but soccer punditry has no problem poring over every detail of Man City, Liverpool, Barcelona, etc

Quinny even has a dedicated podcast for all things Munster. Presumably all this is because the hard-nosed bean-counters in Newstalk and in other media believe there is a paying audience to be served?

Seemingly, because we win well most of the time, there is a lower appetitie for similar analysis of Leinster and how we are faring in terms of putting to right the last 5 years of Champions Cup performances when we were seen to be good enough but yet have only one win in 5 years of Leocaster.

As the best ever Irish rugby franchise, one of the two leading club sides in the world in the last decade and arguably with our best ever squad backboning the national team, surely there is an appetite for more analysis of every aspect of Leinster?

"How do we ensure a 5th Champions Cup victory and 2nd in 6th and final year of Johnny and Stuart?"

"Who should be the next coach? With what coaching support structures/personnel?"

"What is happening our scrum and back-up prop stocks?"

"How do we grow the proportion of pro players beyond the two big supplier private schools?"

"What NIQs should we be targeting for next year?"

Analysis of indidiual player (lack) of development

Regular analysis of all the key units of play - scrum, lineout (lineout-maul), attack (counter-attack), defence

etc, etc

Might be worth canvassing a couple of the former players.
It doesn’t take massive investment to start a podcast and with the right players it would probably gather a lot of free promotional media.

I listen to Quinny and Briggs every week, both would be household names in Munster and well known beyond the province.
They both bring a wealth of knowledge, but what I like about them is that they are easy to connect with and are well able to look at Munster objectively.
They are not afraid to call out Munster’s failing while also downplaying a lot of the hype that exists in other media outlets.

I would listen to a Leinster podcast if it were the same, the existing one is very amateurish and lacking real depth.
I think someone like Leavy or Toner would be very good at this.

Throws a grenade in the window and runs away.

[Oldschoolsocks]

There is a lack of serious media coverage of Leinster (the leading Irish, European & one of the two best clubs in the world in the last 10 years) compared to Munster (winners of nothing). They got all the coverage they deserved and more in their glory days (10-15 years ago) and every year since despite and because of their slide...it's never-ending, hours and hours and hours of "do you think they were marginally less bad/ there were greenshoots this week?"

Why isn't there at least the same level of focus on Leinster? The media seem to suggest that it is boring to talk about serial winners. Funny that, but soccer punditry has no problem poring over every detail of Man City, Liverpool, Barcelona, etc

Quinny even has a dedicated podcast for all things Munster. Presumably all this is because the hard-nosed bean-counters in Newstalk and in other media believe there is a paying audience to be served?

Seemingly, because we win well most of the time, there is a lower appetitie for similar analysis of Leinster and how we are faring in terms of putting to right the last 5 years of Champions Cup performances when we were seen to be good enough but yet have only one win in 5 years of Leocaster.

As the best ever Irish rugby franchise, one of the two leading club sides in the world in the last decade and arguably with our best ever squad backboning the national team, surely there is an appetite for more analysis of every aspect of Leinster?

"How do we ensure a 5th Champions Cup victory and 2nd in 6th and final year of Johnny and Stuart?"

"Who should be the next coach? With what coaching support structures/personnel?"

"What is happening our scrum and back-up prop stocks?"

"How do we grow the proportion of pro players beyond the two big supplier private schools?"

"What NIQs should we be targeting for next year?"

Analysis of indidiual player (lack) of development

Regular analysis of all the key units of play - scrum, lineout (lineout-maul), attack (counter-attack), defence

etc, etc

Might be worth canvassing a couple of the former players.
It doesn’t take massive investment to start a podcast and with the right players it would probably gather a lot of free promotional media.

I listen to Quinny and Briggs every week, both would be household names in Munster and well known beyond the province.
They both bring a wealth of knowledge, but what I like about them is that they are easy to connect with and are well able to look at Munster objectively.
They are not afraid to call out Munster’s failing while also downplaying a lot of the hype that exists in other media outlets.

I would listen to a Leinster podcast if it were the same, the existing one is very amateurish and lacking real depth.
I think someone like Leavy or Toner would be very good at this.

Throws a grenade in the window and runs away.

Oh, I hadn't seen that.

while neither the Bluestalkers nor the Moles need me to stick up for them. I think they're both great podcasts.

[m0nks]

Totally agree. Been banging on about this for the last year or so. The Munster coverage is excessive. I'd love some proper in-depth analysis on Leinster. What they are doing well. Who's performing, who's not. Where are the potential weaknesses etc etc.. but it's just so, as sure it's Leinster being Leinster! Well if they are so good let's study them!!!

I'd also like to see more coverage of Ulster and Connacht too. Connacht in particular often get overlooked.

The fancasts are ok and fill a void. But you'd like to see better media coverage (radio, tv, articles and podcasts) and a bit of excitement/pride about having one of the best teams in Europe on our shores!

Sent from my Pixel 4a using Tapatalk

[ronk]

Seems to be a drop off in quality analysis overall from what I've seen. The42 went behind a paywall for a while and seem to be doing it less now too.

Leinster could probably be making more noise and there's times when topics tend to take longer to hit home in national media, e.g. they were relatively slow at spotting how important Keenan quickly became and were slow off the mark with Jimmy O'Brien too. Joe McCarthy made his Leinster debut just under a year ago, that feels like it would have been a bigger story if it happened in a different province. HJP moving up the Irish pecking order said a lot about the direction we were taking and that conversation didn't play out as widely as it could have.

But part of that is Leinster. We don't court controversy. We don't want to pile pressure and expectations on young players. We rotate in a way that lets changes creep up on people who aren't watching. Leo doesn't want the A games televised, we try to avoid stories about our players leaving or making such a big splash with contract renewal. There's more quiet business done and fewer agent planted stories about big French contracts.

Such talk as there is about young players quickly morphs into feelers for poaching.

I think Leinster are focused on growing their game rather than on growing their share of Against the Head.

[suisse]

Whilst I agree that Munster gets far too much media coverage, overall, both Leinster and Munster get far too much. The content is rarely fresh. The problem is not that Leinster don't get more, it is that there's virtually nothing in Ireland on the wider game. "Green shoots" Munster. Another pod yesterday glowing in praise for Ross Byrne. You could be forgiven for thinking you were listening to the same broadcast 1 month ago.

[Hoofhearted]

I find Quinnys podcast hard to listen too. He just talks over Niamh constantly.

Luke Fitzs ones isn't bad content wise, but his accent too Ross OCarrol Kelly!

[wixfjord]

I find Quinnys podcast hard to listen too. He just talks over Niamh constantly.

Luke Fitzs ones isn't bad content wise, but his accent too Ross OCarrol Kelly!

Nail on head there.

There are two people in rugby I actually find hard to listen to because their accents sound like caricatures of a South Dublin rogby goy.

Greg McWilliams is one.

Luke Fitz is the other.

It isn't a bad podcast though when he avoids the clickbait.