Leinster v La Rochelle Heineken Cup Final Sat 28th May 4.45 Marseille

[Oldschool]

nothing new about the 'glove'' . Hugo (for whatever reason) wore one v Toulouse. I've played and coached hurling. The glove is primarily protection for your catching hand. It provides a modicum of protection from glancing blows. I can't see it being of much use if you have 2 broken bones (depending on how 'broken' of course) in your hand. As you say, smoke and daggers, cloak and mirrors

Two broken bones in the hand of a player, who's position requires, that he passes more than all others in his team by some distance? A GAA glove ain't gonna allow him to play. LAR couldn't take the risk, that they might have to sub him off after five or ten minutes. No way Kerr-Barlow starts, IMO.

When you see the tomfoolery and shithousery of manager pronouncements, you get more of an appreciation for the more dignified and respectable alternative.

ROG can stay in France. He's too political to be a good hire for the IRFU.

TBF living in France can have that affect.

[Oldschoolsocks]

So the following would not shock me:
1: there’s f%~k all wrong with Willie Skeleton, and he’s in perfect shape
2: there’s f%~k all wrong with Ken Barlow hand

[Theleinsterlad]

Does anyone know when the team ships out for Marseille?

[glenageary]

I thought they would be flying

[Oldschool]

Two for the experts.
What team has reached the most finals?
Where does Leinster stand the most final appearances table?

[LeRouxIsPHat]

I thought they would be flying

Knowing our luck someone will still get scurvy at the captain’s run.

[TrapperChamonix]

Two for the experts.
What team has reached the most finals?
Where does Leinster stand the most final appearances table?

Toulouse must have been in at least 7 (5 wins plus loss to Munster & Wasps). i guess we get to 6 on Sat

[TrapperChamonix]

Actually heres the list here

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_E ... Cup_finals

[Xanthippe]

Two for the experts.
What team has reached the most finals?
Where does Leinster stand the most final appearances table?

Actually heres the list here

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_E ... Cup_finals

And here's the list broken out into a table

		Apps	W	L	Win %
Toulouse	7	5	2	71%
Leinster	5	4	1	80%
Leicester	5	2	3	40%
Saracens	4	3	1	75%
Munster		4	2	2	50%
Toulon		3	3	0	100%
Clermont	3	0	3	0%
Racing 92	3	0	3	0%
Wasps		2	2	0	100%
Brive		2	1	1	50%
Northampton	2	1	1	50%
Ulster		2	1	1	50%
Biarritz	2	0	2	0%
Stade Français	2	0	2	0%
Exeter		1	1	0	100%
Bath		1	0	1	0%
Cardiff		1	0	1	0%
Colomiers	1	0	1	0%
La Rochelle	1	0	1	0%
Perpignan	1	0	1	0%

[bronxbull]

Two for the experts.
What team has reached the most finals?
Where does Leinster stand the most final appearances table?

Actually heres the list here

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_E ... Cup_finals

And here's the list broken out into a table

		Apps	W	L	Win %
Toulouse	7	5	2	71%
Leinster	5	4	1	80%
Leicester	5	2	3	40%
Saracens	4	3	1	75%
Munster		4	2	2	50%
Toulon		3	3	0	100%
Clermont	3	0	3	0%
Racing 92	3	0	3	0%
Wasps		2	2	0	100%
Brive		2	1	1	50%
Northampton	2	1	1	50%
Ulster		2	1	1	50%
Biarritz	2	0	2	0%
Stade Français	2	0	2	0%
Exeter		1	1	0	100%
Bath		1	0	1	0%
Cardiff		1	0	1	0%
Colomiers	1	0	1	0%
La Rochelle	1	0	1	0%
Perpignan	1	0	1	0%

Bath should have a 100% record i think...

[desperado]

Two for the experts.
What team has reached the most finals?
Where does Leinster stand the most final appearances table?

Actually heres the list here

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_E ... Cup_finals

And here's the list broken out into a table

		Apps	W	L	Win %
Toulouse	7	5	2	71%
Leinster	5	4	1	80%
Leicester	5	2	3	40%
Saracens	4	3	1	75%
Munster		4	2	2	50%
Toulon		3	3	0	100%
Clermont	3	0	3	0%
Racing 92	3	0	3	0%
Wasps		2	2	0	100%
Brive		2	1	1	50%
Northampton	2	1	1	50%
Ulster		2	1	1	50%
Biarritz	2	0	2	0%
Stade Français	2	0	2	0%
Exeter		1	1	0	100%
Bath		1	0	1	0%
Cardiff		1	0	1	0%
Colomiers	1	0	1	0%
La Rochelle	1	0	1	0%
Perpignan	1	0	1	0%

Bath should have a 100% record i think...

Correctemundo... won in 98

[D4surfer]

So the following would not shock me:
1: there’s f%~k all wrong with Willie Skeleton, and he’s in perfect shape
2: there’s f%~k all wrong with Ken Barlow hand

I can't see ROG picking Ken Barlow. He's cr@p in Coronation Street and I'd imagine he wouldn't be any better as a scrum half.

[joooooe]

So the following would not shock me:
1: there’s f%~k all wrong with Willie Skeleton, and he’s in perfect shape
2: there’s f%~k all wrong with Ken Barlow hand

I can't see ROG picking Ken Barlow. He's cr@p in Coronation Street and I'd imagine he wouldn't be any better as a scrum half.

Can we pick Mike Baldwin to counter the threat?

[fourthirtythree]

So the following would not shock me:
1: there’s f%~k all wrong with Willie Skeleton, and he’s in perfect shape
2: there’s f%~k all wrong with Ken Barlow hand

I can't see ROG picking Ken Barlow. He's cr@p in Coronation Street and I'd imagine he wouldn't be any better as a scrum half.

"I work bloody hard!"

[Xanthippe]

And here's the list broken out into a table

		Apps	W	L	Win %
Toulouse	7	5	2	71%
Leinster	5	4	1	80%
Leicester	5	2	3	40%
Saracens	4	3	1	75%
Munster		4	2	2	50%
Toulon		3	3	0	100%
Clermont	3	0	3	0%
Racing 92	3	0	3	0%
Wasps		2	2	0	100%
Brive		2	1	1	50%
Northampton	2	1	1	50%
Ulster		2	1	1	50%
Biarritz	2	0	2	0%
Stade Français	2	0	2	0%
Exeter		1	1	0	100%
Bath		1	0	1	0%
Cardiff		1	0	1	0%
Colomiers	1	0	1	0%
La Rochelle	1	0	1	0%
Perpignan	1	0	1	0%

Bath should have a 100% record i think...

Correctemundo... won in 98

Apologies - typed 1 0 1 instead of 1 1 0 !!!

[Oldschoolsocks]

Bath should have a 100% record i think...

Correctemundo... won in 98

Apologies - typed 1 0 1 instead of 1 1 0 !!!

The gods of the binary will be either 1 or 0

[wixfjord]

Looking back at last years SF game, there are a few clear areas we need to improve on Sat.

- They were constantly a threat on our ball and we struggled with their jackal threats. This is something we haven't had from any other team in Europe this season and will be a huge challenge. Their front row and Skelton in particular were almost impossible to shift off the ball.
- Our kicking strategy was poor. McGrath had one out on the full and kicked a few up in the air. Ross gave us no direction from 10 and we didn't use Lowe to clear long much. (Their last try actually came form a totally fluffed Lowe garryowen). The kicking game has changed this year with a lot more long kicks down the middle, but I do feel there will be pressure on JGP box kicking wise.
- In attack, our pack struggled to make yards and there were too many one out passes to front 5 players that were stopped on the gainline. This needs to change and we have to continue to show different shapes and use the ball out the back. We engaged in too much of an arm wrestle last year. We just fell away in the second half and couldn't get any foothold in the game when it became a slugfest.

Elsewhere:

I think our lineout defence will cause them issues, as it did last year and particularly without Vito potentially.

I also think Molony's attacking carrying and defensive aggression is a big upgrade on Dev last year, who was an absolute passenger on the rewatch.

We massively relied on Jack to carry and break tackles, and the reliance on him is slightly less this year with Porter starting and Doris available.

Baird wasn't good when he came on for Rhys either and looked low on physicality. Hopefully this time around he doesn't need to play 50-60 minutes at blindside and either he or McCarthy can come on for more impact.

Our starting halfbacks should be a huge attacking upgrade on last year. Ross in particular retreated into 'stand and deliver' mode without threatening the line at all.

However, because of our bench options both Ross & McGrath looked absolutely shagged at the end of the game last year, so having them actually come on for 20 mins with fresh heads (last years options were Osborne & Frawley) is also a big upgrade.

Combine all of this with the fact LAR key men (TKB, Skelton, Vito, Dulin) are all either out or carrying injuries and I think we should be favourites, but 12 points is a big spread.

My main concern is that we haven't met as aggressive a defence with lots of jackal threats this year and that their maul might cause us a lot of damage if they get close in lineouts.

But there are lots of areas we should be better than that game.

[wixfjord]

Another thing that could be a factor on such a hot day.

The Marseille pitch is 105m long x 68m wide.

Aviva is 106 m × 68 m.

The LAR stadium is 98m x 70m.

So slightly less width than last year but a lot more length to play with and move them around.

[Blue Man]

Traditional narrative is Irish teams struggling in the heat but the big pitch and warm day might suit our leaner players. If we get the ball in play time up, someone like Atonio will surely struggle to carry his 25 stone around the pitch in the heat!

[leinsterforever]

Another thing that could be a factor on such a hot day.

The Marseille pitch is 105m long x 68m wide.

Aviva is 106 m × 68 m.

The LAR stadium is 98m x 70m.

So slightly less width than last year but a lot more length to play with and move them around.

But width is the far more important one when it comes to trying to find space, no? Although I suppose 105 v 98 does add a bit of extra running up and down when there's kicking.