Do Leinster have what it takes to win the Champions Cup? | Semi-finals REVIEW
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- Опубліковано 4 чер 2024
- Following the Investec Champions Cup semi-finals it will be Leinster and Toulouse who play at Tottenham Hotspur stadium in the final.
Harlequins and Northampton put up strong displays but fell to defeat in Dublin and Toulouse.
I talk through some of my main takeaways from the weekend. - Спорт
This will be Leinster’s eighth and also Toulouse’s eight final. Like you said, it’s the equivalent of Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid. Yet it’s the first time they will meet in the final. 💥
As a Leinster fan, I’d prefer to go into it as slight underdogs, as being favourites hasn’t helped us in the last two seasons.
Toulouse have been the favourites since the end of the group stage.
I would say Toulouse are favourites, but one thing that I haven't heard anyone mention is that Toulouse haven't beaten Leinster since the group stages 6 years ago. We've beat them in 3 semi finals, and Ireland have beaten France home and away recently. We've also got a coach who's just come off a successful world cup campaign where his team ALSO beat France and analysed every single detail of their game to do so. People are talking about Leinster having mental fragility, but it's not hard to argue that Tolouse should be the ones who have a mental blockage.
The 1/4 was dodgy as, Etzebeth keeps infringing in the most ridiculous fashion game after game and still get away with it as illustrated in the Challenge Cup final. Ben O'keefe would have you believe that Cheslin Kolbe runs twice as fast as Usain Bolt, it is just plain ridiculous. Decision after decision, the least dominating team got handed the win shamefully. France got shafted by Derek Bevan in 95, Craig Joubert in 2011 and Ben O'Keefe in 2023. This is why rugby still has very little international recognition, it is a commonwealth club. There was a game recently (was it in these semis?) where a player did a deliberate knock on to save his try line, just like Etzebeth did only he got punished for it because it is cynical play and that's how the Boks beat France. And actually James Lowe got punished for it too in this final, how can Etzebeth get away for the exact same infringements time and again and he is not even subtle about it that big saffa dork. Realistically if it was not for awfully biased referee France would probably be where the Wallabies are in terms of World Titles. Stade Toulousain proves exactly that. Besides, Toulouse has a DNA for Finals, to beat Toulouse in the semis is one thing, to beat them in a Final is a completely different prospect. They are a final team. As per the "international" side, I don't think France will win it, the refereeing in rugby is awfully crooked, so expect another Anglo-axon wipe-out. France has 6x World Cups in Handball and 3x Olympic Titles all time best and Handball is far more International than rugby, 2x World Cup in Football (and a few finals), 2x Euros reputed to be even harder to win, our clubs are the best in Europe and yet we still don't win the Rugby World Cup. Meanwhile, other Nations can break the rule all they want right on their try line and the ref won't give France an inch, even when it dominates the game like it did in 3 occasions. In 1995, the Boks collapsed their scrums three times on their try line, the French did not get even one penalty try, meanwhile France was also denied two tries, the level of scumbaggery among referees in rugby is unprecedented. Derek Bevan even received a Golden Rolex from Nelson Mandela for "service given to the Rainbow Nation", this is why rugby is a joke when compared with other sports. It has no intention whatsoever to become Global, it is overly protective, political and does not even hide its corruption. The NBA is a typical example of what happens when you really open the doors, the second the US opened the door to International Players, other countries started to rise and Team USA stopped winning. As a result Basketball became truly International in the 90s so the refereeing cannot be tempered with as much. Rugby Union won't have it and it will die as a result like the inbred retard it is, and it will collapse in the very countries than won World Cups like Australia and New Zealand is probably next given the state of other sports and the state of their finance. Way to go. Can you imagine soccer dying in Brazil or Handball dying in France or Denmark? Not in a gazillion year. Look at these idiots from World Rugby / former IRB changing the rules all the time because the sport is fading and because certain Unions are lobbying to favour their side, it is moronic. It really is inbreeding. You want to know why it is fading? Because they're CHEATS. We know very well who's gonna win the next Rugby World Cup because it is rigged; it has been a joke since 1991, the day rugby became "professional" we are told - yeah right. It is such a bad joke that the Wallabies might even win it without having a proper domestic league. Rugby Union is dead overthere so if World Rugby have them to win maybe the Aussies will somehow stop watching the NRL or the Aussie Rules to watch... well we don't know. Some model the IRB has promoted all these years, what a bunch of losers. We should not even bother to travel to Australia and let them play among commonwealth nations so we shall all pretend there is a worthy winner at the end. The Webb Ellis is the most fraudulent trophy in World Sport, hands down. It is a sport where unions that lose money decide and change the rules to whatever suits their feeble agenda. They are so moronic that they even manage to alienate their own grass root. Oh yeah, change the rule and make rugby union be exactly like rugby league, that's gonna work because I did not realize I was loving League so much, so let me switch code because you changed the rule... Toh. And you think the Rugby League fans are going to cross over? Freaking delusional! Have you walked into an NRL stadium and a Rugby Union game in Australia. Holy crap, no one cares about Union anymore over there, their crowds are almost as quiet as the respectful Japanese, that's when they have a crowd. The IRB screwed up for decades over, that's the reality and Bernard Laporte was too greedy to realize Unions are only in there for the $$$ French rugby generates. We made our rugby weaker for it. Rugby Union is led by idiots who are sinking that Titanic of theirs, running it into the same iceberg time again. Meanwhile France is the only place where rugby clubs make a profit and where the fans don't put us to sleep (with Ireland it must be said) I don't predict Rugby Union a very bright future globally. Lions cannot be led by sheep, except in rugby union hence the absence of Global visibility. France will still play rugby (even if it is on its own) that New Zealand will have long shifted to soccer or basketball. I am not kidding, it is happening, among World Cup winners, grassroot is dying. In England, the birthplace of rugby, clubs are dying, lower divisions are a joke, they are just here to make the number and pretend the sport is healthy when it is again a private club mentality where no one gets in outside the few aristocrats who want to die with their stupid mentality that refuse sport and fair competition. If there is to be a future for Rugby Union, look no further than France, it is the only Rugby Nation that succeeded in making rugby popular, entertaining and profitable. It is the perfect model and World Rugby shafted us again, not bright. I hope French Rugby is going to flex the only muscle World Rugby and other Unions understand. We should stop hosting Rugby World Cups for good, let the saffa have it every year if needs be, we don't need it, let the money dry out. Money talks in rugby, so much so that Super Rugby has become a one-trick pony. How long is this joke going to last? Let's wait and see while Rome is burning. I won't bother to watch the next World Cup, that's for sure and I sure hope the Boks won't join the 6 Nations, we know they are only there for money, they are only there to get their hands on what the French and Irish built, two successful leagues that is. And I don't like that the European Cup is becoming an Euro-African Cup either. Geography and Traditions use to mean something but not in rugby. Why is Stade Toulousain so successful? You think it is because of $$$? Make no mistake $$$ came when they became successful not the other way round, the road to the Top 14 is not a given as demonstrated by Montpellier this year, an equally rich club. Same with Stade Rochelais and Brive never had much money and still won the European Cup, the success come and only then come the local investors. The answer is in the grassroot. Dupont, Cros, Ollivon, Baille & Co are pure grassroot players, they all come from tiny villages that play rugby passionately among less than 500 locals. World Rugby is nowhere near to understand how to make a sport successful. The French do. So, FU World Rugby, you can shove your cardboard pineapple lump of a trophy up your fat a$$.
Toulouse are definitely favourites and yes, Leinster will be very nervous. However, don't make the mistake of thinking Leinster are going to play the same way as they did against the Saints, you'll see a Leinster side that will not take their foot off the gas until the final whistle. And, BTW, I won't be one bit surprised if Saints are in the semis again next year, so I'd view this year's game as a great stepping stone rather than a missed opportunity.
Did you notice the look Caelan Doris gave to Jack Conan at the end? Well it was a look of total relief. I am confident that Leinster can do it, but Toulouse will definitely be feeling confident when they watch the Leinster game. Leinster will really have to get their act together for the final, and I’m praying that Keenan, Ringrose and Ryan will all be fit to play.
Come on lads ☘☘
Yeah I saw that, he literally said "oh f*** " with a sigh of relief 😂
He did but that's actually what's going to stand to us we've had a too easy for a few years we practically March into quarter-finals and semi-finals blow past everybody and when we get a tough game fall apart in the last 10 minutes. I think that performance will scare the crap out of them and give them more of an edge
@@ciaranbrk yes, I am thinking along the same lines. They were shaken up for sure. Toulouse looked v good both on attack and defence, or did Harlequins make them,look good?
@@lizzyhanahoe4197 that was also my thinking too if the fifth place Premiership can get that many points on Tolouse then we can beat them we beat the top of the premiership in a close game and had to fight for it that I think makes us more battle hardened.
@@ciaranbrk Battle hardened indeed 👍
They do have what it takes, but need to step up from Saturday game. Northampton weren't much and leinster struggled!!
Same for ST
No they just switched off,decided to close shop,both ringrose and Keenan will be back,Leinster totally and utterly dominated saints for 60 mins,they just switched off.
word round the campfire is James Ryan may be back too. Would be a massive boost.
Its not psychology its game readiness. When you have a squad that has 75 players (including the academy), and you can send a mixture of your 3rd, 4th and 5th team to away games in the URC and still win. What this means is that the Irish contingent are rested too much. Even the second team hasn't played enough minutes.
This has been a familiar story for the last 10 years. They got caught out by Connacht, Glasgow, Munster and Scarlets in the URC and with Saracens and La Rochelle in the Champions Cup. Even the final that we won in Spain against Racing 92, we were very poor in the final.
Ive been saying this every year. This year, i think we have dodged a bullet. We need to play full bore against Ospreys and Ulster in the next 2 weeks, maybe with bench rotation and giving N'Gatai, O'Brien, Ringrose and Keenan a go, but nobody who is considered 3rd choice or more should be given any more game time for the rest of the season. This should do the trick. A fresh and game ready Leinster should beat Toulouse
You Irish guys have been so cocky and overconfident over recent years, it’s unbelievable.
Having won nothing the last five years and concluding they should beat Toulouse if they just play ok is unreal. A final is always a particular game. It’s on neutral venue, Toulouse has scored 30+ pts on absolutely everyone.
It’s a 50-50 game but you lads think you are the Real Madrid of rugby while being far less successful
Totally 100% agree with the original comment 👍
@@titouanlamarre6505Toulouse have lost their last 3 games against Leinster by a lot of points in that same period. Last time it was by 23 points.
They’re no rested though. Came from a Word cup back to their province, won a 6N title and still competing in 2 competitions. Some of them look tired, in fact.
@@titouanlamarre6505it’s called supporting your team, stop crying
My hope is that Leinster will more or less play their first team in the next few URC games to generate some momentum. A lot of the team hadn't played in about 3 weeks. Hoping the 2nd half was just a lack of focus and cohesion born from that fact.
Dubliner living in Oxford & will be in Tottenham on 25th. Happy for Toulouse to be favourites & deal with that pressure. I agree there seems to be insufficient emphasis on attack at Leinster but they also have to have a good defence to deal with big French forwards. I think Leinster will try to play a possession game at pace. Last 2 years will only spur on Leinster. Players from both teams will have experienced pain at the RWC so the pressure of losing will not fall on Leinster alone. It will be a battle of the 9’s with maybe 10 having a casting vote if it’s a close game. Based on the semi Leinster can improve more - Leinster to shade it.
The two week breaksis whats killing this team. Ring rust is an issue. Cullen hasnt learned anything from the past few seasons. We have spanked them the past few times we play them! So yes, they have what it takes
3 week break…crazy stuff
Do Toulouse have what it takes to finally beat Leinster in a knockout for the first time in years?
Good question!
Don't forget the last two semi-finals were at the Aviva - big advantage to Leinster
@@normanstewart7130 True but Toulouse were smashed unlike anything any other team has done to them.
@normanstewart7130 fair and if im honest Toulouse Northampton and Bordeaux were the scariest teams in the competition (La Ro too out but from recent history they wernt great and wouldn't have made it out of the groups back in the good old days)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🤞
@@normanstewart7130 Tottenham will also be an advantage to Leinster, we will have the crowd but Toulouse are brilliant and I fear them.
Leinster have the players, although we need Ringrose and Keenan back in the squad,and the tactics, when they are implemented well. For me, the potential snags are: 1. The kicking of conversions; 2. Aimless garyowens in secondhalf gave possession to Northampton; 3. The psychological doubt in the players' heads. Both Toulouse and Leinster are prone to errors but the one that makes fewer errors, and takes advantage of the others mistakes, will be the one to win. It'll be nail-biting.
Yes I agree , Leinster bench wasn’t goid enough on Saturday , maybe at ten also , not as Involved missed three kicks !
Rugby & Leinster won the match . Northampton played there part .. The saints attack was what it says on the tin , direct & powerful , but there handling let them down . As for Leinster there defence coped very well & there attack was as excepted was points awarding . Then in the second half Leinster scored early & missed two scores . Meanwhile Northampton kept attacking & started scouring . The Leinster bench withstood the still attacking saints . Leinster won the game , Northampton made it a great game to watch . Squeaky bum time for Leinster trown in at the end .
See you again next year . Nothing but good wishes to you in the future .
I actually think that they do they have the ability. I think that the hard semi-final will actually stand to them because for the last 2 years they've pretty much walked into the final they've developed a mental toughness to get over their bogey team. they've beaten them twice this year. And I actually think they're more battle tested this and beating the number one ranked premiership side is no joke. They just need to be more ruthless and patient. One criticism I have of them is 1 our runners when they're near the try line. That keep getting isolated they need to do better a protecting the ball I'm supporting the ball carrier they need to stay connected better. And obviously they need to take their points.
Leinster need to remember their offence, I think they dwelled too much on defence against NH.
Saints did very well to claw back into the game but everyone is overstating their effectiveness as both of the tries had a huge amount of luck. The first was a prop getting in the way when the 14 was on the ball & the second a clear forward pass that nobody is talking about. Don’t get me wrong though Leinster did ride their luck as well and didn’t change the kicking game plan in the second half when it was clearly not working. I agree with those comments that Leinster need to up their game for Toulouse but it will come down to their smarts on changing the plan when needed. It cost them both finals against LR & the URC last year.
Not much in it. I think it depends if they play their A side at least once before it and some of their injured players get back.
which English teams do you think will be able to compete next year?
The definition of a proper contest is that the outcome is in doubt. One thing I'll say though is Leinster rarely have two bad games in a row.
Leinster have been trying to catch Toulouse’s trophy count for a long time. They’ve been so close several times. They’ve an opportunity to go 5-5 this year. Stopping it going 4-6 to Toulouse is a huge motivation to be on their game in the final. I can’t see Leinster being as up and down.
Leinster need to play their big guns in at least 2 URC games before the Champions Cup final to gain match sharpness, looked rusty at times that's what happens when you go 3 weeks without playing. This tactic of resting players for weeks is not working they even looked rusty against Leicester Tigers but still won. Can't rest players for weeks, go into a game and fire on all cylinders just like, that match consistency is key
Dead right we were rusty for both games and could have lost both
1 week rest is one thing, two weeks or more is too much.
Absolutely yes they do.
Don't believe Leinster can beat Toulouse with Ross Byrne.The Sexton problem has been ignored too long by Cullen.
There is no immediate threat to Jack crowleys irish jersey anyway
Of course they can he was excellent in the quarterfinals however his kicking does need to improve what's needed if he starts missing Kicks get Frawley to take them and let him be play maker.
@@ciaranbrk Just put Frawley at 10, he's better than Byrne. JOB is back now too.
RB’s first kick, a conversion near the sideline was excellent. Missing the following kicks unnerved him. BTW so did Blair Kinghorn for Toulouse until Ramos came on. He’ll probably start the final. RB is constantly compared to JS, Crowley doesn’t have to deal with that, at least not to the same extent.
I think toulose have a more exciting attack i would be worried if i was leinster fan they almost lost to a team that played well for twenty mins in a semi final i would say toulose are favourites
Is the English salary cap going to increase in the coming years
Yes of course they do. Even the best teams have the odd mediocre game. The important thing is not to have it in the final like we did on the last two occasions.
50/50 Toulouse look Savage! Leinster fan!
Toulouse leaked 4 try’s 26 points,Leinster 2 try’s 17 points,big difference is Leinster shut up shop and brought subs on too early,won’t happen again,stats show our last 3 wins over Toulouse 40v17…30v12….29v13.
They have Nienaber so yes their defense has improved massively and defense wins tournaments
It feels strange to hear Toulouse are favoorites, as a French fan I genunely tought that Leinster were the favourites 😅
In terms or pure match up, Leinster's style of play is the worst Toulouse can find on its way, and since both teams are stacked with talent, I think this favours our fellow Irish neighbours.
I aggre with you that there is a psycological frail in Leinster, but I can guarantee you that this generation of Toulouse players are under psychological pressure too : they lost last two conforntation against Leinster and their coach told them a few days ago that they did not stamp the history of the club yet.
I feel it is kind of a Real Madrid that would have been 3 years witohut seeing the final and only able to win against Barcelona. People would hesitate to place them as favourites, however they would play.
But it will be a great game, with numerous of the best players of the world at the moment, I cannot wait!
Nothing to do with nerves re urc,blame Leo for sending an under strength team v Munster,they’ve now beaten La Rochelle twice,and last three wins over Toulouse 40v17…..30v12….29v13…..previous to that we lost 28v27 in 2018.plus Toulouse leaked 4 try’s to Leinster 2,this weekend so what makes you so sure Toulouse will beat Leinster as the stats show otherwise
Nervous as a Dublin kid - the lads will smash it though. England in the best place in years (sadly) because of the condensing of the T1 league
No Ben O'keefe to have the last say on this one. Leinster was good but Stade Toulousain in a Final is always going to be a different beast than in a Semi. Both clubs have an amazing Culture but Toulouse keeps amazing me, their consistency and I rate the Top 14 higher than the URC and Premiership. Any League with a relegation / promotion is the real deal because there are no dead rubbers. And when you consider how competitive the ProD2 is, it is do or die day in day out and to reach consistently the top of both Top 14 and European Cup talks volume. Kudos to the Toulouse region and clubs nearby because they are the grassroot of French rugby. The South West of France develops internationals like there is no tomorrow. Guy Novès and Ugo Mola deserve applauds, they have kept smashing it for years.
No psychological scars, it's simple.
Leinster rested their top players for 3wks prior to the match.They won't make this mistake again.
Definitely stopped playing in the second half. Harlequins always come back in the second half. Hopefully Gary ringrose and hugo Keenan will be back. Leinster always beats Toulouse.
It’s a case of too much time off for key players between tests. And also a bit of a resurgence of English counties versus previous years albeit not enough to win. Two English teams in the semi finals shows that.
Toulouse relies on bulk and power but have leaky defence. Last 3-4 games vs Leinster they’ve lost by a huge margin.
It will be tight but I think Leinster can do it tbh. We have to replace Byrne as the kicker though, he’s unreliable. He missed half the kicks and converting them would have given a totally different scoreline.
If Leinster win with Ross Byrne playing 10, it will be miraculous
It’s a reasonable question. Ireland have failed to get beyond and World Cup QF as we all know. We looked rattled in the final game of the Six Nations against England (which we won) and then the loss to NZ when (having watched the game back again) we looked like the better team. Then the loss to England this year who really put it up to the and knew how to finish, unlike Leinster against La Rochelle last year! Maybe it is a psychological thing. Maybe it is an Irish thing, maybe it is an Irish psychological thing! When your culture is typified by singing songs about great valiant losses and victimhood, maybe that subconsciously undermines who taking that next big step. Yes we’ve (Leinster and Munster) have won before, but not as many times as we should have!
It’s odd we hardly consider just how good they were against Rochelle. They played too cagey against NH they are far superior to NH and out of 10 games they will beat them 9 times. They lack a consistent 10 that needs sorting. It wasn’t a missed oppertunity it was nothing to lose rugby for NH and quins but thats not good enough to win ,the pattern of both games was very similar come backs mean very little if you still lose.
that's rugby anyone can win on any day
Toulouse have lost to Leinster in the semifinals in the past two years. Should the question be, "Are Toulouse good enough to beat Leinster? Have Leinster become a bogey team for them?" ???
Leinster haven't won a thing since 2021. Toulouse are better than La Rochelle and will give Leinster a game.
We wish😂.
toulouse fan here,i dont know who will win but rugby for sure...
@@justsceptic3085 Would you exchange Dupont for Gibson-Park?😂
@@normanstewart7130non decent question...
Well, has the influence of Nienaber finally began to drip feed into the Leinster 'identity'? To be honest, I'd hope not. Yes, it's all about winning. And given how South Africa were winning their toughest games during the WC, the close-to-the-bone results now shouldn't be a surprise. Nienaber obviously trusts his systems to get there at the end of a game, but for Leinster..., it's not a game of intimidation, and much too close to the bone stuff to scare off Big sides. You can't do both equally - defend and attack. One always drains the other. Too much reliance on defence (and readiness to defend), obviously diminishes the options in attack. If Leinster aren't attacking, they aren't being Leinster and, yeah, they might win a final, but it seems if they do, it'll be doing so the Munster way! Leinster players, by instinct, want to attack; even in the old days before they won anything, they played attack. Nienaber shouldn't get full control of the gameplan for the final. A lot of Leinster's Energy comes from the adrenalin of attack.
Raynal bailed Leinster out vs Northampton by letting them commit murder at the breakdown, they might not be so lucky against Toulouse.
Toulouse have 4 place kickers. Leinster have no real place kickers.
Toulouse all singing and dancing. My favourites.
English media moaning over the alternative venues. There is no rule that says you can't. The organisers are thinking of doing natural countries in France, 2nd tier countries.
PLEASE NOTE….LEINSTER HAS WON IT BEFORE…..DONT SAY HAVE THEY FINALLY GOT…..THEY DID WIN…..
Leinster just took there eyes off the ball at the end..... they won't do that in the final
Blame cullen he bdkd back est player's marking them rusty unfit in second half. Cullen keeps taking bid best player's far too zoon it was a case of rust fear abd gifedness that could have lost the game Cullen must go Byrne the on and off man
I’m sure I’m not alone is wishing that Toulouse come good and Leinster lose again!
i, dont think nienbar is right for leinster.
Poor thing. Don't be hurtful. Send him back.
Dubliner living in Oxford & will be in Tottenham on 25th. Happy for Toulouse to be favourites & deal with that pressure. I agree there seems to be insufficient emphasis on attack at Leinster but they also have to have a good defence to deal with big French forwards. I think Leinster will try to play a possession game at pace. Last 2 years will only spur on Leinster. Players from both teams will have experienced pain at the RWC so the pressure of losing will not fall on Leinster alone. It will be a battle of the 9’s with maybe 10 having a casting vote if it’s a close game. Based on the semi Leinster can improve more - Leinster to shade it.