Martin Loughrey
‘People leave them off, the media leave them off. They are one of the best resourced teams not only in club rugby but in World rugby, and a terrible performance and a terrible result for Leinster rugby. and they just have not delivered’ – Donncha O’Callaghan.
It says it on the entrance ‘1350 feet above sea level and it matters’ well it certainly did on Saturday. Leinster struggled to get going at stages in the game and at times looked wrecked on the pitch. Its their third Trophyless season, Unacceptable, Implosion, Drought, Decline etc, etc, etc. These words getting a lot of attention in relation to Leinster since Saturday. Getting a bit fed up with it now.
Has the Nienaber attack strategy backfired? Is Goodman fit for purpose? Should Leo go?
So lets have a look at the state of play – Ulster haven’t won anything since 2006, Connacht 2016. Munster won the URC last year, which was their first trophy in 11 years. La Rochelle have never won the Top 14, Toulon haven’t had anything since 2015. Neither Edinburgh or Cardiff have ever won a modern day competition.
Racings last win was 2016. Even the mighty Toulouse didn’t have a sniff of silverware between 2012 and 2019. If 3 years without a trophy is unacceptable, how do other teams manage? Bearing in mind that only a maximum of 3 teams can win in any given year (including the challenge cup) People are saying that with Leinster’s resources it’s inexcusable, but I’d bet that Racing, Toulon, Toulouse and La Rochelle have equal if not deeper pockets.
The crys for ‘Leo out’ or ‘Byrne brothers out’ are quite frankly immature, but Leinster do have an issue at outhalf lets not kid ourselves here. The fans are screaming for Sam to start or in fact be the number one choice 10 with maybe Frawley and Ross as backup and, in fairness, that’s not a bad set up.
And it’s not about money either. You can’t buy cups. Money helps but it won’t get the job done. Then we have the Nienaber question. Has he helped or made things worse? On one hand, this season is ultimately the same as the last 2 European Champions Cup finals lost and URC semi final exit. But I will say that I’ve enjoyed watching us play less this year than previous years. But he’s a coach with 2 World Cup medals, so I think he’s earned the benefit of the doubt. I have a feeling that the problem is a little more fundamental. Is there a belief that the wins will just happen? Or maybe the burden of expectation has been too high equivalent to a psychological toll? Or do we have too much player rotation?
I’m no expert so I don’t know! Let’s see how next season goes. I’m looking forward to next season and let’s hope we get over the line instead of falling just before it. I will say I’m bitterly disappointed to how this season has ended, as most of us are I’m sure, but it’s not the end of the world.
I will say that I do think we have too much rotation. I know we have a lot of players going into National camp, but outside of that, the IRFU limits game time for international players. I think now that they’re only going to pay a percentage for the central contracts instead of the whole lot, Leinster need to negotiate more playing minutes for the Internationals.
Hoping Nienaber can show he’s able to create a good defensive set up in Leinster while allowing them to play a free flowing attack style of rugby. The SA style does not fit in Leinster.
Many interesting ideas here; your overall analysis seems spot on. I do think that, in the case of both Leinster and Munster, and I am a Munster follower myself, the players left everything on the field. While errors occurred, as they do in any game, I believe that all the players gave of their utmost. But, their utmost was not sufficient. So, where do we look for explanations, analysis and remedies. I think we have to look at the coaching teams. More so at Leinster’s than Munster’s – given the enviable resources that they enjoy. I’m not calling for “Leo, out!” or “Rowntree out!” – neither expulsions are warranted nor, indeed, would be remedial. But I have been nursing a conception for some time that coaches from South Africa do not seem to be a good fit for Irish sides. We in Munster have had to endure Johann Van Gram and Rassie himself. They offer an identikit of play that doesn’t suit the Northern Hemisphere context. I’s difficult to be more precise, but it seems to me that the Anglo-Irish combo offers more. Lancaster and Cullen in Leinster, Rowntree in Munster, Wilkins in Connacht (yet to prove his value) and, of course, Farrell with Ireland. I can’t comment on Nienaber, but I posit that his influence has blunted Leinster’s quintessential attack mode in favour of defence.