80+ column : May 7

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WRAP OF A WRAP

Ugh.  Didn’t really fancy producing any content this week if I’m honest, but the show must go on as they say.

If nothing else, one positive from last weekend was that it gave me the chance to try out a new format for the wrap pods.  Up to now we have used a “timeline” method whereby one contributor talks through the match while myself and the other comments.  I had been doing this because (a) I thought it was a bit different to other pods (b) it helped capture the different points of the match and (c) it was part of the transition from the old Harpin match writeups which I did in a similar way.

Let’s just say that myself, Rich and Hugo were unanimous in agreement that we did not want to go through the sequence of that semifinal, especially when a rewatch was involved.  So instead I went with a format I had been planning to trial for the Lions test series, and I reckon it worked pretty well.  Between the three of us we chose 8 talking points from the match, then the lads had a “draft” of sorts in selecting them and we got to harpin’ that way.

It also meant I could hold a couple of topics back for the “bonus chat” and FWIW I may just stick with it until the end of the season and see how I get on.

More Harpin’ admin news… I’m thinking of making permanent is cutting out the Front 5 videos…I really enjoyed doing them (I had made a pledge this season to get more comfortable doing “talking to camera” videos and it was good practice) but the editing takes too long so instead I’ll go back to scribbling some thoughts after each link.

ICYMI click here to check out the wrap pod on Spotify or you’ll also find us on Apple and most major platforms. Ugh.

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FRONT FIVE

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INEVITABLE ARTICLES

“Would Leinster have been happy going to extra-time in a game where they trailed by 10 points, early in the final quarter? You would have thought so at the time.”

‘Leinster have the best-resourced squad in these islands but can’t make it pay.’

Brendan Fanning – Rugby Pass 

I’m leading with this offering from Brendan not because of this particular article itself, rather because it represents the type of article we always see the week following a consequential Leinster or Ireland defeat, and knowing these are on the horizon serves to amplify the post-defeat disappointment.  To be clear – that doesn’t mean I disagree with the points made in them, it’s just I’m a fan and don’t like reading them!!!  We’ve all been there.

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DORIS OUT

‘The full extent of the injury, and implications for the summer, won’t be known until after the procedure’

Leinster Reveal Doris Requires Shoulder Procedure

IrishRugby.ie

No comment required for this one, or should I say there would be none that could be said on TV before the watershed…

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“THAT” TRY

…considering van der Flier’s distance from the try line, a score was probable and would’ve been the “correct call.”

Referee explains why Leinster should have had game-winning penalty try

Adam Festus – SportsJoe.ie

We spoke about this ‘try’ on the bonus video below, one of those cases where two things can be true at the same time – should have been a try?  possibly so.  Does that mean Leinster deserved to win? probably not.  Anyway in articles like this you get the nuts and bolts of other people’s interpretations of the decision.

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WELSH RUGBY UPDATE

…there’s a realisation the stalemate that has now gone on for months cannot continue.

WRU give regions 48 hours to sign deal or risk being served notice in seismic move

Ben James & Steffan Thomas – WalesOnline

Latest news in the Welsh saga…if I was cynical I’d say it was all amusing, but if I’m being honest I just wish they’d settle on something that works soon.  I really truly don’t enjoy seeing things this bad over there, I want the regions to be competing so I can be giving out about losses like Leinster’s to the Scarlets recently more often, if that makes sense!!!

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SUPER RUGBY USA

World Rugby’s interest has been piqued if one or two teams can follow in the footsteps of the Drua or Jaguares, who were backed by the governing body

Super Rugby considering USA expansion as World Rugby gets edgy over looming World Cup

Christy Doran – The Roar

I’d love to see this happen, but only if it’s done right.  LA might be a good fit geographically but I’m pretty sure they’d need the team to appeal to a wider fan base.  For me, the ideal solution would be to let the US Eagles play, but as with all sports of European origin, that club/country barrier is impenetrable.

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HARPIN ON…THE ANNUAL CULLENOSCOPY

For this video we harped on a couple of bonus topics, here are the lead-in questions..

“…we’re going to start with Rich who is going to look at the officiating from Saturday…was it an issue or should fans be focusing on that at all?”

“…now Hugo is going to answer a question that I have to say more and more people have been asking each year as our European campaigns have ended, should Leo go? What do you think?”

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LEINSTER SQUAD UPDATE

On the Harpin’ WhatsApp & Discord we’ve been debating Leinster’s selection policy after the Northampton result, particularly for this weekend against Zebre, who’s season is effectively over (their 29pts is more than their last two campaigns combined, yet with two matches left they still can’t reach top 8).

Do we (a) bring out the cotton wool, (b) go ‘full throttle’ or (c) bit of both?

The consensus among the groups was overwhelmingly (b) so that would mean a team this weekend very similar to last.  But just to play devil’s advocate, I have chosen to go for a 23 that leans heavily in the other direction, going with the premise that it will give the next in line for each position one more run out just in case they are needed in the knockouts, we can then go full throttle against Glasgow the following week.

caveat : I have no “ITK” a la Thornley

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TROLL PATROL

Now it’s time for Troll Patrol where we ‘detain’ a social media commentator and charge them with gaslightery and general online mayhem.

On my last ‘Broken Play’ article on Substack (head over and subscribe for free if you can) I spoke about how important banter is in sport once it doesn’t cross a line and I referenced a particular social media commentator called Edward Jenkins or ‘Ed Jenx’ and while Leinster & Ireland are frequent targets of his, he definitely falls into the category and we need to be able to take it as well as give it.

A lot of it can still be called “trolling” though, so this post makes him our latest detainee, however appropriate his comparison might be.

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Irish Shield

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SVNS

Note – they announced changes to the Svns circuit for next season, reducing the top tier to just 8 nations so Ireland would probably have been excluded from that in both genders regardless of results from the weekend. We will see how the new system works out for next season but it looks like it will be a long road back to the top, especially if we continue to send weaker squads as we did this season.

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Challenge Cup

Premiership

🔝🐱🐴

ProD2

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Super Rugby Pacific

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RWC2027 QUALIFIERS

The RWC2027 tournament has expanded to 24 nations so with four extra spots up for grabs it makes for a fascinating qualifying process.

Rather than post the latest results and fixtures here however, I’d like to defer to the excellent work of frequent Harpin’ contributor Ciarán Duffy who has been keeping close tabs on the qualifying process over at his own site Post to Post Sport.

Follow this link to see how the Road to Australia is progressing..

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Japan League One

Major League Rugby 

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Harpin Prediction League

This is the 4th season of our Superbru prediction league among Harpin’ pod contributors.  

Kristian is the reigning champion, but the real competition is in avoiding finishing last, which means you must wear The Jersey of Shame.  I had to wear it the first year, while Keego has had the honour the past two seasons.

As you can see our resident stats expert Rugby Kino is leading the way with room to spare although Mark does seem to be gaining on him… meanwhile down at the foot of the table, a mini fightback from David is the bookies favourite to take ownership of TJOS but in an official statement he claims to continue his strategy of making his selections based solely on “vibes”.

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NEXT BATCH OF HARPIN’

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