I’m joined by Jay Long and new contributor Ed Jenkins to go back over Friday night’s match at the Aviva Stadium, then along with Mark Jackson they name their ideal XVs for the first test in Brisbane.
444 : Lions v Argentina wrap
Category: Match wrapup
443 : Leinster are URC Champions wrap
🏉 Kicking on
🏉 Pack Mentality
🏉 Defensive stands
🏉 Below par Bulls
🏉 Playing the conditions
THIS WEEK’S GUESTS
FULL TIME TAKES
Kevin Kelehan
Great atmosphere in Croker from about 30 mins before kick off, hat tip to the support in the Hill they were so vocal. The defensive set for 5 minutes before half time was what won the game, Bulls threw everything they had at Leinster, recycling clinically but there was no way through. Was delighted to see Ross Byrne get point 32 at Croker as his last act, was even happier to see Sam Prendergast hit a lot of people today, he has redeemed himself.
Jackie McEachern
Brilliant team performance! So happy for everybody at Leinster rugby. I hope they all thoroughly enjoy celebrating this and that it can be the foundation that next season is built upon.
William Andrew
Elon Musk, Nelson Mandela, Charlize Theron, Rassie Eramus, Trevor Noah your boys took some beating 💓 in Dublin today. 😀😃🙂🙃😊😇😀
Superb . Controlled aggression. Total focus at all times. I enjoyed the wins at the scrum as much the tries. The real slim shadys stood up today
Kevin OCeallaigh
That was a brilliantly coached performance, especially on defence. Thrilled for Sam. Thought he was really good today and probably one place kick away from POTM. He’s probably had a tough week. Also a great sign-off for Jordie, and the cheers from the crowd shows just how much he is respected by the fans. Loved the celebration from Ross when he showed that kick
Cuan Mulligan
Ryan Baird.. more of that please. Was good to see Sam P try some flare, looked like his mojo was back.. kicking off the tee is still a growth area for the summer…looked like he wanted contact more, although fell off tackles but not for lack of want. What they have tapped into.. they need to stay tapped into.
Daniel James
Thank god!! I could leave it at that but it was a brilliant performance where they went at the bulls like they did in the champions cup up to the semi final. Hopefully this lays a foundation to get over the line in next years knockout competitions. Also past time to win the URC now we need push all the way next year!
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URC WRAP
NEXT HARPIN’
TUESDAY
BONUS CHAT : “SAM’S ROLE” & “THE IMPORTS”
WEDNESDAY
80+ COLUMN
441 : Leinster v Glasgow wrap
🏉 Dan & Tommy
🏉 Improved players
🏉 Setback recovery
🏉 Defence on point
🏉 Below par champs
THIS WEEK’S GUESTS
FULL TIME TAKES
Kevin Kelehan
The stadium was buzzing right from the first hit off kick off, the team seemed to feed off it, 32 points clear on 65 minutes having refused to let a decent enough Glasgow side play. Tom Clarkson and Tommy O’Brien were both superb today, Tom winning scrum penalties now and Tommy is so unpredictable. The confidence is back at exactly the perfect time to get it back.
Christy O’Connor
Definitely a much better performance than the last few weeks, I was expecting a tight game. Glasgow were never in it, we let them off easy a few times but we were never losing that game. Just hope we show the same attitude next week
Jackie McEachern
It seemed that Leinster showed great attitude from the start and several players really stepped up. I’m worried about all the missed kicks from Prendergast. But for now excited for the final next week!
Gavin Hegarty
Like do we have that little confidence in our attack that our first instinct is to kick, every time? Frustrating rugby and helping the opposition.
Clarkson had the game of his life and dominated their loose head.
Scot penny take a bow, he was everywhere.
A good win but we fell asleep in the last twenty and gave them tries.
If we stayed tuned in it would have been 50+.
Considering the injury list jvdf, Doris, furlong, henshaw, ringrose, Keenan) we did well.
Clarkson, Osbourne and the optometrist (tob) will Excell on the summer tour
Cuan Mulligan
Much better performance, however Sam is a weakness.. the flare and magic he showed late last year is no where to be found and he is weak in defence, Bulls will run down him all day next Saturday. Far more cohesive as a team, should make for a great game.
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URC WRAP
NEXT HARPIN’
TUESDAY
BONUS CHAT : “SAM’S KICKING & BULLS REVIEW”
WEDNESDAY
80+ COLUMN
439 : Leinster v Scarlets wrap
🏉 Kicking, the habit
🏉 Forcing it
🏉 Sam P at 10
🏉 Keen on Keenan
🏉 Still harpin’ on Leo
THIS WEEK’S GUESTS
FULL TIME TAKES
Andrew Byrne
What’s the opposite of “peaking at the right time”? We look a shadow of the team we were a few months ago.
Cuan Mulligan
Something wrong in the camp, I think one has to start looking at the coaching. Sam P was better in the second half, but god awful in the first. He played like Ross Byrne, taking the ball standing still, and shovelling shite out the back. Makes me think its not the players, how can two very different 10s play almost identically.. how they are being coached.. he is a player full of flare. it looks like its been knocked out of him. Glasgow will feel very confident in coming and winning…
Gavin Hegarty
What the hell has happened to us? Against Quinns and Glasgow we were world class. Simply unplayable. Now it seems we can’t put anything together and look like a scratch side who just met in the changing room.
I really hate to say it but based on recent performances I have no confidence of any silverware this season.
Kevin Kelehan
The arrogance of fans expecting Leinster to skittle every side who comes to Dublin, at times there were unforced handling errors but credit Scarlets for turning up and forcing a good number of errors. After La Rochelle and Glasgow this is the third time this season a first choice Leinster have dogged out wins from games they could equally have lost. Onwards next week with Glasgow looking for third time lucky, vital that we don’t let them build the vibe that Leinster aren’t scrappers.
Lorraine Preston O’Connor
Are the players afraid to get injured before the Lions tour? There’s definitely something amiss!!!!
Hubert Gallagher
We looked disjointed and lacking in confidence. Trying to force things when we didn’t need to – giving away unnecessary turnovers instead of keeping the ball. At least we learnt to kick a few of our penalties. We try to entertain and play an expansive game without winning the right to expand. We need to do the simple things accurately, scrum, lineout, quick recycle and control the ball. Defensively something is very off – we’re leaking tries, often through individual mistakes – 2 people went onto one player leaving a gap and leading to a score.
You don’t become a bad team overnight but psychology especially big game psychology! Glasgow will be bursting to put one over on us – so we need to really cut the errors and work to control the game and field position.
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URC WRAP
NEXT HARPIN’
WEDNESDAY
80+ COLUMN INCL BONUS CHAT “THE LEINSTER CAPTAINCY”
437 : Leinster v Glasgow wrap
🏉 Stats v Vibes
🏉 Tremendous Tommy
🏉 Flat Track Bullies
🏉 The Ben Whitehouse Experience
🏉 In Our Defence
THIS WEEK’S GUESTS
FULL TIME TAKES
Gavin Hegarty
I’m not going to comment on whitehouse.
We have real talent in Leinster but for some reason this talent is not firing. On paper we were 40+ better than this team yet we couldn’t string any phases together.
Why do we want to defend? We just keep on aimlessly kicking the ball away. Madness.
Tommy O’Brien is class and has to be capped in Georgia/Portugal.
On a positive note on spiral from Sam has to be the best kick I’ve ever seen! Simple exquisite
Chris McDonnell
No real spark but effort was very good. Gunne passed well but didn’t really offer any threat, Sam is not controlling the game, loads of really good stuff but not really getting a grip. Boyle is a good one. What’s going on with furlong? Why is he on the bench if he’s not getting much needed game time.
Christy O’Connor
This proves that Frawley should’ve been given more time at ten.
Andrew Bailey
It’s a sad situation when you know once referee is announced that he will be awful. Whitehouse did not disappoint. Aside from that we have a problem at 10
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URC WRAP
NEXT HARPIN’
TUESDAY
BONUS CHAT : “THE URC QUARTERFINALS”
WEDNESDAY
80+ COLUMN
435 : Leinster v Zebre wrap
🏉 12 different tries
🏉 Tyler’s attack
🏉 Sam’s starts
🏉 That JB narrative
🏉 Improved forwards
THIS WEEK’S GUESTS
FULL TIME TAKES
Kevin Kelehan
Normal service is restored after last weeks slip
David Ryle
Better structure this week.
William Andrew
Flat track bullies. If they didn’t set up a drop goal, they have learnt nothing.
URC WRAP
NEXT HARPIN’
TUESDAY
BONUS CHAT : “THE LIONS SQUAD”
WEDNESDAY
80+ COLUMN
THURSDAY
THROWBACK THURSDAY
433 : Leinster v Northampton wrap
🏉 Top two inches
🏉 Saints on the march
🏉 D-construction
🏉 Selection issues
🏉 What next?
THIS WEEK’S GUESTS
FULL TIME TAKES
Cormac Mannion
Kept kicking the ball away and when we actually had a straightforward kick to draw level at 37-37 we went for the corner. Summed up our brainless play all evening. I’m really annoyed about how we played. Yet again we’ve faltered in a big match
Gavin Hegarty
Anyone else think henshaw was a huge weak link? He didn’t bring anything to the party.
Head to simani is a straight red
Yellow at the try line should be a penalty try
But we shouldn’t have been in that position.
Horrific first half that we shouldn’t have been that bad in.
Andrew Tynan
The ref giving a saints player a yellow card at the end but yet no penalty try? What?
Kevin Kelehan
Kicking the ball at Saints back 3 was never going to be a winner, Leinster were lucky to be in the game right to the end, tactically the approach did not play to Leinster’s strengths. Credit Saints they nailed 90% of their chances
Colette Caddle
They were the better side and deserved the win.
Christy O’Connor
Nienaber has to go for me, I’ve never liked his tactics and I was never hopeful we would win with his style. Yes we played better the last few weeks but against very poor opposition
Daniel James
I think we should’ve played at least the bones of this team against scarlets last week as I worry that the international are sometime undercooked. Also i think we need to win an URC before the champions cup and we have been focusing to much on getting that 5th star rather then winning our league then going for the star. The intensity from Northampton was incredible all game I expected them to get tired towards the end but they have it there all where as I thought we got tired at times and their scores seemed a bit easy.
Cuan Mulligan
Saints deserved the win. However some very dubious ref calls. The possible try at the end should not have been disallowed for the reason the ref gave, the corner flag is not in touch.. however Byrne was on the floor and it’s questionable if he is allowed to touch it down. About 2 or 3 plays before it, near their try line, I think Pollock goes off his feet crawling on his knees over our players and a second player in goes into take the ball… not sharing this to gripe.. if you leave your win down to ref calls you don’t deserve it.. but the reffing was poor
Jackie McEachern
Saints were very good (and it pains me to say that). But I don’t understand not starting Barrett.
And I’m not sure resting the starters leading up to these big games is a good strategy. I know it’s a physical game but we’ve seen time and time again where they come into the big matches rested but not cohesive.
Richard Collumb
Useless today & Tactics were terrible. That’s down to the coaches. Given team & budget the players & management get judged on performances in May & they aren’t good enough.
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NEXT HARPIN’
TUESDAY
BONUS CHAT : “ANNUAL CULLENOSCOPY”
WEDNESDAY
80+ COLUMN
THURSDAY
THROWBACK THURSDAY (Substack)
431 : Scarlets v Leinster wrap
🏉 Missed chances
🏉 Plumtree power
🏉 Defensive decline
🏉 Leadership lacking
🏉 No consolation
THIS WEEK’S GUEST
FULL TIME TAKES
Jackie McEachern
Really poor from almost every perspective but hopefully just a bump in the road. I know we were missing many of the first team but there were still far too many errors and poor decisions.
Christy O’Connor
Scarlets line speed was brilliant, put us under lots of pressure and caused us to make so many mistakes, granted some were unforced. Better team won
Ollie Sinnott
Ross Byrne, Frawley, the Osbornes, Tector, Baird, O Brien and Mccarthy are a couple of steps down in quality from the first 23. Only player to improve their reputation this evening was Jack Boyle and Soroka.
Bert McLoughlin
People whinging about team selection pisses me off! Apart from what’s coming next week, the team out on the field today were good enough to win the game. BUT they made way too many errors and didn’t deserve to win the game.
Congratulations to Scarlets, they played really well and deserved to win that game
Greg Kelly
Scarlets came out needing the 5 points. They were hungry and quite simply Leinster we not. Fair play to the Scarlets, they were well worth the win and showed great composure given that Leinster have a habit of clawing back games. It looked like Leinster had both eyes on Northampton and a lot of the players knew that their knockout involvement going forward was over.
Get in the conversation yourself by leaving
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URC WRAP
NEXT HARPIN’
WEDNESDAY
80+ COLUMN INCLUDING FRONT 5 VIDEO
THURSDAY
THROWBACK THURSDAY
429 : Leinster v Ulster wrap
🏉 Late late change
🏉 Terrific TOB
🏉 Coach killers
🏉 Defensive stands
🏉 Triple Dan
THIS WEEK’S GUESTS
FULL TIME TAKES
Christy O’Connor
Tommy is flying, definitely in with a great shout to be playing in the cup games. Will definitely be on the irish summer tour
Greg Kelly
Tommy O’Brien looking like the real deal these days
Michael Branagan
Great result. Porter needs to be “seen to be in control”. He’s throwing penalties away, 50:50 calls, that are damaging us and his reputation. I do think it’s harsh on a number of fronts but he has to “ease back” as it were. For a little while.
William Andrew
Ulster had a lot go against them, but still hung in there.
Some unfortunate, some self inflected.
Leinster were good but you can see some players are not quite the standard of the 1st squad.
Others are pushing on. Highlights were the chip to Dan and Gunn delaying his pass to Dan.
Smart play
Warren Doyle
Right person won man of the match. Class act. Well done Tommy O’Brien.
John Peeters
Only one comment; is RG ok?
URC WRAP
NEXT HARPIN’
TUESDAY
BONUS CHAT : “LEINSTER PLAYER PROFILES PT 1”
WEDNESDAY
80+ COLUMN INCLUDING FRONT 5 VIDEO
THURSDAY
THROWBACK THURSDAY
427 : Leinster v Glasgow wrap
🏉 Glasgow’s poor exits
🏉 Sam’s spirals
🏉 Leinster’s D (again)
🏉 Mangan’s Euro debut
🏉 Jordie’s everything
THIS WEEK’S GUESTS
FULL TIME TAKES
Greg Kelly
We put on a show but we learned nothing and didn’t sharpen our edges. When Byrne replaced Sam there was a noticeable drop off in incision and tempo. All in all we played an hour of solid rugby and then pulled up in the last 20 to save legs.
Chris McDonnell
Just too good. Noticeable drop off when we changed our half backs.
David Ryle
Wasn’t a scoreline we were expecting. But Glasgow were missing half of their starters.
2 weeks on the bounce teams kept scoreless.
Cuan Mulligan
Loved the term.. Leinster Double Bagel
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CHAMPIONS CUP WRAP
NEXT HARPIN’
TUESDAY
BONUS CHAT : “LEINSTER’S BEST IMPORTS”
WEDNESDAY
80+ COLUMN INCLUDING FRONT 5 VIDEO
THURSDAY
THROWBACK THURSDAY
HARPIN' ON RUGBY 