European Rugby Champions Cup

[Oldschool]

All true, but we've seen what Joe can do with great raw materials, compared to what MOC and Leo in year 1 managed. Sure, you need the ingredients, but if you want Michelin star food, there are only a few chefs who can work their magic.

And part of great coaching is spotting the holes in your squad and identifying players who can come in and fill them. Byrne has been out there in the Leinster wilderness at a time when we had absolutely no pace or eye for the line out wide. Some on here were banging the kid's drum for some time. It took Lancaster to spot the need and the kid to fill it. Similar story with Leavy.

So yeah, Lancaster does have the benefit of more good players and better players than MOC/Leo had, but in part because he had the ambition to broaden out the squad with existing talented kids.

Do you know for certain that it was Lancasters doing re Byrne and Leavy?

I think Cullen ( a bit like Foley initially as head coach) was relying on the tried and trusted but it seems to me that Dave Kearney, Rob Kearney and Fergus McFadden have long term injuries this year - Byrne and O Loughlin's appearances dovetail with McFaddens and D Kearneys injuries (both haven't played since 1st October) Byrne didn't play until end of October this year

And Leavy's elevation has timed with Jordi Murphy being injured -0 admittedly he seems to have surpassed Ruddock as well but he is more comparable to Murphy as an option

It will be interesting to see how selection goes when these guys are back particularly D Kearney - pretty much an ever present in the last 2/3 years - does he take Byrne/O Loughlins spot - I reckon R Kearney will go straight back in - that probably doesn't weaken Leinster, but there would be a slight diminishing in attacking prowess - this is the next issue for Cullen - the advantage Lancaster has is being outside the system - that in itself (a bit like Erasmus in Munster) is needed from time to time - I think that is nearly as important as the coaching nous that Lancaster brings

It's fair to say that there are signs Stu is havung a positive impact on the senior players too. It's not just the young fellas that have shown improvement. For example when fit, RK has shown definite evidence of improvement.

[Oldschool]

Don't we have our own Leinster Rugby Jet?
Re Bomber and the commute

Or could we not get the nerds in UCD working on this?: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/technology ... ks-7531773

A mono seated drone with extended range, there's your starting spec.
Accessories would include a life jacket.
Biggest problem will be the power supply.

[leinsterfan100]

On another note, Aaron Cruden has signed for Montpellier apparently

[neill_m]

On another note, Aaron Cruden has signed for Montpellier apparently

800k Euro/year is the rumour. Good money if you can get it

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[Oldschool]

On another note, Aaron Cruden has signed for Montpellier apparently

We'd still beat them.

[BlueWheels]

On another note, Aaron Cruden has signed for Montpellier apparently

A bit late ...... it was last weekend that they needed him

[johng]

The start of Vern replacing the Saffers with Kiwis

[BoscoBoy]

On another note, Aaron Cruden has signed for Montpellier apparently

We'd still beat them.

Yeah but it would be 57 - 6 with Cruden playing

[johng]

On another note, Aaron Cruden has signed for Montpellier apparently

We'd still beat them.

Yeah but it would be 57 - 6 with Cruden playing

Yeah. Maybe they would have got that extra 3 points with him kicking ok.

[Peg Leg]

The start of Vern replacing the Saffers with Kiwis

Yeah, because they can hit as high as they like!

[Dexter]

The start of Vern replacing the Saffers with Kiwis

Yeah, because they can hit as high as they like!

[John23]

Flight prices to Edinburgh & Glasgow for weekend of the finals with Aer Lingus & Ryanair have shot up in the week. Do they know something that I don't?

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[Blue not red blood]

They have being rising steadily for the last few weeks.
we booked a few of us just after Christmas and they are now getting pricey.
Our southern cousins are getting excited, bless them

[Oldschool]

Clerment stuffing Exeter.
They're going to be seeded No 1.

[leinsterfan100]

Presume we all want Toulon to win? Meaning we'll be seeded ahead of Sarries in 3rd place most likely....with a poss. semi-final 'away' to Munster in Dublin!

[Oldschool]

Presume we all want Toulon to win? Meaning we'll be seeded ahead of Sarries in 3rd place most likely....with a poss. semi-final 'away' to Munster in Dublin!

3-0 to Saracens at half time.
A LBP might be enough to give Toulon the final QF spot at the expense of Montpellier(because of the massive score we put on them last week).
Clerment won't thank anyone for that.
That's presuming Glasgow beat Leicester of course.

[leinsterfan100]

So, assuming we're to have a home QF, which is almost nailed on now, if we were to win it, we'll 100% be off to France for a semi.....against Toulon or Clermont. That's the main price we pay for not winning last night it seems

[enby]

Leicester are an absolute disgrace, their 3 away games have resulted in defeats by 13-42, 0-38 and 3-34. That is Zebresque stuff.

FFS, tonight's result really is appalling. For a team of their tradition to get 43nilled in front of their own fans is really a shocking indictment of the English game. Sale and the Saints were just as abysmal. They will have 2 teams in the QFs while the Pro12 will have 3 and possibly 4.

[Armchair]

So looks likely we have Wasps which will be a very tough ask even tough we are at home. If we loose anyone major to injury during 6 nations we will really struggle. Fear of loosing rather than backing ourselves to win could be very costly Wasps will fancy their chances big time, talk of Semi Final very premature

[D4surfer]

Wasps will hammer Zebre tomorrow and much as I would like see Connacht progress, I think this is one too far for them. I think Toulouse will probably get the try bonus point and win by more than 10 points, leaving the quarter finals like this:

Clermont v Toulon
Munster v Toulouse
Saracens v Glasgow
Leinster v Wasps

Semifinals:

Clermont or Toulon v Leinster or Wasps
Munster or Toulouse v Saracens or Glasgow