Disappointment, decision-making and the Dupont Show | RTÉ Rugby podcast

Neil Treacy is joined by Bernard Jackman and Johne Murphy on this week's RTÉ Rugby podcast.
We look back on where it went wrong for Leinster in Saturday's Investec Champions Cup final against Toulouse, and discuss where French scrum-half Antoine Dupont ranks among the greats (21:35) after his incredible performance in the decider.
The panel also discuss Hugo Keenan's switch to the Ireland Sevens team (27:01) ahead of the Olympics, as well as the retirement of Rhys Ruddock (30:10).
Turning our attention to the BKT United Rugby Championship, we discuss Connacht's slim hopes of making it into the play-offs, (35:50) and whether Mack Hansen should be included on Ireland's summer tour of South Africa.
We hear about Munster's incoming South African winger, Thaakir Abrahams (40:30), and look ahead to their meeting with Ulster on Saturday (44:20).
And we also speak about a positive week for Ulster, who announced incomings on both their senior squad and coaching ticket (49:30).
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[@ytevysbhtb]

As French, I was delighted by Toulouse's win obviously. In my opinion, Leinster's biggest flaw (and what made them lose the match) is their lack of adaptability ! Leinster has only one gameplay when Toulouse has many options. When you start counter Leinster's gameplan, that's were you can see them completely lost on the pitch. They don't have any other ways to play, too predictable for Toulouse's defense. Good match from our Leinster foes though, hope you'll not end up hating the French 🇨🇵🤝🇮🇪

[@cianhalley9266]

100% they're gone very lateral and one dimensional

[@tvpc3194]

they are robots

[@AuxaneST]

And not taking the 3 points so many times. Arrogance. You cannot do that in a final.

[@jamescook8786]

@@AuxaneSTIt wasn’t arrogance. They took the points against La Rochelle and based off that experience they came to the conclusion that they had to be more aggressive and score tries

[@YouTubeMy-kg3ho]

​@@jamescook8786they scored 3 tries in the first 20 mins against them in last year's final

[@Maine733]

French rugby fan here. Leinster have played very very well and succeeded in stopping Toulouse attack for most of the game and to be honest looked like the better team on the pitch. It was extremely tight and the game turned only after yellow cards if I’m correct. Both teams I thought were focused on not letting 11:58 the other play their game: Leinster blocking the attack of Toulouse and Toulouse winning the turnovers battle. A few Toulouse players said that they never played such a defensive game in their career. A few Toulouse players were immense on the day: Willis, Kinghorn, Chocobarres and yes Dupont. I agree that Toulouse learnt from the past defeats and that Leinster didn’t.

[@romainviry3185]

Dupont keep finding ways to rugbystically hurt opposing teams. There is no anti Dupont plan. He s just too good And an absolute gentleman to top it off Legend for sure

[@ytevysbhtb]

He played where no one expected him, contesting balls. And man, no matter where he's playing, he's doing such a good job !

[@patrickclaux2684]

Pas mieux ! Je pense qu'il fait aimer ce sport à beaucoup de gens de par son attitude ! Un grand bonhomme !

[@timslade5808]

Although Ross Byrne didn’t have a terrible game he just offers nothing in attack. The Toulouse centres know he’s no threat and just move off him at least Frawley put some doubt in the defence

[@patmc5474]

At the true elite level, Byrne can't make the difference,he needs to impose himself but at his stage in his career, it's not going to develop now imo.

[@bobfrazier8527]

Cullen has staked his coaching career on ross byrne.......lancaster was the real coach..

[@PB22559]

Toulouse pulled away and won the game when Frawley was on the pitch, not Byrne. Don't forget, it was Frawley who missed the 2 drop goal attempts as well. None of Leinsters players performed that well so it's a collective issue. Resting players for 3 weeks before these big games puts them at a disadvantage. They weren't match fit and battle hardened enough. They learned nothing from previous years.

[@cianhalley9266]

​@@PB22559but he had the balls to go for them byrne doesn't

[@jamescook8786]

@@PB22559 Ross Byrne is always going to carry the can when it goes pear shaped for Leinster. Just the way it is unfortunately. He’s a solid player, an exceptional kicker, but limited athletically. I think he plays close to the maximum of his abilities. Leinster didn’t lose because of Byrne.

[@olivierolive8447]

Hi all. I watched so many YT reviews talking about IF Leinster has done this or IF Leinster has done that or if the drop goal was in and so....The fact can be also that Toulouse has just countered Leinster plans. We agree that with "IFS", we can remake the world. Do not get me wrong, Leinster could have won the game however Toulouse is very clinical and make the most of every mistake of the opponent. Do not forget that playing in the Top 14 means playing an European championship match every weekend. To conclude, I'd just like to highlight Stade Toulousain's performance and not just blame Leinster's performance. I follow Stade Toulousain regularly, and I have to admit that this year's team is virtually unplayable.

[@justsceptic3085]

toulousain here ,right comment, last year leinster beat toulouse,toulouse beat lr,and lr beat leinster,this year vice versa,nothing is writting in our sport,maybe next year another team will writte his history...congrat to leinster and huge respect

[@john-paulmurray2317]

Leinster need to give the 10 jersey to Frawley and let him develop.

[@jimoil6372]

Ross Byrne as 10 for Leinster is just the "Zombie Johnny Puppet Show", the idea that he's good enough to play for one of the best teams in the world is silly and the idea that their attack would be shaped around the abilities of a lanky soccer player executing moves as though from a playstation controller doesn't fly. Fans have been asking for Frawley to be developed properly at ten for well over a year now. Frawley at 10, Byrne on the bench and send his brother to Hell or to Connacht.

[@tvpc3194]

Paul Costes and sam Prendergast are the same age

[@MimieThalie]

Leinster in final 4 years again, for me, that means they are the best European's Team, even if they lose, because of this regularity. Even if I prefere seeing my French Teams wining, I must admit it. It remembers me l'ASM always second during few years. Few Toulousains players said it was the hardest match they never plaid. It's a kind of compliment. No beautiful victory without beautiful opposition. ❤

[@anchorpoint5871]

Great podcast !

[@patrickyoung3503]

Bernard is right as far as the breakdown goes . Leinster didn't react quick enough on the day to the breakdown . Fine margins that is all that was in it . Both defences were immense .

[@mahasamatman12]

When a team has about 60% possession and territory and yet loses the game, there is something more than "fine margins" to it.

[@gerrycallaghan5519]

And ye fuppers argued for Ross byrne intl caps. Please go with Frawley for D4 we d love that

[@patrickoleary2862]

Nice tribute to Rhys Ruddock after a brilliant career.

[@jeromelemoine1942]

Let's be humble. This game could have ended after 80mn with a 18-15 Leinster victory, with 2 disallowed tries for Toulouse and a successful drop-goal for Leinster. But it would'd been a disappointing game to watch.

[@michaeloconnor9809]

With all the experts and analysts in top Irish teams tidsy where is the evolution in their play. The top opposition have copped onto the maul and go tactic which is why we did not bear ABs in world cup. Where is the grubber kick or short over the top ball. These players are paralysed by analyse and when the mono game plan does not wotk what then. Toulouse conceded 2 maul tries in 14 games. How did Leinster miss that in preparation.

[@michaelflynn5123]

Leinster weren’t matched hardened all huff and puff going nowhere! They won’t send there first team to South Africa ! You have to play in close games to know how to get over the line

[@YouTubeMy-kg3ho]

Leinster gave 5 guys of the same level at 10 😂😂😂

[@MegaMegamann1]

How is Bernard Jackman not coaching with Leinster

[@redmondo42]

After all that glittering success he had at Grenoble and Newport Dragons. It's a mystery

[@juderyan1561]

At least an English team didn't win, both Leinster and Toulouse fans can agree on that!

[@danedwadd62]

We can all laugh at Irish team bottling it again as English fan

[@macmoan]

a valley girl would struggle to say LIKE as much

[@FlyingHellFish99]

Ahhhh stop Neil. “Analysis by hindsight”. Get in the bin. Left wing podcast, off the ball (BOD, Ian Madigan, Quinlan, Gerry Thornley, Andy Dunne), two cents rugby, Egg chasers rugby - the list could go on. You’re last to the party re. Analysis; don’t shit on those who were first to market

[@patrickcoote8441]

DuPont is doing in rugby what Lance Armstrong was doing in cycling without you would hope any special sauce

[@tvpc3194]

when you lose to SA to say the same?

[@garydonlan7869]

Not saying he's not an incredible player but I rewatched the first half today and he had a mediocre half, knock-on here and there,,stripped by DS, couple loose passes. Overall, was excellent but I think he's had many better games..

[@patrickclaux2684]

Pour moi rien à voir Armstrong a abimé durablement son sport

[@johnpeter3626]

Toulouse n Leinster ate not Club rugby teams. They're International rugby teams. Take away all those international players and what will these teams be? Not so illustrious.

[@roberthalvey8880]

As a munster person born and whatever why do I feel so much pain for lienster loss

[@joewhelan5018]

WTF . .Cop fkn on . .take your penalty kick opportunities

[@geansai333]

it's as simple as that. rugby, or analysis, doesn't have to be rocket science. Take your fkn points in a cup match. Don't tire your pack out. and respect your opponent.

[@geansai333]

identical failure v new Zealand even with the greatest player in the history of world rugby on the field!

[@geansai333]

and frawley watching on from the sideline in both cases