Former Leinster star reacts to Champions Cup final collapse | Aotearoa Rugby Pod

Isa Nacewa joins Ross Karl and James Parsons this week to discuss the Heineken Champions Cup final, why Kiwi rugby players thrive in Ireland and that guy Shaun Stevenson.
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[@robcousins231]

From an Irish fan, this is the best rugby Podcast by far. Started watching it during the Irish tour to NZ last summer and have watch it every week since. Greta way to see whats happening with Super Rugby and the All Blacks with some really impressive analysis that is better than anything I see from NH podcasts. Keep it up!

[@davidpeters3857]

Totally agree

[@peakey8874]

Thank you mate Ireland are such powerhouse these days I’m enjoying watching them play

[@roysanders7224]

Mine too, a Crusaders fan living in Aussie.

[@dirkvoltaar]

Great show! Super interesting conversations. Isa Nacewa is a Leinster legend!

[@PB22559]

Isa is a Leinster legend.

[@daveseacy5300]

Isa is a class act. Wish he had played for Munster! ;)

[@joseslatter9276]

Great show. In particular, good to have some in depth and informed discussion on Northern Hemisphere rugby. Encore!

[@mikescudder4621]

Being vulnerable is a strength.

[@venskin]

Awesome knowledge Isa had and has. Only pity is that he was screwed out of international rugby. Still, what a career. Bula.

[@baruchhashem49]

One of NZ greatest Ambassadors. He speaks faster then kiwis which is so much better for international audiences. Ireland was good to him. He was a gift to Ireland

[@davidpeters3857]

💯

[@joelhungerford8388]

Speaks at Aussie speed lol. Has he ever spent decent time in Australia because some of his words sound very Australian

[@daithipol]

We have never won a Euro Cup without Isa playing.

[@davidpeters3857]

Love listening to Isa

[@alcoyne3333333333333]

We Leinster dont have a never give up or get cocky winner in our team . I personally don't rate James Lowe. Yes he can do some great things now and then ... But in big games for Leinster he doesn't have that x factor that players like Isa had .

[@rapid1010]

Isa should be a permanent correspondent of the show!

[@indricotherium4802]

La Rochelle did in the final what they've been doing all season - bringing out something extra in the last quarter to win matches. I don't know what it is. Perhaps they are gradually wearing their opponents down in the first sixty.

[@Skyscraper2015]

As a Saffa and a Stormers fan, I will say player rotation needs to be done right. If you have a team goal and you are able to get your players to buy into that goal, then usually it doesn't matter who is playing on the day because all the players will have had a really good game structure. Case in point the Springboks in the 2019 RWC where there were I think 40 odd players going. And over the course of the pool games almost all the players got a taste of about the same amount of game time. As I look at the Stormers for the most part, it seems no matter who is playing you expect the team to play really well because all the players have had similar amounts of game time, they have been backed by good coaches and are somewhat free to play a style they are comfortable with. Top tier teams need to have a team goal that they make that the players are able to buy into. If teams like Leinster have a full team play where people are not like "🙄😒Oh it's just their third string team *yawn yawn*" but rather are as good as the team that played the HC final. If coaches can provide the depth that is often promised but not so often seen then swapping players out for injuries, for international players' rest, for more game time for up and coming players it would hardly make a difference and replacing retired players would be such a smooth transition.

[@LinedanceChristchurch]

Great show as always

[@dulls8475]

It was one point fellows. Try being an England fan....

[@davidpeters3857]

😆

[@djrobson1060]

Not so much a fan of the idea of limiting kicks in play, but I would love to see a limit on penalty shots at goal. Limit a team to say 3 penalty kicks, forcing them to use their kicks strategically. We'd see more kicks to the corner then, leading to more trys.

[@Badmansband]

But then you'll just give away penalties.

[@nicholasvanlierde2546]

forcing a team to kick to the corner... it just means that all that counts is a monster pack. To maul for tries. Leinster could not win the final because they could not rely on their go-to of mauling tries.

[@djrobson1060]

@@nicholasvanlierde2546 set piece is also thing 🙂. Besides dozens of maul trys is better viewing than dozens of shots at goal - and that's coming from a wing 😛

[@Lechedeesnuts]

more kicks to the corners leading to even more mauls than right now

[@numanoid5665]

What a fantastic player Isa was. Myself and my son watched him many nights in the RDS in awe at his skill set. His bravery, his discipline, his knowledge to read the game. He was the full package. We miss him. I hope your keeping well Isa.

[@seamus9750]

ROG the pupil surely now is on a par with the master in Razor

[@PB22559]

Both have yet to do it on the international stage.

[@andrewkelly7799]

ROG should do with Munster and really prove he has something

[@awblax1]

When Brad Webber knocked the ball on before the Chiefs' second try, why was it not a scrum? Why was it a lineout?

[@kenrehill8775]

My lasting memory of the final will be the Leinster/Irish fans booing a seriously injured player who was convulsing after having been KO’d, they also booed Skelton when he was down injured. Not what old school rugby men like me require from modern rugby supporters. There are other sports you can do that in, go there and enjoy, it’s at your low level. The refs in the RWC need to concentrate in irelands constant cheating. Andrew porter needs his own ref to follow him around, there’s barely a moment in any match where he isn’t looking to be offside, dive into the ruck, pull down in the scrum, he’s an Ahole. Josh van de flier is a massive cheat equally. Hopefully the refs are all watching the slo mo vids and are going to ping ireland out at the quarters.

[@mollyoko]

lol, literally the cleanest team in the world. NZ have been cheating for decades.

[@Trajan2401]

Hence why Ireland have been doing so well in recent times rub of the green

[@ojn8819cd]

Agree on the top point and agree to a point on the second particularly re Porter whose been allowed to get away with consistent infringing. However it’s not isolated to Ireland or these two players. Almost all pro players research refs habits and styles of officiating and push the boundaries and that’s part of the skill of a modern professional player.

[@dairet1945]

Sour grapes fellas, firstly the final is attended by fans from all over Europe so you have no clue who was booing. Leinster fans had an allocation of only 3000 tickets. Also I highly doubt anyone was booing an injured player. As for the refereeing, its so tiresome and boring how much people whinge about refs after the match. Leinster and Ireland arent doing well because of favourable refereeing, thats a loser mindset.

[@mickser101]

Oh look another bitter Kiwi. Imagine my shock. Remember when Ireland beat you twice on home soil last year.

[@sambeckingsale2542]

ABs world cup hopes will boil down to 2 key things. The relationship between Foz and Schmidt ( meaning Schmidt has all the room he needs to move ) and the ABs defense, which is rubbish- Joe probably needs to get involved around that area more.

[@mixmastermootree]

he actual said learning's 137 times and it's not even a word yo

[@davidpeters3857]

🛎 end

[@Driver2616]

We need Isa Nacewa back at Leinster…..

[@mikescudder4621]

Why can't the video editor use quality footage, not 360p, and get the sound levels right. The noise of the footage interferes with the podcast and adds nothing.

[@Desi365]

KZbin compression. Awful quality.

[@mikescudder4621]

@@Desi365 The shows quality is fine before they switch over to footage, maybe its to get around rights issues, its always been like this. Just doesn´t seem very professional.

[@mikescudder4621]

Actually the Force footage was fine... go figure.

[@DP-cd5wr]

a 20 kick limit would be interesting to watch.

[@jackinpalmbeach4389]

Can’t believe nobody else wants to have a shoot shag marry opinion for Taylor Curtis , Kirstie Stanway and Taylah Johnson ????

[@Trajan2401]

Should only be the top 4 teams go through not 8

[@k.o.t.h]

Think the brumbies rested their players for the bigger run this week, doesn't really matter much where they sit come quarter finals but if they can beat the favorites this week, they'll have a massive psychological edge heading into the finals.

[@alcoyne3333333333333]

Isa ❤

[@mognut1]

Shaun Stevenson doesn’t get in unless you drop Telea or Clarke.

[@kainoizking]

He gets in because of Reece’s injury.

[@clarke1319]

Not necessarily. Depends on the mix they favour and what players they want covering what positions. Also what players they want in the NZXV that will head to Japan. Reece and Tupaea injured . They may name Fainga'anuku in the centres leave RTS out. Who knows.

[@kainoizking]

@@clarke1319 Fainga’anuku claimed his spot like 6 or 7 rounds ago. Biggest snub of all time if he gets left out and I wouldn’t blame him for leaving and turning his back on the black jersey. Especially if Clarke is selected and Leicester isn’t. Him, Telea and Barrett I have as my back 3. Dmac on the bench to cover 10 and 15, Jordan on the bench to cover any outside back position with Leicester being able to move into centre if needed and obviously a halfback probably Weber. Hopefully Narawa and Shooter make the RC squad to see how they perform. I think it’s obvious RTS has been given the tap on the shoulder that he’s being left out, hence the early call to return to NRL.

[@clarke1319]

@@kainoizking Just to be clear I never said Fainga'anuku hasn't earned a spot however like all players he not without flaw. Seems you have named 7 outside backs there for your squad not including Clarke. So you will carry one less back or one less forward? And come WC time that will need to be whittled down further.

[@kainoizking]

@@clarke1319 no yeah I get you I wasn’t insinuating that you meant he should be left out, just stating my opinion on the matter. As for outside backs I’d take 4 specialists in Tele’a, Jordan, Stevenson and either Narawa or Clarke and Utilities would be Leicester, Barrett and Dmac. Specialist mids would be Barrett, Ioane ALB and Havili. Mo’unga as the specialist 10. Smith, Weber and take your pick of 3rd halfback lol. Not even sure if that’s the right number of backs being selected but it’d be pretty close I assume. Leicester and Barrett would be starting in the outside backs though for me.

[@BonuxCouleur]

I have heard a few Irish media putting the emphasis on the fact Leinster counts fewer foreigners than Stade Rochelais. Now let's see if there is any truth to it and reflect on how it translates into the two respective national teams, Ireland and France. Out of 46 Leinster players, 10 were born abroad: - Vakhtang Abdaladze, Georgia - Michael Ala'alatoa, Australia - Ciaran Frawley, Australia - Jamison Gibson-Park, New Zealand - Jason Jenkis, South Africa - James Lowe, New Zealand - Joe McCarthy, USA - Nick McCarthy, USA - Luke McGrath, Canada - Charlie Ngatai, New Zealand For Ireland, out of 48 internationals, 11 were born abroad: - Bundee Aki Otahuhu, New Zealand - Finlay Bealham Canberra, Australia - Joey Carbery Auckland, New Zealand - Ciaran Frawley Sydney, NSW, Australia - Jamison Gibson-Park Great Barrier Island, New Zealand - Mack Hansen Canberra, Australia - Rob Herring Cape Town, South Africa - James Lowe Nelson, New Zealand - Joe McCarthy Manhattan, NY, USA - Roman Salanoa Lale, HA, USA - Kieran Treadwell Carshalton, England Compare that with France. Out of 41 La Rochelle players, 12 were born abroad: - Martin Alonso Munoz, Spain - Uini Atonio New Zealand - Levani Botia Fiji - Harry Glynn England - Kyle Hatherell South Africa - Tawera Kerr-Barlow New Zealand - Dillyn Leyds South Africa - Raymond Rhule South Africa - Joel Sclavi Argentina - Ulupano Seuteni Samoa/Australia - Will Skelton New Zealand/Australia - Hayden Thompson-Stringer England For France out of 56 internationals, 3 players were born abroad: - Uini Atonio Timaru, New Zealand - Dany Priso Loum, Cameroun - Paul Willemse, Pretoria, South Africa

[@nialldaly9176]

17/23 of the Leinster players from the weekend came through the Leinster academy, while overall 20/23 were Irish qualified. The corresponding figures for La Rochelle at the weekend was 1/23 through the La Rochelle youth system, and 12/23 being French qualified. Leinster largely develop home-grown players, La Rochelle have largely imported a team (from elsewhere in France as well as from overseas).

[@aaronreid116]

We've only a small population genius!..of course we're gonna have more foreign players! The fact we're top of the world rankings is a miracle in itself!

[@harryocallaghan8082]

Frawley, Joe McCarthy, Nick McCarthy, Abdaladze & McGrath were born in other countries but moved back with their irish parents to Ireland when they were 1 & 2 years of age. They were educated & raised in Dublin, Ireland for the vast majority of their lives. They also cane through the Leinster academy so you can’t include them as being ‘foreigners’ whatsoever. They’re 100% irish. You left out Ultan Dillane (Irish) from your list. You also left out Peato Mauvaka born and raised in New Caledonia until the age of 15. Sipili Faletea born and raised in Wallis-Et-Fatuna until the age of 17. And his nephew Yoram Moefana was also born and raised in Wallis-Et-Fatuna until the age of 13.

[@JimmyKip]

@@harryocallaghan8082 I think given the nature of those two places you can't count people born there as "foreign" in the same way. eg New Caledonia I believe you get born with French citizenship.

[@harryocallaghan8082]

@@JimmyKip Of course you can. They’re completely different countries & cultures literally on the other side of the world. If they moved to France just after they were born and had a French relative then yes you could probably say they are French but they didn’t. Faletea didn’t move to France until he was almost 20. And neither of those 3 I mentioned have any French relatives. It’s like saying Finlay Bealham is irish because he had an Irish grandfather yet he himself was born in Australia and didn’t move to Ireland until he was 16 or 17. It’s the same thing. Yes he qualified to represent Ireland through residency but that still doesn’t make him Irish. He’s Australian. Although you could make the point that he is more irish than those 3 guys because he actually has irish blood and those guys don’t. Those fellas I mentioned are not French. They are Pacific Islanders.

[@raf4992]

Too structured and a reliance on 1 player. Irelands Golden Minute has come and Gone. They won't get past the Quarters AGAIN!!!!!!

[@joemoody7440]

😂😂😂🙈 wow leinster lost by one point to a quality team in erc final and now the hole national team, No1 in the world is completely written off?? Good logic there buddy. 7 of those starting for leinster started against France in the 6nations. Leinster is not Ireland .

[@user-dv1nm6ty8d]

@@joemoody7440 this comment shows real lack of rugby intelligence let me quickly go through Ireland’s strongest possible team 1.Andrew Porter(Leinster) 2.Dan Sheehan(Leinster) 3.Tadhg Furlong(Leinster) 4.Tadhg Beirne(Munster) 5.James Ryan(Leinster) 6.Peter o Mahony(Munster) 7.Josh van der Flier(Leinster) 8.Caelan Doris(Leinster) 9.Jamison Gibson-Park(Leinster) 10.Johnny Sexton(Leinster) 11.James Lowe(Leinster) 12.Robbie Henshaw(Leinster) 13.Garry Ringrose(Leinster) 14.Mack Hansen(Connacht) 15.Hugo Keenan(Leinster) 16.Ronan Kelleher(Leinster) 17.Finlay Bealham(Connacht) 18.Cian Healy(Leinster) 19.Ian Henderson(Ultster) 20.Jack Conan(Leinster) 21.Conor Murray(Munster) 22.Jack Crowley(Munster) 23.Bundee Aki(Connacht) 12 of the starting 15 of the 23 yeah Leinster and Ireland Completely different😂 and that is excluding potential players like Jimmy O Brien,Jordan Larmour and Ross Byrne all of which are Leinster please do not try to sound smart you sound stupid

[@joemoody7440]

@@user-dv1nm6ty8d what did I say sounds? stupid just facts you absolute clown! leinster do make up the majority of the Irish squad like crusaders historically in New Zealand doesn't make all blacks completely useless because crusaders had a few bad results this season! Trying to insult me when you haven't a notion about the game is hilarious back to bed!

[@joemoody7440]

@@user-dv1nm6ty8d you trying to pretend there's no difference in the Irish set up and leinster just shows the depths of your ignorance!

[@joemoody7440]

"Golden minute" like the 2018 Golden year or 2022? Atleast we are getting a few Golden minutes nowadays in amongst the top 4 for nearly a decade with minimal playing numbers on a small island not to bad really..

[@mauroger86]

World Cup is around the corner and the typical Irish choke is starting to come up? HAHAHA

[@brianmurray6287]

France will beat nz in the opening game...and don't underestimate the italians nz may not make the quarter's