Leinster v Toulouse Review - Champions Cup Final 2023/24

[@patrickohara1653]

Despite the disappontment for Leinster - It was an epic battle. Bok fan.

[@gezzarandom]

It was a case of taking scoring chances, Toulouse took theirs, Leinster left points out there. Credit to both teams for producing a classic. Can’t wait to see if these two meet again with Jordie Barrett in the blue of Leinster.

[@gandigooglegandigoogle7202]

Dupont is a legend....what a match ...again !

[@henryhealy]

It's tough to take as a Leinster fan but Toulouse took their oppurtunites and Leinster didn't. They went for touch too many times and in a game that was won by penalties, that's what lost them the game. Sure they could have won it with a drop goal at the end of regulation time but Toulouse missed two penalties too so it was probably evened out. Three consecutive losses and four in six years is tough to take but that being said, congrats to Toulouse. They earned it.

[@vuyaniman9440]

Take the points. It’s a final.😮

[@helixcirdan7320]

Totally agree. Very bad choice and total lack of realism from Leinster

[@naturearoundtheworld2425]

100%

[@tomgreene1843]

Again ...bad decisions .

[@BarryHawk]

Yet again, wtf are Lei doing?

[@zisssssou]

Completly agree. Leinster acted as if they could steamroll Toulouse. They never did. Just stupid bluffing. Congratulations to Toulouse

[@immortal5626]

I feel like Toulouse just managed the game much better. Taking points when it mattered. Managing the cards well. Great game

[@toulcaz31]

Leinster was one drop goal away but Toulouse was one inch away to score two tries.

[@alankennedy3747]

Fine margins.

[@reversedengine]

A couple of extra phases before the first drop goal could've won it. DuPont, Willis fantastic.

[@zarg64]

What a match, it was unbreathable, incredible defense from toulouse, I didn't think it was going to hold up so well against leinster, toulouse made good decisions at the right time unlike leinster, Willis, Dupont, Costes and Kinghorn are incredible!

[@Cpchurch87]

As a Leinster fan, its hard to know what to feel, as i never fully thought we would win today. The last two years were gutting. This one feels different. We have been off all year, and found ourselves in a final. Made a lot of errors, up against a ferocious Toulouse breakdown and yet, if we kicked just one of the many 3 pointers on offer we win. Bit of a reset needed i think, and a change in gameplan for finals. Gutted, but well done Toulouse. Dupont is the best player in the world. Debate over

[@kropotkine9640]

you forget that kicking doesn't always give you 3 points... At the attack level Toulouse was way better than Leinster, they could have scored two more (boot in touch) while Leinster was far from the score line during all the game

[@Cpchurch87]

@kropotkine9640 I guess I'm referring to the 3 instances of very kickable points when we went to the corner. We actually had more entries into the 22, and looked closer to getting a score however we just didn't take our chances and Toulouse defended very well. No complaints from me, but we had plenty of chances to win that game unfortunately. We had more terroritory, beat more defenders, made more carries, more metres. We just came up against an excellent defensive effort and some poor errors on our side

[@Frankabagnale33]

Biased English referee, another Wayne Barnes. Toulouse had a Leinster player in the headlock. No penalty, no yellow or red. Ridiculous.

[@iamnutty8471]

@@kropotkine9640 you usuallydo get the ball back though!

[@tomf1dublin1]

Yes , exactly on all your points raised and yet, Leinster actually had more chances . Very few times were Leinster defending in their 22. A game lost by blunt attack; poor decisions and needless penalties -especially the 2 in second period of extra time. Also, when will Leinster realise that Frawley is best option at 10. He was so assured when he came on . At least this year will still have URC . Shake up required at top in Summer I believe.

[@wolfburner2262]

5:40 Criminal how Lebel doesnt find Ramos inside to score a try

[@Flo-pl5mg]

Not Ramos, it's Roumat but yes, totally agree

[@yveslaffont726]

Absolutly!!! A real professional mistake

[@jangau624]

Criminal, maybe not, but there was a possibility in the field.

[@iansinclair7581]

Looked a good venue. As a neutral I enjoyed that. Got to feel for Leo Cullen! What does that man have to do to win a final. His team never gave up. Toulouse were great at the breakdown. Blinghorn has matured at last, took his kicks pretty well and contributed well to the team effort. Toulouse were the better team.

[@Cpchurch87]

Take our points! Toulouse better, but that game was there for the taking. Turned down at least 9 kickable points. Disappointed, but we go again

[@ICantSplel]

I know he missed it, but so many times down the years, you're watching a team down by 2 scores eating the clock to get a try when there's 2 or 3 mins left. Always made more sense to me to go for a 3 when available and back yourself to do something from a restart.

[@AlisonClarke-no9vl]

Thankyou for the review.. I was there, it’s all a blur, Thibaud (no 4) is family, I’m still in shock! Very very special day.. a la prochaine Leinster 😊

[@TwoCentsRugby]

Must have been a very special experience to be there in person!

[@charlottescott7150]

Wow Alison!! Thibaud is amazing! Skillful, intelligent and athletic. Congratulations!

[@9502937]

That first drop goal had to be made. No pressure and right out in front. EDIT: That being said, it never should have been down to Frawley, and I would wager the drop goal may have never been needed if he had started the game.

[@joemoody7440]

Leinster comeing out in second half of extra time and giving away a string of ridiculous penalties is unbelievable! Just after getting back in teh game and a man advantage to go and theow it away with dump penalties was criminal, Doris had a shocker for one of them really shot themselves in the foot!

[@eoin8156]

They looked mentally done when frawley missed the drop kick

[@joemoody7440]

@@eoin8156 after they got the red and leinster got the try there was only 3 points in it going into the second half of extra time, its fascinating how they imploded in those last 10 minutes with a man advantage and all the momentum! They really need to accept Ross Byrne isn't going to get them a champions cup.

[@joemoody7440]

Not that those last ten minutes where byrnes fault he wasn't on the pitch, but his general game management, kicking running etc isn't going to get you over the line in top tier finals like this.

[@maximus_3111]

It was a crazy game ! 🤯 the level of intensity set by both teams was crazy, however Toulouse was more pragmatic than the Leinster, Dupont stratospheric, Willis how can he not be selected by England ? And the whole team of Toulouse was monstrous. Also congratulations to the Leinster who proposed a real challenge and good luck for URC

[@charlottescott7150]

Absolutely! The rule about not being able to pick players playing overseas for England is a strange one.

[@alankennedy3747]

I agree completely with you. Congrats on the 6th star, well deserved.

[@yveslaffont726]

It is all the more incomprehensible that Willis plays factually in the best club in Europe. Club that allowed him to flourish completely. And less than 2 hours by plane from London...

[@johnryan509]

Well done to Toulouse and commiserations to Leinster (again). Very pleasing to see all the comments on this channel being respectful and focused on the rugby. Some serious vitriol towards Leinster and Irish rugby on some other forums...

[@gregobroin7738]

Crowley may be better than RB but he is no Johnny Sexton. In fairness RB was injured & had to go off. It was a high intensity brutal game.

[@YouTubeMy-kg3ho]

When Irelands attack is going nowhere bundee aki is called up to solve it. Beirne or pom at breakdowns for Ireland. Shows character needed

[@eoinh3816]

Trying to maul over that Toulouse pack is incredibly hard. Leinster have become very good at pick and gos 5m out and just abandoned it today for a maul that got nowhere. I thought Ross Byrne was tragic bar one good crossfield kick for Sheehan

[@Camcolito]

I forgot Ross Byrne was playing.

[@crippenmusungu5774]

It's a final!!! Take the points....How much more should this be said.

[@billparry7058]

Fantastic game of rugby. As an England fan not having Willis to pick is a travesty.

[@AttackTheGasStation1]

Willis is stratospheric.

[@iansinclair7581]

Cast your mind back to the best English 7 for years, Stefon Armitage, wonderful player.

[@Zakerius]

Can’t say I’m not heart broken, nails bitten off. So many missed opportunities and moments that Could have been. Credit to them, it was an incredible defensive effort to shut down every opportunity.

[@jeromelemoine1942]

A bit arrogant from Leinster to reach for a try instead of kicking 3 easy points. It's a final, it must be handled accordingly.

[@UlyssesRyan-Flynn-w8b]

As a Leinster fan, have to see past the disappointment in saying it was hands down, the best final I’ve seen

[@lr7694_]

When Leinster goes up into final, each time its a huge match. Last two against La Rochelle were epic too but extra Time make this one unique

[@lesterwyoung]

Dupont best half-back and best loose-forward!!

[@yveslaffont726]

No sir, french flair :)))

[@jeremielambin8690]

Great game. Great players. But also Hat off to the French coach Mola whose tactics proved decisive against Leinster especially contests in the rucks.

[@renatodomergue3996]

Jerome Kaino ?

[@brandonstclair898]

Overall this was a great advert for rugby. The power game. Scrums was fantastic, ebb and flow of the game, the bone crunching tackles, this was a block buster game.

[@alanfox691]

I personally thought The Challenge Cup Final was a better game both teams more willing to go for try's.

[@austingtir]

This was lame asf. Go watch the midseason game between Crusaders and blues and compare it to this dour crap. These two teams hardly looked like ever scoring a try in 100mins of rugby. And you can tell just by the way that both teams are playing the entire aim of every kick and every backline move is to end up in a milked penalty. The entire game up there designed around penalties. Its garbage.

[@jonathandestandau9466]

@@austingtirgo out and touch some grass. You keep repeating that comment under every KZbin video about the final, if you didn’t like why do you take time to comment below every video about the game. Get a life.

[@michaelmoynihan9591]

​@@austingtir sader,s are shit mate.bottom of the pile kid😂😂 and about superrugby I was at a match at dunedin not so long back.more seagulls turned up than supporters fact.that,s why you and I are here mate.im an aussie kid.wake up kid .take the shit out of your eyes kid.super rugby is dire mate.😂😂😂😂😂

[@michaelmoynihan9591]

​@@austingtir I have been to dunedin recently. More seagulls turned up for match than supporters. Fact .as an aussie mate the kiwis and us aussies are far off this pace.reality is superrugby is dire.like the current saders mate.time to wake up kid.that,s why u and I are here mate?

[@unaagnew6623]

Mark your analysis is the best. The if onlys are tantalising. You make the defeat for a Leinster fan almost bearable. Thank you.

[@thomaseskenazi2013]

Man, staying that late and still make the video just after, that is some dedication =) I honestly thought before the game Leinster would have us with their attack, but Toulouse pulled out a astonishing defence which created any team best enemy, doubt. I think in the end, it is simple as that. The 46 players of that game are excellent players of rugby with various level of experience, sure, but in the end the difference seemed to have been mainly in the heads and not prominently on the rugby skills.

[@jeramy576]

Early morning for you but you're looking as fresh as a daisy though Mark.

[@warreng4438]

Leinster lacked accuracy during key try scoring opportunities, speeding the attack when they should have kept knocking on the door... I suppose as the breakdown was their achilles avoiding it was the idea but it just kept Toulouse too close for comfort I really thought they'd schneak it in the second half of extra time...that was a very memorable final, tense, both sets of players gave it all.

[@OlivierLebo-n3h]

I admire your dedication Mark. I would't be able to do such a good job at night. Anyway, bravo Toulouse with the 6th star, and sorry for Leinster : 3 finals lost in a row... Thank u both team for the spectacle.

[@conansfries]

Just back in Dublin from this and yeah take your points lads don't over complicate it stop trying to be fancy. With all that possession and nothing to show for it. Well done toulouse well deserved.

[@glennmcmurray]

As an Irish (Ulster) fan I can't help but think this seems like a replay of a few Irish games in the world cup - especially the South Africa game. There seems to be a tactic throughout the provinces to go for the corner instead of taking the three points. When it works it's great but all too often the game ends with 'what if we took our kicks?'.

[@at7512]

Irish rugby don't seem to understand the concept of applying scoreboard pressure in knockout rugby..

[@ytevysbhtb]

Leinster wanted to go to touch when they had penalties, instead of going for the points. That's one of their main mistakes. Lack of realism. While on the other side, Toulouse were extremly realistic and were always taking points when they had a chance, in a final, it's litteraly all you have to do.

[@unleashedmystery]

Leinster fan here, Toulouse deserve it. I do wish we could have seen why Lowes try was not allowed. Is what it is.

[@brandonstclair898]

Infringement prior to the try. It was clear and obvious

[@joemoody7440]

​@@brandonstclair898 what "infringement" are you referring to, that's very vague they didn't show any reply to why it was called back for the penalty!

[@brandonstclair898]

@@joemoody7440 go watch the replay buddy.

[@ytevysbhtb]

Because the ref whistled before the try. If you don't follow ref's decisions, you don't get anything. Simple and clear.

[@joemoody7440]

@@brandonstclair898 so you can't actually explain anything because you didn't see anything because your just talking out your arse! Thanks i assumed as much!

[@cecemcf5309]

Merci toulouse je n'osais pas y croire vous l'avez fait merciiiiii

[@GQ-df2li]

Shocking leadership from the bench.

[@Mojo-IRE]

Would love to hear from some of those regulars on rugby YT Channels who said Ross was better than Crowley these past couple of years. Looking real clever again ye.

[@MattJacquet]

French rugby is the opposite of French soccer. Winning almost everything at clubs level but never won a World Cup.

[@brunolebris6264]

Ils ont été volé plusieurs fois monsieur

[@alanfox691]

I agree but French club football ued to be much stronger from the 50's up to about 2012 then it has went down hill but that is due to a lot of reason but the main reason is they signed a T.V contract & the company ran in to financial problems & Amazon Prime had to step in with a deal for a fraction of the price but it was ether that or no T.V Coverage at all. And in comparison The Top 14 keep getting bigger & bigger T.V rights packages from Cannal + & in France, that is is like s deal with Fox in Australia or Sky in NZ or The U.K it's a hell of a lot of money. Top 14 crowds are on the up & up aswell & so are viewing figures.

[@OlivierLebo-n3h]

It's like the football premiership. But it weakens the national team, just like England so far.

[@townsley2]

With fair referring France would have won the World Cup several times already though

[@yc6018]

@@brunolebris6264 les erreurs d’arbitrage font partie intégrante du sport, le caractère de champion réside dans la persévérance et le travail et non dans la recherche d’excuse ou de bouc émissaire.

[@neilmontgomery3470]

Toulouse absolutely deserved it. Not too disappointed though I always thought it was a 50/50 game.

[@hardouindelagrandiere8446]

Was persuaded the Irish were to win that one. Arnold's red card was for me the nail in the coffin. It was a rollercoster of à game. Huge respect to Leinsteir for they gave us Hell (with a capital H)

[@Kenny-zn6dl]

Time for Cullen to go, seems that everyone else is replaceable except him, 3 finals in 3 years and 3 defeats, Don't think any other club or regional team would put up with that record, conan is the best rugby player in Ireland and he doesn't play him from start and kelleher is the most overrated player in leinster, he offers little or nothing, looks like another winless season.

[@brandonstclair898]

Leo must win URC…I’m not sure what normal club will allow a coach to stay on after so many failures in finals.

[@Mako-V]

Needs SA, Kiwi or English coach. iwish coaches no good

[@Kenny-zn6dl]

@MMako13 unfortunately it was most likely the SA "defensive genius " that cost leinster today, conan and jvf on the bench god heaven help us, you reap what you sow!!

[@highseastrader4190]

Clermont also lost three consecutive French championship finals in 2007, 08 and 09. If it can send you hope, they finally won in 2010 🙂

[@iansinclair7581]

Get a grip. I hated Leo as an opposition player because he did anything and everything to help his team win. Any other team in the URC would love to have Leinster’s track record.

[@iainbeattie2970]

As you say -always take points on offer-

[@brandonstclair898]

Dupont! This guy showed his true class. Made JGP look average. What a player, big match temperament, Toulouse showed their power game, took every opportunity at goal (Leinster take note). This game was epic!

[@eoin8156]

Ridiculous comment, jgp was amazing. The Leinster backline were shocking which is what made the difference, Lowe and Osbourne both backed down from the offload to jgp to score under the post . Henshaw and Osbourne were shocking as was Keenan . Larmour was the only good outside back .

[@brandonstclair898]

Strange why he’s so seldom mentioned. Amazingly he was just a scrummy doing his job. Nothing spectacular. Make no mistake he is class. Today he was overshadowed by a great!

[@creekyknee]

I'm sure if the Leicester manager is reading this, he will take note.

[@Camcolito]

@@eoin8156 Lowe had a bit of a nightmare.

[@Camcolito]

JGP was outstanding today. Dupont is just freakishly good but JGP probably the best player in a Leinster shirt so unfair comment.

[@peteredwards62]

Leinster need an out half Ross Byrne is not good enough, for Ireland we have Crowley who replaced Sexton Byrne made no impression today no line breaks no creation, we also sadly missed Ringrose at centre same old same old no leader in the team same old story .

[@iansinclair7581]

Post Sexton anyone filling the 10 shirt was going to have a hard time. Never mind Crawley but to give the guy some credit he did have a go to win it. If you don’t try you don’t win. As a URC person perhaps young Prendergast might be the long term future for Leinster.

[@YOYOTh1s]

I wonder if Leinster should give their top players more game time in the URC. It's been 3 years running we're they rest their top players for more than one round and it doesn't help them in the EPCR, and the previous two seasons they haven't even made the URC final either. If the third time isn't the charm, then maybe they should reevaluate this idea.

[@brandonstclair898]

Leinster the favourites again not getting the job done! They have the players but I sense mentally they just don’t have the capacity to pull it through. One more chance for URC, if they don’t win a comp this year this season is a failure, they have no excuse. Well done Toulouse!!!

[@olivierarnaud-freaud6369]

Leinster don’t have all the best players against Toulouse. They have the advantage of being also 80% of the Ireland national team, which is almost unfair.

[@eoin8156]

Leinster bottled the last two finals but today they were not favourites.

[@brandonstclair898]

This Leinster does not have any excuse. For me they can beat any team in the world. It’s harsh but true…especially if you are talked about before the game of how technically astute almost flawless rugby that they are playing. The moment in that first 20min got the better of them. They came back nicely.

[@Camcolito]

​@@olivierarnaud-freaud6369 It's not unfair at all, almost all Leinster's players are from Leinster. It's not their fault the province way overperforms compared to the population.

[@polo-cx3ze]

For me it's the game management that is lacking. A final is different and Leinster do the same as usual. They don't take always the point. Toulouse do. And Toulouse won their 9th final in a row because they know how to win final unlike Leinster

[@MoonHoax-md6mp]

Leinster were arrogant for going for touch on 5 occasions instead going for the posts against a very good defence in a final is plain stupid and arrogant.

[@naturearoundtheworld2425]

I couldn’t agree more 👍🏼!

[@eoin8156]

I wouldn’t say it was arrogance,more so that Byrne showed he was an extremely dodgy kicker vs Northampton and they didn’t trust him to make those kicks yesterday. He left 12 points on the pitch vs Northampton.

[@rooftile883]

As a neutral, it seems Leinster lacks game breakers.

[@Kevin-lf4xx]

Cup rugby is about managing the scoreboard so you take every point on offer.

[@davidcuxac]

Why didn't they do this? why didn't they do that? I think Leo Cullen and the guys didn't expect to find toulouse defense that high. They probably thought that they are going to steamroll Toulouse as they used to do with the other teams during the year. Congrats to Toulouse for wining the "fighting spirit challenge"!!! I also notice that nobody talks about Ugo Mola tactic. Yes, Toulouse has amazing players in his squad. But what about the manager? Whe can say that U. Mola literally blew up L. Cullen's tactic. How could you win a game when the opponent has better tactic and that fighting spirit??? I won't talk about the two "so shortly" missed tries from Toulouse. It's a luck that Leinster didn't come back home with more points in his luggage!!!

[@Michdes]

Congratulations to the Leinster fans...your sportiness and your fantastic team deserve others champions cup ... As a french fan, i hope success for you... don't worry,you will win again.

[@gregobroin7738]

Leinster 😅 - Well done Toulouse deserved win but only a hair between the teams. Genuinely thought yellow was very harsh. Genuinely felt it was a genuine attempt to catch a high ball (only a knock on)- this was game changer. Overall was poor - never blew many ST players not rolling away to slow Leinster ball. Also a few forward passes & offsides (Touch judges were spectators!). Pleased to see Leinster dominate the scrum battle but they struggled to make line breaks with epic defensive effort. DuPont the difference. We’ll be back next year! With all comments about kicking points, who wants to see rugby won by penalties with no tries? For all the plaudits Toulouse hadn’t the same courage to run at Leinster. Final thought there was a lot of time wasting to slow game momentum in extra time from Les Invalides. A bit of soccer tactics there! Toulouse deserved it but by a very fine margin.

[@karl5599]

Horribly disappointing. Leinster need to kick to the posts and not throw away almost every single Try scoring opportunity

[@brandonstclair898]

Finals rugby is different. Leinster somehow just keep on doing the same every year.

[@YouTubeMy-kg3ho]

They just bottled it again. All the characters come from other provinces like pom

[@monsieurwolf6122]

100%. It's no coincidence that this team has most of the Irish squad, they can't win knock-out games by scoring 5+ tries a game. The best teams like SA always take the points when presented, they will always underachieve until that changes for both Ireland and Leinster when it comes to knock-out rugby.

[@tristanmckenzie1623]

Yep Leinster seem to be a good round Robin team, quarter final, semi but they seem to go missing in the crunch stages of the grand final. Something about Irish rugby and Knock out tournament rugby. This comp is a designed a bit like the rugby world cup. Defenses becomes harder to Crack and kicks at goal are important. Too many times Leinster kept going for the corner and coming away with nothing. Toulouse went for the posts every time and it just kept Leinster behind most of the match.

[@dermotsheehan6331]

Nice review, good analysis

[@marco-dn7kd]

Toulouse had to fight hard with the Quins scoring several tries (the same happened in their last Top 14 games but with a very different team) and very few would have expected Toulouse defence at such a high level vs Leinster. And they do not have hired a Nienaber though... That was probably the key of the game. And of course Sexton would have not missed a last minute drop goal. When Frawley kicked it I suddenly remembered Sexton beating France in Paris in 2021 thanks to his 45 meters drop goal in dead time after 41 phases

[@conchronic]

Leinster s continued failure not good for Irish national team as can't get the big game win and that's so psychologically damaging. Ireland needs to have less dependance on Leinster maybe give Ireland more mental resilience especially if one of the other provinces win URC players should be brought in

[@eoin8156]

Maybe you losers in Munster produce a test quality player in the last 15 years and we’d be somewhere ? Pom and Murray debuted in 2010 and nothing since apart from Crowley

[@conchronic]

@@eoin8156 when it comes to losing finals Leinster are the experts in last 4 years whereas Munster won the last final they were in .

[@antonphelan964]

Let's make it all about Munster

[@conchronic]

@@antonphelan964 be a change from all about Leinster but seriously when a team repeatedly fails in crunch matches can't build a national team around that nearly exclusively

[@eoin8156]

@@conchronicremind me what have Munster done in Europe in the last 15 years ?

[@onlookervb]

Incredible game , one of those where I don't think either side could have argued with any result both had they're chances and in the end toulouse got it done, feel bad for the leinster players 3 incredible games and three tough loses but at a certain point your not just unlucky there's something too the narrative... I really wish there wasn't as an Irish fan (not leinster but as long as they're not playing connacht I'll cheer them on) but at a certain point you are what your record says you are and they're record says they're nearly men

[@amantedellopera1681]

Can only blame management,same old same old leo and co.thought we looked under cooked,byrne kicks points and nothing more on at least 3 occassions he had easy kicks to touch that should have made 5 meter line,instead we were mauling from the 22,he sits back in pocket and shovels the ball on.we spent much of game getting turned over twice by 5ft 5 dupont because we were not protecting the ball.our attack has gone backwards since lancaster left and lets face it toulouse scored 2 trys that we were lucky enough to have foot in touch.3 finals in a row,its not really good enough,and now because leo put out weak teams right up to ulster game,we face prospect of away quarter in soth africa,sounds like last year all over again,

[@alcoyne3333333333333]

100% agree 👍 leinster fan here actually expect us to lose URC again Also 🙄. Get ROG in

[@rahimoneill7294]

Toulouse work at the breakdown was only amplified by the fact that when JGP passed the ball, Toulouse could just target the 2nd and 3rd receivers...they KNEW Ross Byrne was going to do nothing with it. Toulouse defence looked better than it was because they were competing against -1 player out wide. It's been obvious all season - Leinster's attack is static with a static out half. Despite that, Leinster had the game won on 78 mins...but the player that was given the drop chance, directly in front of the posts, isn't an out half and isn't given any chance to be one.

[@InsanelyIrish]

As a Munster fan the better team lost and yet Leinster fully deserved that lose. Leinster have such a weak mentality it's shameful. Toulouse got lucky with some calls, but how about that defence and physicality from a team known for great attack. In about 50 years kids are not going to believe Dupont is real, 2 50 22s 4 turnovers on top? What is he!?

[@Camcolito]

It was crazy, like every big kick from hand was either a 50 22 or landing right on the touchline. He's a machine.

[@ChristopherRensburg]

It looked like Toulouse flooding the ruck had a big influence on the game in that Leinster couldn't get in a rhythm. The ref seemed to let Toulouse get away with a lot at ruck time, but when the ball got slow it also showed Leinster don't have the big ball carriers to get over the advantage line with less than ideal ball. The back three might be good finishers when their systems based attack is clicking, but its seems they can't spark individually and break a game open when needed. Feel sorry for Andrew Porter. He was immense.

[@patanouketgersiflet9486]

@InsanelyIrish according to some sourpusses, he's overrated

[@alcoyne3333333333333]

Munster would have won that game . Its mentality 👏

[@patanouketgersiflet9486]

@@alcoyne3333333333333 Except Munster didn't reach the quarter finals. Never mind the final

[@liamK1916]

A sad Leinster fan here. Can't deal with rugby for a while. So so close, so often. When will we win something 😞

[@bonjourchezvous9372]

Lorsqu’on perd un match après avoir préféré l’attaque aux tirs au but, on peut bien sûr en être peiné mais on ne mérite pas les critiques que l’on peut lire ici ou là et l’on peut sortir la tête haute et sans honte. J’ai toujours pensé qu’une compétition devrait également tenir compte des intentions des participants. Au Moyen-Âge, les chevaliers qui étaient déclarés vainqueurs des tournois n’étaient pas toujours ceux qui désarçonnaient leurs adversaires mais ceux qui exécutaient les plus belles figures. Sans l’art, le sport n’est qu’un combat de chiens. Le vrai fair-play est là, et « Honni soit qui mal y pense »

[@revenant2979]

Quite an amasing club final.(European). The venue was packed and a massive atmosphere. Toulouse played finals rugby taking points when they needed to. I can truely say that this rugby match overshadowed the FA Cup Final in football that was on at the same time. Du Pont is a genius and I really hope that a South African team can make it some day. The Top14 must be now the best rugby league in the world. Like Superrugby in the 2000s and early 10s when every team played each other. Congratulations Toulouse🔴⚫️...🇫🇷🏉 from 🇿🇦🏉

[@TwoCentsRugby]

Yeah the clash with the FA Cup seems really like bad planning.... Sure you'll get the rugby die hard fans watching - but miss out on a bunch of less hardcore people

[@guillaumegayot807]

Both teams fought tooth and nail. What a monstrous performance by all players. The game had an ebb and flow, with each team having a decent "in control" spell. It's one of the first games I've watched where the point-scoring via penalties was well-deserved to let the bodies rest without breaking the match's momentum. Well fought, Leinster, and congrats, Toulouse, for the new star on your shirt! Richie Arnold should leave Toulouse. Too many cards for this guy in the last couple of seasons proving detrimental to ST.

[@kookvision9295]

What is in the water in ballsbridge? For club and country these guys dominate in league format and then stumble in knock outs.

[@patrickcoote8441]

Class game, great achievement for Leinster getting to another final and be consistently one of the best European teams but they will need to push all areas to get it done as there is something missing. I think Connacht and Leinster coaching set ups have not performed and have inhibited performances rather than enhanced. Can Leinster get to a URC final? Will Toulouse compete a double? Rugby is in a great place.

[@RockinDaTrax]

What is this obsession with Leinster/Ireland to go for the corner when 3 points is on offer? It's finals rugby, you win the penalty and take the points. The Sharks dominated up front but when they were in kickable distance they took the points. It was perfection finals rugby. You're not gonna steamroll a team like Toulouse. Is it a captaining or coaching issue? If they were directed by the coaches then the coaches need to go.

[@eoin8156]

As a Leinster fan I am not that disappointed with yesterday. We have been a bit off in Europe all year and looked very dodgy in our last two knockout games. Unlike 2022 and 2023 where we were amazing and threw away the final . I Don’t think either team played particularly well . Ntamack and Byrne in particular were mistake riddled. Dupont just gave Toulouse a bit of magic to drag them over the line with his pressure kicking 50/22s. Both packs had their moments but the Leinster outside backs made far too many unforced errors when there was clear overlaps our wide and they weren’t under any particular defensive pressure those times either …

[@Camcolito]

Well done Toulouse, never in doubt. The real question is, who is going to beat us in the final next year?

[@aonghus3860]

Wouldn't agree that Frawley had "all the time in the world" for the first drop goal. It was a good way out and with not a lot of time to set up. Imo Leinster rushed it there, which was characteristic of their attack all day, and they should have taken a few more phases there to try get him closer to goal or to try force a penalty

[@TwoCentsRugby]

Yeah they could have got him closer I reckon, but I think that's kick he needs to be getting - seen plenty kicked from further/worse angles/under more pressure. He had that knock not long before though which might have must have affected him to some degree aye

[@mjomalley]

There is an Elephant in the room however ...or should I say at the breakdown?

[@SweptDust5340]

We need to make a new Jack Willis law in English Rugby that says he can play for us no matter what

[@alaintailheuret2088]

The battle was fantastic...and you need to be 2 to offer such level of rugby...rugby is the best sport on earth

[@finlaybingham]

Very sad Leinster fan feel like we just need a reliable 10 , can we also just acknowledge how good jordan larmour was

[@alcoyne3333333333333]

14 other players there also 😢 yes need a better 10 but lots of teams win with average 10s .

[@n-tertainmentx-tended4760]

The NRL really pales in comparison.

[@jeanbastien-thiry2869]

Can I ask what is the meaning of a breakdown in this context ? There are just too many translations in french for me to understand it well

[@olivierarnaud-freaud6369]

Tactically, Leinster are the best. But Toulouse plays the beautiful game. Today, the beautiful game wins, and that’s a good thing :-)

[@eoin8156]

Stupid comment , last 3 times we played Leinster played amazing rugby and smashed Toulouse .

[@YouTubeMy-kg3ho]

Beautiful Toulouse v robots

[@Camcolito]

Bizarre comment given Toulouse kicked and mauled their way to the win. Not much beautiful flair in that game.

[@olivierdunand7548]

​@@eoin8156facile de gagner à la maison et pour la finale à la maison ...et ben perdue ...😢 c'est bête

[@kropotkine9640]

this game proves that they aren't the best tactically

[@christopherkerzel2165]

I picked Leinster before the match started - In my opinion, Toulouse won on 22 key positions number 9 (JGP isn't a patch on AD) and the kicking...

[@christopherkerzel2165]

Sorry meant 2, not 22.

[@MeiA-h9r]

Leinster deserved to lose Uhm if you watch rugby finals or big games. They are won on amazing defense and kicking your penalties over the poles Not kicking for the corner and backing your attack Leinster arrogance was their downfall

[@MoonHoax-md6mp]

Leinster were arrogant by opting for touch instead of going for the posts which cost them the game.

[@wouterswanepoel5753]

Can't say I'm disappointed. In other words, I'm delighted! As a Saffer I'm not too keen on the Irish teams after their national side's rather hilarious insistence around RWC that they are the best team in the world! 😂 Nevertheless, it certainly was an epic match! Hats off to both (excellent) sides for the wonderful entertainment! In a tight match like this it's always a pity that there has to be a loser, but rugby won ... again! Oh, and to my Irish friends: my initial comments were merely (healthy) banter mates! Best wishes to all rugby fans across the world! Cheers from Safferland. 🇿🇦

[@kobusdutoitbosman6240]

Take the points and build slowly, relentlessly but SURELY‼️‼️ Dammit Boyz, its a FCKNG FINAL after all Anyway, not sure what Jacques N is going to say or why he did’nt lead as should or his C Team❓ So now Toul is on top It should’ve / could’ve been otherwise The Game was fully contested though Not exciting with tries being MIA‼️⁉️ Good luck nxt time • That drop goal should’ve been right on the money ~ there was enough space and time And later, yellow for del knock on James…❓ Turnovers? Tackles ? We learn through pain only way… Have fun in pain‼️🍻🥂 👊🔥 🪖

[@MoonHoax-md6mp]

Leinster play and are trained to play robotic rugby. With all their possession and territorial advantage they struggle to score tries. Ireland will struggle against the Boks in July.

[@Horsemam3190]

Explain what you mean by robotic rugby? If Leinster had been MORE robotic, they would have taken their penalty shots and learned from previous mistakes. They lost the URC semifinal to Munster last season, and they lost to Ulster a few weeks ago, because of turning their noses up at kicked scores.

[@jameslynskey496]

Should have won it with the drop goal at the end we need a number 10

[@Camcolito]

It was far out, not Frawley's fault, tough kick. I would have preferred him on from the start instead of Ross Byrne.

[@kropotkine9640]

The two Toulouse tries denied where far closer to score than the drop goal

[@jameslynskey496]

What I mean is that it was a moment right at the end of the game that could off won it,there has been many games in rugby history that have been won by drop goals by great players. It was a massive effort from both teams in 80min to keep it tryless but when it came to 2nd half of extra time toulouse work hard to get their chances and punish leinster they are a great team and worthy champions I'm heartbroken again we will keep going and try again

[@rabbitss11]

Leinster are a reflection of their national team in a way, looking like they could beat anyone for the whole season only to crash at the most vital moment

[@stephaneconstant7661]

Might need to wear the right jersey shirt…6 stars mate!!!

[@kropotkine9640]

The better team won... And for those who were thinking that JGP is on the same level as Dupont, this proves that you're delusionals ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[@Natedawg38]

I give him another year. Its only a matter of time.

[@kropotkine9640]

@@Natedawg38 Or perhaps next year there'll be another French win

[@neilmontgomery3470]

This game was always going to be a coin toss between two fairly well matched teams who are streets ahead of the European chasing pack and probably the club teams in the southern hemisphere too. They could easily contest the next three or four Champions Cups. I did think Leinster in general were a little bit off this year. I was making excuses about their blunt attack compared to previous years. But it has to be acknowledged now and worked on. Their defense is excellent but it probably has lead to a decline in attack. The challenge for the years ahead is getting the balance right. New signings and coaches hopefully will freshen things up. Gloomy clouds prevail at present but the future is bright.

[@michaelmccarthy9411]

No comment on Lowe's disallowed, or ignored, try?

[@myfootiefriend1267]

Thanks for the analysis. Would love your view on the Sheahan break at 28.20. Kinghorn tackles and after hitting the ground sees DuPont is still not back so reaches an arm from the floor and puts his hands across the ball so Sheahan can’t pop it to Osbourne. Sheahan has to roll infield and Osbourne has to hurdle Kinghorn to get to the ruck but DuPont gets rewarded for getting to the ball first. I thought it was mad to reward the defence like this after a 60 yard line break. Maybe I don’t understand the rules well enough but would that not be a penalty try and yellow card for Kinghorn?

[@charlottescott7150]

Thanks Mark - did you manage to sleep after the Blues v crusaders game?. Hope to see extended highlights soon. I wonder why Leinster didnt kick the penalties?

[@TwoCentsRugby]

I did have a brief sleep! And likewise I'm still wondering that myself!

[@yannvilleminot-ss4bw]

As a French and a Toulousain, I'm glad Sexton is not there any more to punish us with a drop

[@joemoody7440]

Leinsters inability to accept Ross Byrne is not a top quality our half needed to win a European Cup is the main reason they keep coming up short in these finals

[@yannvilleminot-ss4bw]

Yes, maybe Jordie Barrett will be good enough next year 😅😅

[@poo2764]

Well done Toulouse, deserved the game. Leinster should have taken penalty kicks? There support ply not good, the breakdown was well fought for by Toulouse, Leinster not protecting the ball. Poor decision in general, sometime going like a bull in a china shop at opposition instead of passing the ball. The drop goal could have won the game fine margins. But what's another year,☘☘☘☘☘☘☘Eire go Bragh.

[@dannymac1793]

irish Rugby has a problem with scoring quick fire backline trys against top class teams, their trys have to be multi phase, bish bash 5 metres out, or mauled over its hardwork more imagination is needed

[@danielmallon6607]

Great game.But Leinster never got going

[@hervemurgale8098]

Vocabulary question from a French guy: are "breakdown" and "ruck" synonymous in English ? If not, what's the difference ?

[@MrBreakingBud]

BREAKDOWN c'est quand tu gagnes le RUCK

[@hervemurgale8098]

@@MrBreakingBud Merci 🙂

[@jonathandestandau9466]

Breakdown The breakdown is a colloquial term for the short period of open play immediately after a tackle and before and during the ensuing ruck. During this time teams compete for possession of the ball, initially with their hands and then using feet in the ruck. Most referees will call "ruck" or "hands away" as soon as the ruck is formed. Most infringements take place at the breakdown, owing to the greater variety of possible offences at a breakdown, for example handling in the ruck, killing the ball, offside at the ruck, and so on. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossary_of_rugby_union_terms#:~:text=The%20breakdown%20is%20a%20colloquial,using%20feet%20in%20the%20ruck.

[@eamonnoneill1340]

Thought Leinster were very poor at the breakdown with Toulouse getting 17 turnovers you have no chance of winning if you let the opposition do this to your ball

[@peterm..6981]

..Leinster-rugby once renowned-attack, fluid-attacks, slick-attacks, relentless-attacks ..Is No More.. ..This happens when too much Imput-Into-mind-psyche Is Defensive--Moded ..the balance is lossed and one or the other starts to weaken.. Leinster-rugby need suitable and well-ajusted-coaches with some personel changes .. ______________________________________