'They have left themselves open... to not getting the home run!' | WEDNESDAY NIGHT RUGBY

Have Leinster hurt their chances of a home run to the URC final by sending a weakened team down to South Africa? | 🏉
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[@TheKennyboy92]

Wasn't the whole point of bringing in the SA teams to the URC to make it more competitive? You can't have your second beating Blues or Scarlets every weekend now.

[@peadarr]

And it’s working. I don’t remember many even caring about Pro14 regular season matches unless it was Leinster Munster. Is great to have a “domestic” competition that’s worth watching and that everyone is taking seriously. And Leinster are too, they sent a team they thought would win at least one game (and they still might) because that’s all they need.

[@TheKennyboy92]

@@peadarr 100%

[@lawLess-fs1qx]

Keith woods talking sense again. His silence speaks volumes.

[@jmo8934]

It’s the same thing every season because of the setup of the tournaments. You can’t send the first team squad to SA at this stage of the season. The URC knockout games and champions cup knockout games are too close together. It makes winning both tournaments difficult. Very difficult. But Leinster want to win the champions cup more. As we have seen in the past two seasons it leaves you open to finishing up empty handed.

[@Chris-vw8yj]

Another European title is currently much more desirable, being in the best position for that, while still having a chance at the URC as well is worth it.

[@user-yq7tt3ii6h]

This is the third season in a row where Leinster had their South African trip scheduled in the middle of two massive knockout games - the second the schedule for this season was announced, everyone knew it was going to be a B team sent down there...

[@seanofarrell8896]

The urc is not getting a thread here if it was earlier in the season full strength would have happened

[@vuyaniman9440]

Maybe the schedule should be that Leinster need to travel to SA early in the season, we will see if they send a stronger squad.

[@seanofarrell8896]

Urc always put the sa tour for leinster at the latter half of the season

[@vuyaniman9440]

@@seanofarrell8896 , yeah. Why? It feels like we see more of the other Irish teams in Sa than Leinster. We get the pleasure of watching, Bandie Aki, Mark Henson , Tadgh Bairne, Peter O’Mahony, ,,, but never the other Irish internationals …

[@seanofarrell8896]

@vuyaniman9440 I do not know. I feel if it was more near the 1st half of the season it would be different

[@aidanmarten9764]

All the best Keith you will be missed on the podcast I always enjoyed listening to you 👍 🎉🎉😊

[@seanofarrell8896]

I do feel the breaks in the season have impacted the development of the players . Since they dropped the amount of rds and stopped the extra games for younger players it was going to backfire

[@user-rn9co7jc4t]

I better not hear this as an excuse if Ireland lose to SA in July Because there has been countless opportunities for these players to go to South Africa and get their Irish internationals experience in those conditions. Leinster have undermined the URC and can’t wait for the backlash for when they go trophy less again

[@daviiidoff]

First time i agree with rud

[@peadarr]

Leinster might not automatically top the log, is this reason to allow them sign Savea to cover their lack of back row depth? On a different note, Leinster paying 7/1 to win any rugby match is outrageous even if they sent a covid riddled academy squad down to South Africa

[@stephenconnaughton5947]

More Irish media garbage....so many of his points are utter nonsense. Clearly a Leinster B team travelled to South Africa allowing some players some well needed game time and the end of the season. Huge win the previous week and then they're expected to travel on Monday/Tuesday get over jetlag Wed/Thursday have 1 walk through session in altitude and then all magically gel together and put out a performance against a good Lions team who are fully prepared. Leinster have been focusing on Europe since there last Champions cup, back to back finalists shows how close they've got. I don't think another URC trophy is their ambition. To say the Irish players who beat La Rochelle should have travelled for "bonding" reasons has to be the stupidest comment I've ever heard. Lets make them take 2 10/12 hour flights wasting 4 days of travel before a massive semi-final against Northampton is just farcical

[@LarryLoudini]

Fair points - except there’s no jetlag travelling to South Africa from Europe. A 1-3 hour time difference (DST depending) from UTC I get why Leinster heavily rotate, I do - but as a fan, I fear that it (a) breaks our momentum, look at Munster’s run last year and (b) sends out the wrong message to the team, that we’ve Undroppables who don’t need to both with regular season games