Where did it go wrong for Leinster? | Alan Quinlan

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[@MattConnolly-wi8oh]

The Doris penalty was a complete 'brainfart' moment at a key time. Also has to be said Frawley looked far more comfortable on that big stage than Byrne (again).

[@PB22559]

Leinsters back line is average atm. No x factor players. And the Leinster forwards weren't cohesive at any stage of the game. I think resting the players in the build up over the last few weeks was a mistake, they didn't learn anything from last year. Looks like they weren't battle hardened enough which led to poor decision making at crucial times.

[@tomf1dublin1]

Doris penalty and then the Cian Healy turnover when he was isolated. Absolutely , cannot understand why a natural 10 like Frawley is a bit player . IRFU then allowing Ulster to take an Irish qualified 10 from NZ when Frawley is languishing in Leinster . Makes no sense .

[@one_eyed_odin]

​@@Hometruths29 ya he's a great servant to the province but time is up for Leo I feel

[@seamusennis9743]

Byrne hasn’t got the stomach for it

[@jadenphilander8799]

​@@PB22559You never had x factor backline playerd in recent years. The only one in Ireland right now is Bundee Aki..thats it. But James Lowe has no flair, poor footwork and he always loses a one on one. In fact, none of the Leinster players are individually word class, they are system players coached to play in a world class system...you could easily see this when they were on the backfoot...no individual player created a moment to win the game for the team. Look at the Springboks world cup campaign. The quaters were won by Kwagga and Eben at the end of the game, the semi-final was won by Ox, Pollard and Snyman. The final was won by kwagga, faf, Pollard and PSDT...there are no players that can create something out of nothing that can win you a knockout game. You have no world class players.

[@peterconroy5087]

My son and I were at the game. Disappointing result, but we feared that all year with Cullen persisting with Ross Byrne at outhalf. Anway, we go to meet Andy Dunne up in the South Kop and had a selfie with him. He was equally friendly in-person as he is on OTB. Top commentator; top man!!!

[@eoinh3816]

Leinster fans don’t realise it but they have a generation of world class players that can’t win a trophy because of a weird love affair between their head coach (who isn’t actually a coach) and an AIL level 10. The difference Frawley made when he came on was night and day. Cullen has to go and Leinster fans should demand it

[@MegaTkls]

Do you mean the physio?

[@darraghtormey1500]

I absolutely couldn't agree with you more. I have been calling for his head since 2020. He has infected the team with self doubt, indecisiveness and an "ah sure, lookit lads we tried our best and it wasn't to be" attitude. I now have genuine concerns over the psychological frame of mind of this Leinster (and by extension, Irish) squad.

[@kobuslouw9533]

You mean world cup winning coach? Wake up buddy

[@niallsheehan474]

Not impressed with him playing VDF off the bench

[@carthy29]

100% agreed, i have been saying it with years now, i cant believe he is still there

[@Kevin-lf4xx]

Will they ever learn that resting their first team doesn’t work, playing the first team in only one game in five weeks is a joke.

[@naturearoundtheworld2425]

+ they need in the future to kick their penalties! How stubborn are they to always go for the corner 😖😖!

[@pascalpibouleau2265]

Good point. You don’t play a final as other games. In Toulouse, we are use to say you don’t playa final, you win it !

[@ericsicard910]

Toulouse also rested their team a lot this year but throughout the whole season. The last game almost the complete first team was rested (yet Toulouse won).

[@naturearoundtheworld2425]

@@luther-pd5uytoo easy to always blame it on the coaches! The guys on the pitch also need to take the right decisions! In my humble opinion.

[@jadenphilander8799]

​@@naturearoundtheworld2425Irish arrogance

[@joemoody7440]

When will they accept Byrne just isn't the man that will lead them to a European cup! Its insane

[@germinallajaunie5085]

Daniel Herrero in the back ground...

[@thierrybo6304]

Ah oui

[@barry2924]

Toulouse kicked there pens at the start and built points, leinster went to corner and kept butchering opportunities

[@danedwadd62]

The kicks to the corner was so bad also

[@Etienne8841]

Leinster now lost 4 of their last 6 games

[@peadarr]

The Leinster attack has disappeared this year ( although got better with Frawley taking on defenders and keeping them honest in a way Byrne just didn’t). I don’t know if it’s Nienaber or just teams figuring them out, but Munster seem to be showing that short passing game still works (admittedly against weaker opposition than Toulouse)

[@jadenphilander8799]

Nah..You just became predictable..Your repetitive systematic backline moves got found out. You cant blame Nienaber for the bottle mentality that your players have. There are no individual world class players in this Leinster team that can win you a game by creating something out of nothing. When you are on the backfoot, you choke. You cant rely on training ground moves to carry you, you need to have players who cna win you the game when you are on the back foot.

[@peadarr]

@@jadenphilander8799 what do you mean “you”? I wasnt playing, and I’m from cork

[@jadenphilander8799]

@@peadarr Maybe I speakbdifferebtoy because i am south african...you means your team, not you personally.

[@peadarr]

@@jadenphilander8799 they’re not my team either

[@jadenphilander8799]

@@peadarr Ok then the "Leinster" attack.

[@unaagnew6623]

Leinster ! despite your loss you are still a great team, don’t beat yourselves up, no other team in Europe can match you in so many ways. some day you’ll have that killer instinct that gets you over the line. It was there today to some extent but Toulouse just did it better. I’m so sorry for your loss. Well done Leo on being gracious in defeat. That was tough.

[@estevezcollins]

I think there is a team in Europe than can match Leinster actually, Toulouse… 😄

[@patrickkelly4506]

@@estevezcollinsOne out of the last five games. When sexton was there you were getting bullied and that attempt a drop goal could of won the game. So let’s be honest your not that funny

[@estevezcollins]

@@patrickkelly4506 Let’s be honest Patrick, you keep talking about Sexton who didn’t help Leinster win anything in his last 2 years while at his peak. Don’t make those grapes more sour than they need to be 🍇

[@patrickkelly4506]

@@estevezcollins 36 or 37 at his peak you spanner. He beat Toulouse by big scores and it has nothing to do with players in Leinster. It’s down to managemen. Now stick them grapes were the sun don’t shine…

[@estevezcollins]

@@patrickkelly4506 😆 I was under the impression there was much rejoicing that Sexton was having a purple path before he retired. Potentially he could have been central to bringing Ireland to their best result ever at the World Cup. I’m surprised to hear you think he was over the hill! I didn’t know you thought management was the weak spot for Leinster. The double World Cup winning coach? 😆

[@tomgreene1843]

Leinster are not the Dubs of Irish rugby they are more like Mayo ....often almost there but not quite ?

[@brendandevoy8178]

Apart from 4 times when they won it . Clown 😂

[@peadarr]

@@brendandevoy8178to be fair Mayo have won 3 All Irelands

[@gerardodwyer5908]

​@@brendandevoy8178Ah the so sweet memories of victory, alas fadó fadó.

[@tomgreene1843]

@@brendandevoy8178 Who is ''they'

[@PaddleWithPaddy]

Arrogant display yet again. Take your points when on offer.

[@chunchun863]

Had Dupont stuck to 7s for the remainder of the season, Leinster would be Champions now. Great spectacle of a game though and we'll done to Toulouse, it's always hard to lose against them😢

[@riverwolf654]

Leinster's 10 never took the chance of a drop goal in last years final and was no threat today either. Leinster needed a world class outhalf more than anything else but theyre obviously not smart enough to see that

[@lawLess-fs1qx]

Cullens only job for the last 3 years was to get a world class replacement for Sexton. Seemed to be clear to everyone except Cullen. Best if he goes .

[@mattwells3818]

As a neutral, that was a fantastic rugby match played by two excellent teams and only the finest of margins separated winner and loser. My only observation is that maybe Leinster have it too good and they've lost their 'dog'. Their squad is perhaps a bit too big and they have too many Ireland qualified players in the first team. The Toulouse squad is predominantly French but today they fielded English, Scottish, Irish, Spanish, Argentinian, Kiwi, Aussie, Tongan and Samoan players. Leinster suffer from a lack of variety to their play partly because of a lack of diversity in their squad. When it all clicks they're amazing but when it doesn't there's no plan B because they're all playing the same systems week-in week-out. They're still bloody good though and a lot of comes down to luck on the day.

[@ericsicard910]

Yes Toulouses rugby is a school of situational adaptation and you are encouraged to take initiative outside of the plan if there is a better option offered to you. The complex thing here is for the teammates to react immediately to these individual initiatives so there is support and a consistent team structure along the way. All youth teams at Toulouse learn this from day 1. And Toulouse only hires foreign players that they identify to be compatible with this approach (such as Kinghorn this year). Leinster has the most precise and devastating plan A, it’s a beautiful and impressive ballet. But against the best opponents, if they are countered in rucks and breakouts, like yesterday, they look like they have no other options and frustration emerges, leading to bad calls. Nevertheless it should be pointed out that the 2 teams were excellent yesterday and the Toulouse victory was only by a fine margin.

[@metalshifter727]

Leo Cullen should be fired. He plays the same strategy year after year and on course for the same result ie NOTHING! Leinster won't win the URC either. 3 seasons now he's left his best players at home for the SA tour to rest his Cup team. Have they delivered yet? No, they lose the EURO final and then they're not interested in the URC. Not even the prospect of a tour against the Boks could budge this man into sending some players for familiarity training. Munster did, although they were already knocked out of the European Cup. Yes Leinster were off the back of a bruising semi- final before the tour, but the B side got smashed. Resting players for THREE WEEKS before a final and expecting them to perform is the problem!!! This happens every year! He should have taken his full team to SA and used them at least as subs to keep them match focused. Any dissenting player would have been told, well I tried that the last two seasons and it didn't work pack your bags! Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome is the definition of insanity. IMO you could see Leinster were rusty and they paid the price. A little tour of SA and some game time would have been what these players needed. Leo Cullen's focus for the WHOLE season is just the European Cup. Change the focus- change the outcome!!!! I noticed the commentators were saying that Toulouse were tired and the top14 demands blah blah blah..... and how fit Leinster were =yeah take a leaf out of their book and stop leaving players sitting on their a&*$s for 3 weeks

[@seanofarrell8896]

I agree bur irfu wouldn't let it happen

[@goldenchild19]

Irish Rugby are build ups, consistent all year and when it matters most get found wanting.

[@peuple3993]

Just take the 3 points numerous possibilities on a shorter lenght field and you would win this game 10 times on ten!

[@patrickyoung3503]

Congratulations to Toulouse Leinster defiantly second best today . Roll on next year .

[@barryryan14]

This should make Leinster fans finally stop the blind loyalty to the Byrnes. Cullen with all the resources for 10 years and to have 1 European cup. I think if they had a new head coach and 10. They'd have a great chance. It's a gapping hole at 10 for Leinster. The pack is world class but you can't win big trophies with a bang average 10. When Ross made the interception 2 weeks ago.... I honestly didn't think a pro athlete his age could run that slow.

[@Etienne8841]

2022 Bottle URC 2022 Bottle ICC 2023 Bottle URC 2023 Bottle ICC 2024 Bottle ICC 2024 Pending URC Bottle - Leinster

[@MegaTkls]

Pending bottle 😂😂😂😂

[@Shane-zx4ps]

They have 4 stars 🌟 on their chest which equates to 4 European medals, we are a nation of 5 million compared your population of 67 million, that is what you call boxing above your weight which I am very proud of, remember your , nation with a huge population your people never win a rugby World Cup you reached a few finals ok 3 times 😂😂 but could not win it, now that’s what I call bottling it, viva la France 😂

[@brandonstclair898]

They got the players. They have resources. They have the coaches. But they don’t have the trophies. Big match temperament not there nor did the big players in the team put their hand up.

[@patrickmullins7981]

Don't have the trophies ?

[@ronanconnellan3802]

This team doesnt play enough rugby week in week out over protected

[@LOGOS422]

Leo Cullen needs to be replaced. He has had enough bites at the cherry.

[@unforseenlaboratories8017]

Leo for another 5 years please

[@jeffrey89095]

Resting the entire 22, and turning down 3 points all game. Cullen should go, its a selection and cultural issue. By a margin the better team. That being said the officials were awful

Oh hello Alfred Reynolds... 😂

[@MB-lj8um]

its just part of the irish DNA

[@michaelmoynihan9591]

Is you ma daddy and sister around .give them some irish dna kid😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@gdpbgdpb67]

Yep, a.k.a our generational trauma.

[@davidanderson5517]

Leinster player’s heads are scrambled. Change of a coach has done it.

[@paulhedges4131]

Think leo needs to go

[@barrygormley]

Leinster scored a try that was called back for a knock on that never happened. This was the game. Tiny margins.

[@EdProcter-x7d]

Toulouse won by 9?

[@Dreyno]

And a knock on was missed in the lead up to a Toulouse try.

[@gdpbgdpb67]

Potential forward pass to a toulouse try which wasn't reviewed!? Frawley could've won it at the death of Normal time. As you say... "fine margins". Better team won, unfortunately.

[@mungoblizzard6114]

At the breakdown - they got dominated

[@Kenny-zn6dl]

The crazy nonsense that is going on in leinster is a farce, bringing in Barrett at end of year when not needed, they need a no 10 of real quality or they will not win anything again, byrne bros, frawley simply not good enough at the highest level, leinster need a player like finn Russell or even eoin Farrell for a season or two, prendergast looks promising but not ready just yet.

[@jackbeag]

How an you say Frawley is not good enough, he has been consistently messed around Cullen. If he got even half the game time at 10 that the Byrne Bros have gotten he would now be the main man, the chap has it all - he just needs time at 10. Finn Russell are you serious ? court jester!

[@ericsicard910]

Colin Farell is joining Lancaster at Racing Club de Paris next year.

[@mrpotato442]

Leinster fans were overconfident. Possibly rubbed off on the team.

[@MegaTkls]

Everyone saying Leinster should have gone for the posts more. well The kickers take into account that kicking from near the touch line is harder to make than from in closer..

[@carthy29]

Leo has come to the end of the road i think

[@MeiA-h9r]

The Irish never learn from their arrogance Stop kicking for the corner when there are points to be taken off the tee Just kick your points over then reset your game on the basis of the scoreboard Sham, absolute Sham!

[@estevezcollins]

Ireland weren’t playing mate. I think you mean Leinster.

[@jadenphilander8799]

​@@estevezcollinsLeinster=Irish national team

[@estevezcollins]

@@jadenphilander8799 I’m aware of the overlap. There are a lot of Leinster players on the Irish team. But there are also lots of great Irish player that are not.

[@DazODric]

@@jadenphilander8799 Munster Rugby, google it and educate your Rugby brain

[@MeiA-h9r]

@@estevezcollins????

[@MeiA-h9r]

Playing for Leinster must be the best gig in club rugby All you have to do is prep for Irish international games and a couple of Champions Cup games just to always lose and choke at it every year😂

[@MegaTkls]

1000000%

[@juderyan1561]

Better team won, it's a simple sport really

[@peadarr]

The better team won but the difference was decision making. How many times did Leinster go for the corner when the posts were available? A couple of those would have changed the game. But making better decisions is part of what makes a better team

[@GH-qp6dn]

You’re irish lads, always cheated never defeated. It’ll be the referees fault no doubt. Absolute banter country as far as sport is concerned. 😂

[@peadarr]

Literally no one saying that. A bit of projection maybe?

[@tomf1dublin1]

No one saying ref lost Leinster the game

[@MichaeldeSousaCruz]

France beat Ireland again?…

[@leaphorn34]

Simply too strong

[@liamryan3674]

Bridesmaids again , another reason why the national team cant get past a quater final at world cup stage. Cant have the bulk of the squad in one province its not working. But fair play to leinster they got to the big stage.

[@Shane-zx4ps]

A lot of French people here with their negative bottling remarks about Leinster, remember we are a nation of 5 million compared to your 67 million people and you have never won a World Cup in rugby, you have reached a few finals ok 3 times but bottled it.

[@jeromelemoine1942]

Come on, it's always 15 vs 15 on the field, overall population doesn't count. You're right about the word cups though but one of the finals was lost by only 1 point (2011) with, by all accounts, a very questionable refereeing; at least we reached 3 times the finale.

[@christinaforde4101]

​@@jeromelemoine1942Why so bitter,you won the championship, enough of your nasty comments. Delighted for the worthy french fans out there. Congrats Toulouse.

[@Shane-zx4ps]

@@jeromelemoine1942 and bottled it 😢

[@jeromelemoine1942]

​​@@christinaforde4101I was just replying to a nasty and rather unfair comment. I'm sorry for Leinster but this game could have gone either way, as the score was 15-15 after 80 mn. I'm happy for Toulouse but there's no great victory without a great opponent. Ireland (Aka Leinster) won the 6th Nations so everyone should be happy this year.

[@Shane-zx4ps]

@@jeromelemoine1942 very fair assessment.👍☘️

[@Shane-zx4ps]

How can the Irish with a population of 5 million win the 6 nations easy against much bigger nations with a population of 60 to 70 million but unlucky in club games

[@leaphorn34]

Leinster is almost Irish national team

[@Reg2B]

The rugby in France is a regional sport and consider all French people is non sense. For me the Top 14 with relegation in pro D2, access for demi-final and final is a better system than a closed league because the players are used to play with a lot of pressure and hard confrontation.

[@yohannd.6432]

En France, 80 millions d'habitants, mais de grandes équipes de football, de handball, de rugby, de basketball, de volleyball. Toujours top 10 aux Jeux Olympiques (été et hiver). Et je ne parle que de sport ; en France le dimanche les familles sortent découvrir de la culture, visiter des musées... bref, il n'y a pas que le rugby, c'est pourquoi il est ridicule de parler de taille de pays et de population pour justifier tel ou tel résultat sportif...

[@heyhey5712]

Leinsters bandwagon supporters will lose interest and move on to the next big thing. Leinster are a busted flush.

[@tomf1dublin1]

Where is the bandwagon supporter ? Constantly sell more than 12k season tickets and average crowd at home match is about 14k. Can depend on a few big crowds during the year of 40-80k . Very few other rugby teams have such consistent support.

[@heyhey5712]

@@tomf1dublin1 The bandwagoners always have the numbers for some reason. More interested in stats than the actual game.

[@heyhey5712]

@@tomf1dublin1 The Aviva half empty on Saturday evening. The bandwagoners don't do quarter finals I guess.

[@tomf1dublin1]

@@heyhey5712 that is 5th knockout game Leinster played + 30,000 supporters in London for European final . Leinster have great support . I think there was 25000 at quarter final . Great attendance considering three previous games were Aviva full twice ; Croke park full with 82k and spurs stadium London with over 30k fans .

[@heyhey5712]

@@tomf1dublin1 Like I said the bandwagoners only like the big days out.