Munster’s big win, Ulster’s collapse and all the Champions Cup talking points were up for discussion on the The Left Wing with Luke Fitzgerald, Cian Tracey and Will Slattery.
Jack Crowley’s man of the match performance helped Munster beat Toulon and Cian says it was ideal preparation for Ireland’s Six Nations opener against France.
The lads then discuss Peter O’Mahony’s future as his contract discussions drag on. Leo Cullen’s future, Ulster’s heavy defeat to Toulouse and Bundee Aki and Finlay Bealham being unavailable for Connacht are all up for discussion too.
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It was another memorable weekend of European action as moner secured another memorable away Victory against to Lon elsewhere Lance were easy winners against St fron while it was disappointment for conic oler as they came out on the end of heavy defeats against Leon and too all of that sets up
An intriguing final round of Champions Cup pool action and then we will know the identity of The Knockout fixtures to come in the new year so plenty to talk about on tonight’s episode of the left Wing podcast we are also going to get to the shock news that L re Salon has quit
Rugby and is pursuing a career in the NFL plenty to come on tonight’s show glad to be joined by Keane Tracy and Luke Fitzgerald and Kean we might start with that monster Victory it kind of was a tantalizing glimpse into What Might Have Been for their European campaign I
Think they’ve had 10-point leads in the second half of all three of their matches they finally got a win on the board the weekend playing some really good stuff what impressed you the most about their performance yeah you’re trying not to use the the cliches when it comes com to
Monster but it really was classic um monster even when myself and chenade were chatting on Friday’s podcast I was making the point that you know you would be a fool to to write them off and even though the odds probably were stacked against them too long don’t lose too
Often at home they picked a really meaty team um I thought the manner in which monster fronted up I think was the the most impressive thing the quality of trys that they scored was seriously seriously good uh I know we’re going to get stuck into that
Um I mean you can’t really ignore the difference that someone like Peter omy makes coming back I mean the line out was much more assured I thought I think over the last few weeks since he’s been missing monst have been lacking a bit of leadership it’s the point I’ve made to
You guys um on the pot as well and you just see that guys feed off um I think the confidence in the energy that he brings but I also thought a guy like n Scandal Who you know maybe has become the Forgotten man a little bit at moner
He’s been overtaken in the pecking order but guy like deer McCaron um at Hooker but coming in for his first game of the season I thought he was outstanding and then when you had the when you had n Scandal and Peter rmani there just made such a big difference to moner’s line
Out but they packed a punch I thought um in their carries in their defense the amount of turnovers that they forced from tulon which look tulan were quite sloppy with the with the ball I thought but that was down to the pressure that they were being put under by Monster’s
Defense so it was a serious feather in the cap I think for um Dennis ley’s um defense like they had couple of big big moments I think the moment just for halime where um their mall comes up trumps like a mall that’s been under severe pressure you’d have to say this
Season it’s been a bit of a weakness uh for them but again you have to take into account the the amount of players and the caliber of players that they’ve been missing but to hold out to long just before halftime in an area that had been
Weak I thought must just must have given him huge confidence going into the second half obviously recovering from being tend down and once the game goes into the final quarter then you’re you’re kind of getting a bit of deja vu I was over in exitor before Christmas
You know and I was think I was telling you guys I basically had my match report written um coming up to about the hour mark and had to quickly rewrite it and you were kind of hoping that monster weren’t going to make the same mistakes twice and and they didn’t they showed
Good composure to see out the Victory and like you said will it breeds life back into their campaign yeah it was kind of a I had mixed feelings because I was so impressed with our Victory and and even the last couple of weeks I was still kind of taking maybe a slightly
Glass half full approach to their European collapses because of the quality of the tries they were scoring in the Ruby they were playing with they could easily be 15 points out of 15 going into the final round and jockeying for that first or second seeding which
Can give you home Advantage all the way through obviously they’re not but they’re still look on course for The Knockout stages Luke what stood out to you you know was it was important for to get the result because it was the results of of that were really lacking
Over the last six seven weeks performances were okay in patches but they didn’t really have many wins so that’s vital to get get that on the board um what struck me when I was just when I was thinking about the game you know kind of breaks and play I just kind of
Thought keen’s kind of touching it like in the pack the impact Scandal and om man have I just there senior players you know guys kind of with experience I thought Zebo had a very good game he was pretty assured um obviously that great moment for the triy which we’ll we’ll
Discuss um but I thought the two signings as well like you know fris and I think um were very very good throughout the game as well so like I think you know the there’s been a lot of talk about the transfer policies and contracts all this kind of stuff in
Moner I I actually think um the senior players and the guys they’ brought in actually made a massive difference in that game and um yeah that was probably the the the last thing thought I had um about about the game just a kind of a stray thought maybe um I think as well
They they they clung in there really well with which I think was a bit of a feature of some of their games at the end of last season as well when they went through that successful period just when you think a team is getting on top
Of them they just they pull off a big turnover like it doesn’t seem like Ty Ty burn does like he had a few kind of messy moments but God when they need it when they need him and AR for irand too when you need that guy he really stands
Up and has big moments whether was ripping the ball at a guy’s hands or the ball just seems to be he seems to attract the ball defensively you know that kind of way it’s it’s a weird thing to say you normally said that about a play a player in attack who gets tries
You know like one of those guys on a TRC scoring record just the ball always seems to fall the right way or whatever defensively a key moments the B he seems to be in the right place when someone makes an error or he’s there to pounce when someone you know when there’s an
Opportunity so he’s he’s so so important for for monster and for Ireland um and they were kind of my my my thoughts on the game I just thought those all those people had big impacts on the game and big moments throughout that saw them through and I think oman’s impact can’t
Be understated I think he just brings a sense of calmness to the team I think he’s a he’s a battle hardened guy uh up for the fight you know all the time and I think what he gives you at line out as well it just really it fleshes out that line out if
You like it makes him particularly defensively it’s talked about a lot but geez he’s a nightmare he must be a nightmare to throw against will so uh all of those factors I think got them over the line and I think I think they should go through the group like they’re
They’re too good not to I know they have the injury woes but you know it’d be a complete mess if they didn’t get through and they’ve kind of nearly already made a mess of this thing but they should go through it at the very least this
Monster team I think is is is in a good place when they have all the bodies on Deck I I still think there’s there’s work to be done in the front row but everywhere else in the pitch despite losing you know ears and Conway I I
Think this team is in a good place and ready to kick on so it would have been an absolute travesty if they didn’t even get through to the qualifier qualification um part of the competition which it looks like they should be able to do now yeah and I know they won’t
Have Home Advantage in The Knockout stages most likely but like they won’t fear going to a number two seed who won’t likely be one of the big Beasts of the competition who would be a good team but you know being beating a strong toon team away shows that they can go and
They almost beat exra and they should have beaten exra probably away from home too we know that road kind of exploits last year ended up winning them the URC so that’d be very confident going on the road Keen Luke touch on a few players there but what did you make of Jack
Crowley’s performance I think he ended up getting player a match but first 20 minutes was a rocky start 10 nil down he had one kick out in the full a loose kick that two long ran back for a great try counterattacking try but from then on he really kind of
Put his stamp on the game a few lovely kicks obviously the Simon Zeo try was a brilliant bit of play and you know lovely cross kick I think for thear TR as well it’s a great kind of proving moment for him especially with you know going to Mars two weeks time most likely
You know near to long so it would be a familiar part of the world but I think that was a a step forward in his career I know he’s already won the league but to kind of wrestle back the momentum in an a away day like that and delivered
Them to Victory I think is a huge step forward yeah you’ve you’ve basically taken the words out of my mouth will um like in a weird way I think especially because monster came through and got the win I don’t think it’s any harm for Jack Crowley to have like a tricky experience
I think it’s fair to say because the mental resilience he showed to bounce back from the errors was seriously impressive um like I’ve spoken to him a good few times over the years even when he was coming through under 20s and he doesn’t strike me as a guy who is
Arrogant or is going to get ahead of himself but that kind of performance and the errors that he made is probably just a little reminder that he does have a way to go and like I said I don’t think he thinks at all like he’s the finished finish article and neither do supporters
But it was a nice little um wakeup call is a little bit is a little bit strong but it was a it was a nice audition like you said will because what he’s going to face in Marse in a couple couple of weeks is going to be quite similar
Because if he kicks Loosely like he did for that two long try Damen penno and Louis Bray BR like are going to absolutely Shred the defense so um you’d rather him learn the lesson now and the fact that moner came through and won the game rather than costing Ireland a
Potential Six Nations Victory um in a couple of weeks but I mean I I the mental resilience was the the one thing that really stood out and that’s the thing that you you constantly hear about him you know when he’s in around Camp um you know how much of a vocal leader he
Is but also how much of a sponge he is um and like when he did get it right at the weekend God it was so impressive that try for the kick sorry for Simon zebo’s try was just absolutely beautiful the kick for Tomah Hearn which they’ve obviously been trying a few times this
Season was just brilliant as well and even in the buildup to the Tomah Troy he had thrown a loose pass if memory serves in the buildup as well so um I think it says a lot about a young guy’s character in a pivotal position
Um and he knows that this is a huge few weeks for him we were down in Lim um before Christmas for the exitor game chatting to him and you know I was asking is the Six Nations on his mind you know because like the man in the
Street I think would accept the Jack Crowley injury permitting is going to be starting in Marse but you know he said that it’s not but of course he wants to be starting but he wouldn’t be human if he isn’t thinking about that you know so
It is a huge huge few weeks in his career and I thought that was the big test that he passed albe it it wasn’t perfect and if we’re being honest I was probably a little bit surprised that um he got man of the match I think there
Were a couple of other monster players Luke mentioned a couple I mentioned a couple like nanaville I thought was outstanding Peter om Mani to bur n scan but look that’s neither here nor there he was probably a little bit surprised himself I presume it was the French um
The French picking it we know they like a good out half and he did have a a good impact on the game so it’s a good test I think for him yeah I actually switched over to uh the other game that was on the same time for the last 10 minutes or
So because mon had it in hand and I I presume Dono Kahan and picked it because he was doing the commentary on BT Sport and it was also Jack Curly’s birthday as well so you know a nice way to to cap the 24th birthday Luke what did you make
Of his performance especially with a view to that big game in France in two weeks time yeah I just like him I think he’s kind of a guy who doesn’t get too flustered if he makes mistakes you have to have yeah it’s a weird things you kind
Of have to have a short memory I think um when when it comes to those things uh certainly have to get the learn ears from them but I do think you have to be able to move on and he seems mentally strong enough to be able to do that and
Go ahead and perform kind of you know basic task he’s a guy I I I like him a lot because I love how defensively sound he makes like he’s he’s up for the fight he’s got a break as well which I think is a big Advantage he probably holds um
Over Ross Burns that he has that yard of pace and he’s kind of hard to tackle so um Al alongside I think he might he probably is a better Defender than him too um so yeah I like him a lot uh I think he’s got a big game mentality he
He has he you know he sees the big moments too we know that from the drop kick last year um and I thought he recovered really well which is a really good sign and what was definitely a difficult match for for monster at times um I do think you know he
Can the bigger moments so so you can see we’re going to talk about our moments there but that Tri forbo I think was a really good example of a guy I think Who Um can still analyze the situation even though he he had probably you know he’
Made a mistake from kind of trying a bit of a loose kick earlier on he still was able to have the confidence to go okay I’ve got the call in from Zebo because you can see Zebo calling to him as he’s moving into position which we’re going
To talk more about later on H which just so so nice how he disguises that as you know from a Winger perspective but for Crowley to have gone okay we’re in a good position here we’ve got momentum at the 22 uh but I’m still going to kick it
Away because it’s the right option so trusting the call but then you’ve got to see it and execute it and it was executed so so well I think that’s a big game player to me that’s a guy who trusts his ability and trusts what he sees and being able to deliver you know
And execute on where the opponents are weak so yeah I think he’s definitely at the Forefront for for a couple of weeks time I think you know everyone knows that at this stage particularly with Ross bur going down and froley going down as well um so I think um yeah
Really excited to see now what he can produce provided of course he stays injury free with praying he set his injury free at this stage that would be an absolute nightmare but I just like him I think he has he looks like a guy who’s built for International Rugby and
I think you know he’s got a great future ahead of him without putting too much pressure on him I still think out half at International is a there is a big learning curve there’s a big learning curve the danger is that we’re heaping Praise on him for these kind of magic
Moments whereas I think being a great International 10 isn’t really about like looking for those moments those moments will come to you and I think you know you need to be able to execute he can do it we know he can do it but has he got
The cool head to say 95% my of my decisions are the basic ones I’m going to use these 14 brilliant players international Ruby players that are around me and I’m going to guide them around the pitch and those big moments I trust they’ll come to me and I’ll be
Able to execute I think he looks like he’s able to do that and I’m very excited to see him make the make the next uh the next push in his career to the next level yeah Keen was obviously very positive on the pitch from Once through the weekend subsequent to the
Match obviously lot of kind of reports on Peter man’s future it appears he’s be moving off his rfu contract there kind of a pass about whether you know his new monster deal I think it’s up at the end of the season his future is up a bit up
In the air at the moment like what’s your read on the situation at the moment like do you think it’s actually a live possibility that Peter maty leaves I think it is because coming off in IR few Central contract is complicated uh for many different reasons um you know Monster are
Obviously going to have to stump up the cash and for a guy who you know the six Nation Squad is going to be announced tomorrow it might already have been announced by the time some people get to listen to this but he’s certainly I would say in the conversation to be the
The next Ireland Captain for at least the next year or two um and look we haven’t got to obviously chat to him or see him over the last few weeks because he’s been injured but um I don’t know there has been some talk behind the scenes that maybe that impacted his
Decision to to give up the monster captaincy which is very strange the more the more you think about it the fact that he did come back from the World Cup and captained M I think it was against the stormers um off the top of my head
And then decided all of a sudden that he wasn’t going to be monster Captain anymore so it would be nice to get a chance to eventually sit down with him and get his thoughts about you know what’s going on there but the the brass
Tax of it uh will is I don’t think moner can afford to lose him um we’ve just discussed how important he remains to moner like it was no coincidence that monster pulled that performance like a a typical classic away performance out of the bag when Peter omy was back in the
Team um I think there’s been a lack of leadership when he’s not there we Luke has touched on you know his line out proos and I still think he offers monster and Arland a hell of a lot and um he probably still does as well and
Maybe he well I’m only guessing but he might think that he deserves to get another Central contract and that might be complicating um issues but I’m obviously only speculating about that but if he is coming off the central contract which will expire at the end of
The season then in my mind moner have to do everything they they can to keep him I don’t know there’s going to be cash freed up from org snyman salary I think in an Ideal World they would have liked to have spent that um and they probably
Still do on a front row um and but the the the other issue as well which hasn’t really cropped up as much is that Conor Murray is also apparently coming off a central contract so when that happens again it means that moner are the ones who going to have to absorb their salary
And that’s a lot of cash to come up with for two vastly experienced guys and two guys who I think Conor Murray um is still a very important player for Monster as well so I don’t think it’s beyond the Realms a possibility will that he could leave do I think it will
Happen no because I think monster will if they haven’t already will see sense and realize that they have to keep this guy at the Province he’s only 34 um I know he’s got plenty of miles on the clock but like I said he’s a guy who’s
In the conversation to be the next aring Captain I think that speaks volumes for the quality that he still has left in him yeah I think surely an agreement can be reached I remember when Simon Zebo came back it was announced that it was like a a kind of an irfu monster hybrid
Kind of deal that had been worked out because like Peter ammani obviously as you say 34 is he going to be as relevant for irand in two years time as he is now probably not but he is now as you say GNA be a key part of the Six Nations
Like Andy farler is going to be stepping aside you know for a period next season you’d imagine Peter man’s leadership provid he still playing well be vital there I think he’s still important for both club and Country in the medium term long-term maybe maybe not he would be 30
What 38 at the next Road cup or just about to turn 38 but you know Luke what’s your perspective on it I I think I I’d be shocked if he ends up leaving I think this is just classic negotiations the thought of Peter Mani leaving monster and playing in France I
Think will get everyone very excited I think ultimately a deal will be hammered out but what’s your perspective having obviously been at the negotiating table as a player as well yeah well I think that look at the end of the day I think the bottom line is
What really speaks the most you know and I think it will be a shame for Monster or it is a shame for Monster now that they’re going to have to dig into their own coffers but they’ve been able to do that and I know they have some kind of
Benefactor behind the scenes there who has been able to help them out along the way someone who’s kind of passionate about monster rugby and has been able to support them this to my mind seems like the ideal scenario for someone like that to kind of step in and go hold on a
Second here do we want to see this guy finish in his career you know not in a red jersey my I think you know everyone you know Dan and monster would be of the same opinion thinking well no absolutely not we’d love to see this guy finish out here
Particularly when he’s still adding so much value um to my mind he’s the obvious choice for the Irish captaincy too I think he is a perfect because there’s no real standout candidate in my opinion at this juncture and I think it would be no harm to give everyone else
Just another year where they don’t have that pressure so like whether James Ryan emerges you know his age he he you know he is a better age profile does Dan shean continue to grow in that Jersey does he is he a guy you know he’s a he’s
A c starter um you know has had a pretty good injury profile so far as well um you know there’s there’s lots of guys ringrose maybe would we like to see more of him there um you know we I think there’s there’s a real obvious candidate
Is yet to emerge and I think another year looking at this thing would be absolutely no harm and I think Peterman would be the perfect guy for this year and and then you reassess next year if he still playing great then you say yeah we do it for another year we and someone
Hasn’t emerged so to my mind this is actually a really important uh decision for for Irish Rugby and for Monster rugby to make and I just think he’s playing brilliant rugby it it comes down to that and he still looks to me like he’s in great shape he hasn’t lost a
Yard of pace I don’t think H he still looks like he’s got great spring when it comes to the line outs and I think even if he has lost a little bit of spring what he like what he’s learned from you know looking at so many lineups over the
Course of a 13 14 year professional rugby career hanging around Paul o Connell for that amount of time you know if he has lost a bit of spring he’s made up for it in experience and know how and I just think he’s a key guy for for for
Mster and for Ireland in the short term now I know we all want to be thinking about the long term and how we you know who are we Contracting why are we Contracting and and you look at we look at the like to say in sports you look at
Man United and the absolute mess they’ve made of it this isn’t one of those things you’re talking about a oneye two-year period where this guy is still looks like he’s at the top of his game and it’s still the number one choice I think in the Irish Jersey at this point
In time I still I still have him as my number one going into that six nations game against Paris against France sorry in Marseilles um so yeah I I think it’s an important one I think he’s still playing great and I’d be signing this guy up 100% to another two-year contract
I think uh you need to just come up with the outside but I think the bottom line will speak for him uh if he can get past the number or get to the number that he was getting on the central contract this should be a done deal for all parties
Unless there’s a massive offer from abroad which you know may still come you I think that I see Al danan might be leaving L relle that might be that might be a sneaky little destination there if he can wangle a couple of quid out of Raj that’s that’s another de you know
Another another possibility for him and obviously his wife you know speaks French she’s she’s Belgian I think so or she has a Belgian background so I think she speaks fluent French that would be an easy move for them I think um so yeah look that that that’s that’s the
Situation that’s the lay of the land at the moment so um watching closely I hope they make the right decision for for club and Country it was interesting um last week we were at the the Guinness rugby ruers Awards and Andy farell was speaking on behalf of Ireland won the team of the
Year award and I’m conscious that this could be out of date by the time some people get to listen to it when the squad being named but I fully agree with Luke I think Peter om Mane would be a great choice as Captain because it doesn’t have to be a four-year cycle and
Andy farell made this point in his acceptance speech that he hates the talk of four-year cycles and he also made a very interesting point I thought um he basically said he was asked you know how he’s feeling about this this slate being wiped clean for the Six Nations you know
Johnny seon has gone and he basically said the Slate isn’t being wiped clean at all this is a continuation of the work that we’ve done for the last four years this is just the next stage of that and I loved that because I know the World Cup didn’t work out according to
Plan but Arland has such a strong body of work behind them and that’s clearly the mentality that farell wants to instill in him that this isn’t a fresh start per se so if you were going by that logic I think there’s a lot to be
Said for Peter ratne as a kind of a a continuity Captain for want for a better term not that he hasn’t earned it because I think he would and because again I agree with what Luke said because there’s no outstanding candidate I mean I think even the fact that lenser
Picked co- captains this season wasn’t I think a great reflection probably on James ry’s you know captaincy because for years I think a lot of people thought that he would be the next captaincy but there’s nothing to say that he couldn’t come in again like Luke
Said after a year or two of Peter and maty doing it because if we’re getting out of the the kind of four-year World Cup cycle and may be viewing it like in two years then you know the landscape could have changed in two years Time Peter matney might might not be
Guaranteed his place in the team yet and you could have a guy like James Ryan Gary ringrose kayin darus Ian Henderson I don’t know whoever it is but they could take pick up the slack then I think that that would be a very clever way to go but I suppose we’ll see which
Way farell goes with it tomorrow but because there’s no obvious candidate I think Peterman would do a great job well his return from injury was perfectly timed and getting that big performance and the big result you saw how much of a difference he made in such a key match
Like we’ve seen other contracts given out to various players in the latter half of their career and they haven’t been playing well and people have maybe rightly been questioning whether they are value for money but when you come in an impact a game like he did at the
Weekend I think you can definitely argue that he does deserve it um so that’ll be fascinating to see over the next couple of weeks what what way that contract situation is resolved Luke we might move on to ler now obviously beating St fron on Saturday once the teams were named
There was only going to be one win winner stord say Obviously rested the majority of their team ler picked pretty much their full team we happy with the performance from a ler perspective like again I kind of left feeling that they left a lot of meat on the bound there
Like I you know coughed up a lot of chances ended up scoring six tries but as berer Jackman kind of said afterwards I thought he put it well I that that should have been 60 points given the team lenser picked and who they were playing probably but they could just
Their execution I thought was just a little bit off again yeah they look a little apprehensive look like they’re overrunning um you know each other look like they’re just a little bit muddled in some of the the attacking thinking um I I still have my concerns about them
Defensively if I’m being honest I think they got opened up by a few kicks at different points in the game as well um you know by by a pretty average St team you know so I I think um yeah look that 14 weeks is in my mind I
Don’t I’m not sure how wise it was to give a number if I’m being completely honest I love how I love that he was four right about about the timing of that it’s I think it’s more about the timing of that he expects to get it right in qualification time but uh or
Sorry in knockout rugby time um but yeah they look muddled to me I don’t I’m not mad on the defense at how it looks at this juncture I thought there were some good moments you know if you get on top of a team and you can and you can kind
Of push them back into areas that you like you can really put pressure on them but I think you know it was quite clear stad didn’t care about the game because they didn’t look at how olster opened at lster up at all the week before the
Inside passes H you know from the pods uh the short kicking game you know the the the chipping games the Crossfield kicks and F they did try a few them even though there’s a few wobbly ones as well um there was a bit of a game plan I
Thought that olster had I know the conditions were crap but I think that might have been worse for ler if the conditions were good if I’m being honest they looked like they had a really nice game plan about how they were going to deal with this pressure H defense and
And I do think lers still look frantic and out of control in the tackle zone so they’re trying really really hard to get off the line you can see what they’re trying to do but they are not accurate enough when it comes to tackle time and
I I have I’m watching them a lot I’m talking to some of the ex players as well guys who are really respect on it about the defensive side of things and they weren’t as strong as me on it but I I I still think the tackle technique is really they look wild they
Look out of control in the tackle area they some of the hits are brilliant to see they’re big hits but they’re not get they’re not getting enough of the normal tackles like the ones you know that you’re not emptying a guy they’re not getting enough of those ones right
They’re slipping off way too many tackles they look out of control in the area to me so I still think there’s a lot of lot a lot a lot of ground for them to cover I think better teams will um will get on top of them I think
They’ll be able to pick them apart and I think there’s they need to work on their tackle technique it sounds like a really basic thing but I just feel like they’re not focused on that area at all they’re only focused about getting off the line and I think they look out of control
They look like there’s opportunities to open them up and everyone’s going to talk about the attack and that not functioning unbelievably well I’m less concerned about that I think there’s been a lot of change at 10 and I think you know theyve guys coming back in who
Are kind of key to them it’s the first time we’ve seen James low this year Jimmy O’Brien’s obviously out so there’s a bit of that going on W W with lster as well so I think the attack will will get you know they’ll fix that I’m not concerned about that I’m I’m really
Concerned about how this defense will look I caught a bit of the the lar shell game not all of I just couldn’t watch all the rugby in the weekend um in time so I only saw the highlights but lar shell will pick that apart they I I
Guarantee you because you will if you miss that many one-on-one tackles against them no matter how hard you’re coming off the line and where the hits are taking place they will pick you apart you have to have brilliant tackle technique alongside this is my opinion so um that’s the area that’s concerning
Me the most will and I do think as well the kicking their kick defense like Gibson Park got a load of praise for for that covering across for that kick that went through but he was dead late to see the danger as well like he was like
Everyone all that was brilliant how hard did he have to work how hard did he have he had to work hard because he didn’t move early enough and see that there was a massive Gap uh behind that lenser defense so I think that’s been a real recurring
Team I thought s picked them apart there I thought Ultra really picked them apart in the kicking game as well um I’m concerned about what about that part of the game I think against the better teams and the bigger teams that they’ll get opened up and they’ve
Been they’ve been opened up by by by way lesser teams the last couple of weeks you know so um that was my that was what I left the the game Thinking uh not not convinced not convinced at all yet yeah and it’s not just L shell he start to
Loose against oler and Bordeaux against sarson like the absolutely shredding uh teams especially what bordeau did The sarson A Team who we obviously aren’t what they were but not like God bordo put 55 points on them and and looked very good doing it Keen you were at the
Aviva so you know you your own perspective on things like is there anything that Luke said there that you noticed yourself in particular jumped out to you yeah look I mean it’s clearly still a work in progress but surely we have to allow them time they didn’t have
Any preseason um with Jack nen aror so he’s trying to change a whole system during the season which is obviously difficult and like these are high high Cal caliber players we’re talking about and it is like going to take some time and I think that’s why he came out a
Couple of weeks ago and said that the 14 week thing because that’s what happened he said with sou Africa that’s what happened with monster and I think the players seem to well at least they’re telling us publicly anyway that they they are actually enjoying the the
Challenge of getting up to to speed with it in terms of the work in the contact area like to be fair lster have put a big focus on that over the last few years they had Hugh Hogan there as contact SKS skills coach they had Dennis Ley and obviously Shawn O’Brien is in
There now so there’s no excuse for the contact kind of area to be as sloppy in terms of what Luke’s saying about the tackle Tech because they have a designated coach in sha o’ban uh doing that so that would maybe be a little bit more of a concern than the systematic
Stuff which I do think will come um it was interesting we were chatting to James low yesterday you know and trying to get his perspective because obviously he had trouble when he moved um over in the first place in terms of getting to grips with like the Irish system and
This is obviously all new uh um for for him as well but the the vibe seems to be that once they get to grips with it that they will be fine and you know it’s the question was put in what will it be like when you go into Ireland Camp over the
Next couple of weeks because you don’t exactly play a blitz defense as hard and aggressive as this and if you think of the amount of lster players that are going to be in that Arland team in France I’m fascinated to see how Andy farl and Simon easterby go about getting
That balance right but I think they will get it right um whether they get it right in time to to win uh this season I suppose is is the big question but I thought they did a lot of stuff well um at the weekend now everything I say from
Here on in is obviously with with the with the caveat that stad were really really poor but I thought a lot of lenser big players you know stepped it up a not you could tell that the Six Nations is just around the corner I thought Gary ringrose was very good
Kayin darus Joe mccth I thought Gibson Park um had played well for while he was on um as well and I thought the quality of some of the tries that they scored uh were really good again against a poor defense but Luke’s right they looked a bit frazzled when they had that early
Try for Dani and dis allowed for Ryan B gave away a penalty and Ryan B was exceptional as well that was a a rare blip for him but I thought their attack actually looked a lot better and because we’re focusing so much on the defense obviously cuz Arbor um has come in like
It’s worth remembering as well that Andrew Goodman wasn’t there all preseason either because he was off with Samoa at the World Cup so it has been a really disrupted period building into the season F lenser again Lucas Ro touching on the amount of change that
They’ve had um at 10 that’s a factor as well but allowing for it was a poor defense I didn’t think it was a coincidence that lancer’s attack I thought looked a lot Slicker when the weather was better they’ve been playing in weather over the last two weeks so as
Everyone else is not really an excuse but to score seven tries and they did leave a lot behind them your right will but I thought I thought they looked a lot slicker than they have been but I suppose this weekend against Leicester will be a much tougher test yeah I think
What stood out to me I I think the attack has been functioning you know reasonably well it’s their kind of chance conversion that’s been really kind of drying to me is it I feel like they need three really good chances to score a try now I mentioned Bordeaux
Earlier too and larelle as well at the weekend any sniff they got I’d say it was nine out of 10 try scoring opportunities taken for all three teams and they’re the three of their big teams at the moment in terms of form line obviously Northampton have been good but
In in a weaker pill it’s just kind of like knock on around the lines you know uncharacteristic penalties near the line I feel like they’re opening teams up there they’re not converting as many opportunities as you said leester will be an interesting test I know they were
Trashed by larell but they’ll have a few more front line players back and they are at home a be ler have put them away pretty comprehensively the last two seasons but that’ll be a bigger step up but yeah that’s one thing that’s said to
Me look I want to ask you I ask both of you a question but we got a question from a listener Oliver who’s asking if lenser don’t win a trophy this year it would be three years without a trophy would that be Leo cullins last season as lster head coach you
Think um no I don’t think so um you know I think um I think he’s saw an unbelievable job like I think if you if you think about how close they have been um and you think about how like I think a lot of what when I think
About the the how the team play on the pitch I I don’t think about Leo as much I know he’s director rugby but I I think about when I think about Leo I’m more thinking about the kind of resources and what he’s putting on the pitch and and
How he’s like is the place run well is you know is it a Happy Camp um yes I know he has he has some involvement of the team and and the selections and that but I haven’t seen like I would had that as Lancaster kind of maybe it’s wrong because I I’m always
Saying Leo should be getting more credit um but no I don’t think so I think he’s doing a brilliant job I think the team have been in positions to go ahead and deliver but um have kind of let themselves down I think and I think some of the coaching points probably which I
Feel like he’s probably not as involved and he’s he’s kind of maybe not one step removed but half a step removed from lots of the the things the issues that I feel like they’ve been having um you know I think he’s probably one step removed from or half a step remov from
Those things so no I don’t think I I would be saying that um you know because I think he has to deal with a lot of issues this year I think you know the the coaches coming in late is is obviously a big thing H seon obviously moving on is another big thing
That they that they have to kind of De with so um certainly would warrant another year after this one I think to give them at least a full season with the kind of coaches and that um so yeah I don’t know I think that’s that sounds
Like a bit of a premature one I think maybe uh maybe I’m not a great person to ask on this one either because I would definitely be biased in Leo’s camp um but I would think that he’s done a brilliant job I don’t think I I think the team have probably
Been you know the the the issue and how they performed in the final days but I suppose there’s a coach share responsibility for that too I don’t know maybe maybe I’m being I maybe I’m being too biased I don’t know guys I’d be looking for I I would think Leo’s doing
A brilliant job if him being completely honest I think he was obviously heavily involved in recruiting Nar that’s a brilliant bit of business too so he has poll you know he he he has um I I think I think what he’s done with the resources has been brilliant too so I
Think he I would continue on with him I think he’s been brilliant for the club and he’s he’s a starart there so no I wouldn’t be calling for for any kind of move like that what do you think Kean yeah I would largely agree um because we don’t really know Leo Leo cullins
Contract situation he tends to sign rolling H year on-year deals I think the only way that Leo cullin wouldn’t be lenser head coach next season if they don’t win a trophy is that if Leo decided that enough was enough and that he had done all he could but I don’t get
The sense that that would be uh that would be the case like this season is a major transition I don’t think we can underestimate like how big of a change that they’re they’re going under in terms of the defensive system and like I said doing that midseason is so
Difficult um there’s going to be a bit of transition next season as well ironically because Andrew Goodman is obviously going to take over from Mike cat as a attack coach and who are they going to get to come in there but like that the L attack coach is prob position
Is probably one of the most attractive um positions in World rugby you’d say you’d imagine the CVS that are going to be coming in the door UCD will be uh pretty pretty good so no like I understand the I’m not sure if Oliver was it if Oliver is a lenser fan or not
Or maybe it’s a monster fan stirring the pot a little bit but um I don’t get this sense I’m sure some lenser fans you know their patience is running thing th but I think a lot of people are realistic Luke is Right H look how close they’ve been
Over the last couple years this hasn’t been a failing organization I don’t think they’ll make the same mistake twice in the URC this season I can’t see them playing a second string team H when it comes to knockout rugby in the URC that was a big mistake I know the
Benefit of hindsight but it was just a bad look as well so um I think lenser will be going all out to win the URC this season because they haven’t won the URC obviously since the big set African teams have joined and look they are going to be there thereabouts I believe
Um come the champions Cup Final as well um I fully expect them to win again this weekend I think they’ll have a good seeding for The Knockout stages um Leo [ __ ] was at pains to point out um after the match of the weekend at Home Advantage doesn’t always uh mean you’re
Going to win in Europe I think it little nod obviously to the Champions Cup Final last season but look we know how important it is and because lenser have set such high standards for themselves I think you know we can pick holes in it
But I think all in all they are in a good play and when NE Arbor’s defensive system clicks that could be what they’re missing in terms of taking them to the next level yeah and I think you know the new CEO this year new captain and new
Head coach in terms of n Amber to Lancaster so I agree with you Keen I think it’s I think unless unless ler were to get knocked out in the last 16 and the quarterfinals of the URC maybe potentially then it could happen but a short of something like that I don’t see
A change being made even if they didn’t win a trophy unless the O decided to step down I do think as well will sorry to interrupt you there I do think that you know that role that he has I think is supposed to be there to give you the
Continuity to to St to give you to align you know how you’re training players how the organization has run like you think a lenser and you do think there is a lenser way of playing rugby I think wouldn’t you I think that’s probably fair to say like if you look at clubs
That that kind of are you know chopping and changing all the time I think it becomes hard to really like I think monster probably suffered from that for a little bit as well where you know there was different coach is coming in at different times and you’re kind of
Going okay well they’re changing slightly from this to that you know and and that’s really hard for a team to to play consistently well whereas I think you know the role that Leo probably takes in there where you get the scope to change is is that kind of Nar role
That Lancaster Ro that’s where you kind of you go okay well this guy’s going to move but we know we have the continuity about you know how laner play what it means to be a lanster player what kind of players we’re trying to to build for
The next 10 years Leo gives you all those things I think well it’s not just on the the day that I think is of course he’s the guy answering the tough questions at the end of the year probably but I think his role is a little bit it’s broader than just the
The results I think and I think he’s and if you think about where think about the time he took over the team and the job that he has done subsequently you know and he was obviously heavily involved in getting Lancaster in all these kind of things and all these young players of
Course as well so I think if you think about this where how strong ler have looked over the last five or six years compared to when he took the job probably seven eight years ago um you know that was a real transition period then as well so I think he’s doing
Brilliant work maybe without getting the the the the silverware at the end which is obviously the thing we’re all looking for I I think he his job as I said is broader I think you described it well when you when you said you’d think of
Him as kind of like a half step removed from some of the issues or some of the on Pitch stuff because I agree like I I do see him more of as a director of Ry obviously Jack NE abber and St Lancaster before them as the maybe the senior
Coaches role says and you said Leo cullins role is slightly broader than that and obviously his job is to win trophies but it also is to bring through these players to kind of set out laners kind of philosophy strategic it’s a real strategic role I think well I think he
He probably has the REM to do that alongside guy easterby you know so they get to look at the at at the grander kind of the grand scheme I suppose yeah yeah yeah it’s an interesting question obviously if they don’t want another Trophy this year two years or a tropy
Trophy with the squad they had would be H you know obviously a very big disappointment but to move on to now ke obviously one thing I want to ask you about they obviously disappointing defeat to Leon level game I think in the second half and then Leon pulled away
But what stood out to me was when they had their injury update for this week and the first line was Bundy Yaki and Finley B are available for selection after being unavailable due to Ira view protocols and I just thought it was I was like Jesus they weren’t allowed to
Play a European game and I just went back to look at the stats in terms of other Irish players so like going into this last weekend Bund Yaki had played Four matches since the World Cup Gary ringrose had played five and yet Gary ringrose was allowed play for Lancer
Baki allegedly you know or apparently wasn’t allowed play for con and then Finley beum and Andrew Porter heading into last weekend they both played 340 minutes since the World Cup Andrew Porter was allowed play for Lancer finy Bean wasn’t allowed play against Leon and if you saw how that game went the
Conic tight head Dominic Robertson McCoy was under a lot of pressure at the scrum Tom Dy struggled a bit in the in the Midfield against the Leon backline that as the game were on created more and more chances two key men in a in a tie
Game in the second half that could have maybe swung the difference what do you make of that I was very surprised that they weren’t allowed play you know given those numbers I read out there it’s a European game like what’s going on there like what what’s the point of this
Program if you can’t have your guys available for the one of the biggest games I’m impressed with your number crunching any I will that you have the evidence to to back it up um yeah and like I suppose from a conu point of view what probably rubbed salt into the
Wounds was that the camera just kept panning to Bundy who was on the bench just not tugged out like that the fact that he was even brought to France I think made it even worse it wasn’t like that he was sitting at home injured initially yeah it wasn’t like that he
Was sitting at home properly resing up ahead of what is now like okay it’s not quite a dead rubber against Bristol on Friday night but like if kuk and that game I know was a way in France and it’s tough but that game like was winnable
That’s not like a tus or a Bordeaux you know at home Leon um are not one of the the major powerhouses I suppose you’d say of French rugby so yeah like the the frustrating thing is I obviously didn’t see the the update last week um because
They only released it this week in terms of you know like stating in black and white that it was down to the irfu player management system because to me when I saw the team named last Friday my sense was that con or like boxing clever whatever term you want to use that
They’re going okay Champions Cup probably isn’t going to work out well for us uh this season even though I think that game was winnable and it seemed to me that they probably had one eye on the URC but like to contradict myself what’s the point in qualifying
For the Champions Cup if you’re not going to go all out for it um and it’s yeah it was really disappointing I’d say it’s been and the next USC game isn’t until mid-February like you know there was there was a week break before this fixture last weekend you know there was
Obviously a follow week then there’s another follow week after next week’s fixture before the extion Baki didn’t even play for the first couple of weeks post Royal Cup he was nursing injuries it’s bizarre I thought yeah I I saw Pete Wilkins said that they had to do the mat
And and juggle it and you know pick what games but in my mind you surely play your best team last weekend in Leon and if you do get the win then surely there’s scope to go to whoever it is that’s making the call and say we need
To play these guys like finy beum isn’t going to be an Ireland starter baring baring injury in the World Cup Bundy sorry baring injury this week for the sick Nation but uh Bundy’s obviously going to be a key player but that game was kuk Champions Cup season like last
Week so um I’d say it’s deeply deeply frustrating from a kuk supporters point of view particularly for the ones who paid their hard ear and cash to to go over there so yeah I I don’t I don’t have the answer will but I think it’s very frustrating as I said up like I
Read out the numbers like like Andrew Porter started like every game at the World Cup I think Philly bealum was a sub so even at the World Cup itself he didn’t play as many minutes and then they played 340 minutes identically well if my if my source if the online source
Just wrong that’s just plain wrong it’s it’s the cup the cup games you’ve got to give it your all like you can’t just be throwing matches here and there I know squ like people have skinny squads and that but there’s a mentality about going AB going away or getting a big win you
Saw what you saw like what that that you know that match against South Africa did for moner last year like go going away getting a big win like they’re huge things for a team they give you confidence you know what I mean you have to you have to learn those habits and
And I think when you go in like you’re your cup whoever’s fit your best team takes the P takes the pitch in the cup games that’s that’s it for me throw your your player management like for an extra 80 or 60 Minutes what like if you’re
Losing badly okay pull them off after 60 Minutes or 50 minutes you know but I just think it’s that’s shocking I I so I wasn’t obviously aware of that until until now but as you say the numbers don’t even match up right as well so um you know maybe in their mind they’re
Thinking about you know later on in the league campaign like I assume that that’s what they’re thinking well I’ll save that 880 minutes for when I might really need it to help qualify but like if if you’re still Al in the cup you got to play your first 15 that’s that’s it
For me you never like I I just can’t understand how over the last you know five six seven years say the English teams you know they’ll or or some of the French teams even I know the French league is very tough but I don’t I just don’t get it throwing matches even in
Crap lenser teams that I played in we never went over to a League match with with a crap team thinking that we were going to like we always went to win every single match that we played in honestly um I I just find it absolutely astonishing that that um that some
Player program uh player player minute program would dictate how you pick your team for the cup that that is completely wrong to me and really short changes a very very you know I think um loyal um you know supporter base that like as as as Keen mentioned there like
People are spending their hard- earned money to go and watch the the the team like in in the Big Cup matches in great venues that are to get and expensive to get at the moment I think it’s wrong on a lot of levels guys and and that I’m
I’m astonished by by by that if that’s the case yeah and if you as I said touch on if you actually watched that game like Connor were well in it and the scrum in the first half was a major issue when Leon built that early lead
Like Finley be him you’d like to think as an international tight head could have definitely played a part in stabilizing that and cutting down on the penalty count Baki as I said plugging a big hole in Midfield where Leon got some change in the backline best player at
The World Cup probably like yeah you can’t pick him M yeah yeah right like the Irish the the iru player management system rly gets a lot of credit for how well the players are looked after but there are times when you wonder are some players too well looked after you know
What I mean and Ireland actually kind of went against a little bit at the World Cup because they played you know a pretty consistent team throughout the tournament but there are times when you’re wondering why did the player management system flag it there and say
Andy you can’t do that like I know but this is the thing is it is it a case where like Luke said someone has and like you touching will the numbers don’t even add up but is someone like sitting in an office and like tallying up the games and go no
They can’t play that’s too much I don’t think it should be in black and white like that there has to be flexibility for big games like you also think that the amount of money that H the Champions Cup is worth to conu because if they
Were to get um a knockout game and okay they would have been up against it in terms of getting it um at the sports ground after having such a tough start with but these are all factors that you know should come into the thinking not
Just saying oh we’ll send a sec well it wasn’t even a second string thing but like like leave your best players out of the team for such a big game because the game this Friday night they even if they got a Bonus point they’re looking for a
Favor from um in the Saron game aren’t they so it just didn’t make any sense to me for me you had to go all out to win that game in Leon see which way the cards fall and then reassess for the Bristol game on Friday night but as it
Is now they’ve kind of thrown in the towel and said well Champions Cup probably isn’t going to happen for us and they worked so bloody hard to get into it um last season and that’s what’s going to happen now again they’re going to be like we have to get back into the
Champions Cup but what’s the point if you’re not playing your consistently strong team in it I’d say it’s very frustrating like I said for the supporters yeah like I know Bund Yaki has played four consecutive games before last weekend but if you look at how they
Fell one was in the 22nd of of December on a Friday night then they didn’t play until New Year’s day after that so it was like a 10day turnaround then the follow week so while he had played four week four matches in a row it wasn’t
Four week ends in a row by any means like there was good space built in there naturally then also as I said he didn’t play the first few weeks post World Cup because he was nursing a couple of knocks so just I I think guys the way so
The the way that that system used to work when I was there is it’s all obviously on this kind of Kitman Labs all like so all every every meter you do every you know weight rep you do all that kind of stuff all is all you know
Tagged on this system but like I I mentioned this about lster last year like there is a certain hardness and toughness that you get from playing the cup games playing knockout rugby that really does stand to you when you play Big Six Nations games so to my mind what
You do with Bundy here is you don’t he has to play the big games don’t let him train let him he watches video he’s out he’s out in his tracksuit you know he does a weight session in the morning and he’s out in his tracksuit when the team
Are training get him off his feet that way you don’t get him off his feet for the big games like that’s Madness that is absolute Insanity to me you got to be playing the big games to get better as a player simple as and it gets you closer
To every level you go up gets you closer to Six Nations rugby to so you know coming from a League match into a um you know into a six nations game is a way bigger jump than a cup game into into Six Nations so all of these things makes
You know there’s there is there are levels to this thing as they say and I think that that’s a trick that’s missed I would be cutting down on training completely versus cutting off cutting out games just just my topens on that oh certainly an interesting one I think it
Was very pointed that it was the top line of the uh the injury release as well like they obviously wanted everyone to see that it wasn’t like because that was my first talking like yourself I just thought they were resting them or they just were kind of saying ah look
We’re not going to get out of our group but obviously that wasn’t the case um just before we get towards the end Le re Zak that was like a big story today obviously we had oler losing to too as well but too were were know you know kind of Fairly comprehensive Victors so
Not going to spend too much time that but oh we’re not talking about oler I will like sorry like how heartbreaking sorry I know you want to but but that was like is that is this like are they must be maddening talking about supporters could you imagine could you
Imagine supporting olster honestly I I know we want to talk about like re zamit but like who cares about it he’s not even that great he’s just really quick like olster what is going on up there like they that was that was embarrassing some of the some of the defensive
Tackling up there was a disgrace like for how do they do that against lenser and then the week after so I know I’m got a bit of a rant here I know you wanted to talk about the no go for it no I just I thought that was maddening that
Was absolutely maddening that was a big big game for them and there was guys getting out of the way of tackles um you know the I know how good Dupont is but for God’s sake like just make up make some don’t let Jalan go like run over
You like you know you’re not even there like he barely had to break tried like some of the decision making I know I’m ranting here but like what is going on up there that they cannot put together like a couple of big big games in a row
Like you have to I I was just infuriated I was excited that was the that was actually the game I was most looking forward to on the weekend because I just thought the others would probably be dead rubbers sorry obviously the monster game was a big game but the uler one I
Was like okay let’s see these guys back it up they have to back it up just once at least and it it was absolutely infuriating watching them in the first half like they just at there weren’t even big moments like it wasn’t like oh there’s 20 phases of pressure and they
Kind of gave in at the end it was like off off 22 drop it it was I I just found them maddening to watch I know I’m not making a huge am of even just because too did turn it on in a big way like I
Do think well that’s not turn it on that’s not like I think we need to especially when it comes to Ulster we need to get away from that to were absolutely outstanding but like if oler want to be treated like the team that they think they are and they’ve
Threatened to be then they can’t get like I’m delighted to be honest that Luke has gone on this rant because I don’t think they can get a free pass uh F this I thought it was absolutely shock I don’t think we ever give uler a free
Pass to be fair no but like it’s like I get the sense and you know I could be wrong but just like from Little Bits you see and you like play X paars you listen to like a bit of almost apathy towards what’s going on at uler rather than
Calling it out for what it is and it’s just simply not good enough like Luke said now T were absolutely outstanding but you can’t like you said let Dupont have the freedom of belast the way he was running around it was absolutely like crazy and to think that they would
Have been working all week like how are we going to shut this guy down and then he just like ran Riot and you know give them their credit but defensively like this this has been an issue for user I would say since Jared Payne um basically has left that they just haven’t
Tightened it up whatsoever but they’re like after beating rassing and you know winning in the odds like they went on a little bit of a run but like you always just feared that this could happen again because they’re they must be one of the most inconsistent teams um in Europe
It’s just it’s so frustrating um like Luke said and we’re talking about conu fans being frustrated I think olster fans have every right to be pissed off with um what they’re being served up when the big games um come up because I I guarantee you we’ll have this conversation again this season about
Oler they might go on a little run in the URC their Champions Cup looks dead and buried but when it comes to the crunch in the playoff games I bet you we’ll be having these same conversations well like I I agree with what you both said it was a very poor performance
Defensively they were shredded but to are the best team in the tournament like aler what are they where would they be ranked in the tournament eight 18th 19th in the tournament like should we why would we expect them to beat at home will they just beat ler ler are the
Other best team in the so far ah no sorry there was guys getting out of the way at tackles like like that is not no matter who I’m I’m just there’s a huge there’s a huge km and class between the two teams there isn’t really like there
Is is not sorry no rug rugby of all games if you physically show up if you physically show up will it should be a tighter match at home and oler are not that bad they’ have loads of Internationals in that rugby team I I I
I I just know I’m not letting them away with that there’s no way that that that’s good enough there was guys getting out of the way of tackles like afraid of getting hurt on your home turf like come on like Get It Get a Grip yourself like I thought it was actually
It was some of it was some of it was a bit shameful like it was I was a bit like are you serious do you actually did you miss that t like look guys thinking that that like like brilliant yeah they’re very good rugby team they’re not
That good though and um you know I I just think you know physically they thought that guys would just go down and and would wouldn’t go down without a fight that they could just kind of lean into a tackle and that’ be okay that is
Not that is not what gets you you know that’s not what closes the Gap against good teams and tou are a good team um but they were made to look like absolute superheroes at times and and I just I was really gooded for I think the coaching staff too because I think it’s
The players I think the players like you have to have a standard that you hit every week you saw how physical they were against lster they just disappeared at times like you have to want to to to hurt guys in tackles because they won’t go down they’re not going to go down
Easy these are French Internationals like they’re not going to go down easy you’ve got to get them down you’ve got to want it you’ve got to want you got to want to put in a performance in front of your own supporters and I I I have been
Really gentle on oler the last couple years because I feel like they’re you know I want to see them do well they’re going through a tough patch no I’m not giving them a pass this after the weekend I I thought they were shocking and they made like if you think about
Dupont it wasn’t even like he made he did some brilliant stuff himself you know the one where he switches he drags uh I think moski along with him with the change of pace and the drop off inside like it’s terrible defense in the inside but that was a lovely bit of play the
Other ones were all just brilliant support running from guys who made breaks like it wasn’t like he was it wasn’t all Dupont they were missing tackles and guys they should be tackling like basic defensive errors and Dupont is we know he’s like he is you know any
Sniff of an opportunity he is absolutely mesmeric he’s just there at everything at every good thing that happens he’s there but if if you allow good things to happen with laziness and with softness you know he he he looked like a super he looked like the best player in the world
No doubt he is the best player in the world but you know they let him look like the best player in the world easily on the weekend shocking stuff the the bigger ramifications are like ulcer supporters I think would have been you know been annoyed that they haven’t had
More representation in the Ireland team over the last few years but that kind of performance is just ammunition for Andy farell when it comes to picking Ireland squads when it comes to picking an Ireland team that’s why certain guys aren’t going to get a look in because if
You’re shipping what was it 48 points um at home albe it to a very strong team then he can just point it out and say well you’re clearly not at the standard if that’s what you’re doing at home in a top level European game what are he
Going to be like a test rugby and that’s the cold hard reality for oler because I think the reason and I don’t want to put words in Luke’s Mount but it because I think the reason why we’re both being so critical is because they do have talent
In that Squad and a lot of T that Talent is going to pass them by in terms of their careers I think there’s been a few guys over the last couple Seasons who have just stagnated now whether that’s down to the tactics and the game plan I
Don’t know but a couple of years ago we were talking about a lot of these guys in terms of being in the Irish equation and again I could be proven wrong tomorrow when the squad’s being named but I’d be shocked um if we saw some of
Those guys who I’m thinking of who were in The Mix A couple of years ago and now have just fallen down the the pecking order completely so um like I said their Champions Cup looks like it’s POS possibly overbearing a major turn of events this weekend and for olster
That’s just not good enough at all uh to not even make the if it happens to not make the knockout stages of the Champions Cup no matter where you put them will in the in your power rankings um I would agree I don’t think the they’re not into loose’s class but I
Wouldn’t say they’d be too far in the next run below them well they were Trashed by bat as well like I know they beat rling well but like they the performance was terrible I I don’t disagree with that but I’m just saying like they’re probably they are the
Fourth best team in Ireland like they’re playing the best team in the tournament yes they got hammered and yes it was a terrible performance but like you know like what what what is there 10 is there 10 Internationals and they did they feel 10 International gu guys not not
Seasonal yeah the guys with caps but they’ve had caps and been turfed out of the squad like I don’t know I I I look I I think if you put in a big physical performance you know it’s still you know you should be bloody hard to beat at home an ultra
Have always been unbelievably hard to beat at home no matter who played against him it was always a tough place to go and play even when they had way worse teams than that out um and you know to lose you know pretty cold conditions up there you know I just I
Don’t know if you got stuck into them you know there’s definitely a part of me that thinks that that should have been a one SC game anyway you know Ultra are always great at home I I just felt like that we were going to let them off the
Hook there there’s no way I’m letting them off the hook that that was not good enough in the weekend there was guys getting out of the way of tackles and that to my mind is unacceptable at home yeah we have to call that out where we
See it you know because they were so good against lster so good against lster they they physically were brilliant and they were upward you can see there’s fighting that team but you can’t go from that high to that low in the space of a week and they do it regularly so no not
Not not this week are they getting away with me no I had a quick look I think they had albeit they’re not all current International but 13 of the 15 starting team for I make it are international players or have been capped so yeah but like one of them is a
Current AAL Henderson there they have a World Cup winner at loose said yeah oh yeah sorry kid Tom Tom Tom Stewart is probably gonna be in the Ireland Squad tomorrow because Rob Herring is out you know for a second I was like when did Arland win the World Cup who are you
Talking about sorry he you you might be right on that one but that he missed he I don’t care if he got the try off the back of that mall that was shocking that was really bad like for you heard some of the guys some of the ultra supporters
Or like ex Ultra players like they were they couldn’t even forgive them for that one you know what I mean it’s and it’s rare that they give they you know you’d be criticizing guys that you know um even they couldn’t help that was really
Bad for a young player it was a real bad look really bad look missing that tackle Le re samit then we could finally get finally get out lisam after our oer detour playing it’s funny look we actually had this conversation off here a few weeks ago in the studio before we
Kicked off just about you know Ruby players playing NFL and like if you know how easy it would be for like a good Winger to play wide receiver something like that it looks like he’s going down that route it’s funny I saw an interview he did today saying that his dad always
Loved NFL and he wants to do his dad proud of him like surely he liked rugby as well though you know you’re playing for Wales at the moment um what did you make of it it’s it’s a very I find it a bit strange like I know Christian Wade
Tried to do it but he was kind of at the back end of his career SED is 22 you know is he 23 prime of his rugby career I know Wales is in a bit of transition obviously financially as well as on the pitch so maybe he wants to do it for
Those reasons but what what are your thoughts I think it’s a mistake yeah I think uh I think he won’t I think he won’t make an impact he doesn’t look like he looks he looks quick for a rugby player but he’d be slow for for for NFL
I’d imagine so um yeah I don’t think he’ll make it I think he doesn’t look big enough to play running back and you know I think he doesn’t look like he he looks maybe a little bit too tough told to play in the slot you know they have
Those slot receivers like um Edelman and these guys who can kind of turn really quickly in and out of things and they’ve got like unbelievable hands like won’t drop anything um yeah I don’t know I don’t know where I don’t know where he plays that’s I think he looked like a
Guy who’d be kind of stuck for position because there’s no way he’s a wide receiver like those Corners will lead him up I’d say and uh you know I don’t think like I just can’t see it I they’re just freaky athletes over there and he’s
A good athlete but he’s not a he’s not a freaky athlete you know so I wish him all the best with it like it’s great he’s taking a shot um but I think he’s you know is he aert in the Welsh team he he might be I think he probably is aert
But he hasn’t always been no he he hasn’t always been a certain there he’s made some mistakes and you know I think you know I don’t know yeah I don’t think he’s an unbelievable Rugby Union player I don’t think he’s got all that figured out so I don’t know why he’s making the
Move across I it has to be financially motivated in my opinion um you know I just don’t see where I don’t see how that would be a life who am I to say I I don’t know it doesn’t look to me like that would ever been a realistic kind of
Pathway for for someone to be dreaming about as a kid I think was the line uh that that he used in in in the statement so it seems like an odd move to me I think it’s a mistake because I think he could have a brilliant um Welsh rby
Career and he needs to be he needs to be in Wales Camp because I think Welsh the Welsh uh provinces are or regions are are all over the place I know he’s in Gloucester as well but he’s never that route’s kind of closed off to him and I
Think glester aren’t a great team um so he needs to be in Wales Camp to really improve as a rugby player and I think I don’t know any time out of that I think is is is regression to me it’s not actually um he’s not going to be
Improving so um I don’t know doesn’t doesn’t make sense to me at all yeah I don’t know any thoughts on my on my way off I know it’s tough in Welsh rugby and in Gloucester and stuff but I I I you know I don’t know I just feel like he’s
Making a mistake I think he could be a great Rugby Union player and he’s got the Lions tour you know that possibly you know next year as well so misses out on that probably I don’t know I think it says a lot about the state of wel trby
At the moment like Warren Gatland I think said in his press conference today that he only found out shortly before his Squad was announced which kind of shows some of the maybe dysfunction behind the scenes did he only find out was he only offered the position on that
Player pathway a week ago or something like that or is it on Sunday on Sunday is the the talk because the the whales Squad was actually delayed today in terms of being announced and I saw a couple of the Welsh journalists were like under wondering what was going on
But I don’t think anyone would have predicted that one of their star players was going off to this um NFL like pathway or whatever it is like maybe you guys will know more I I have to admit I’m not I don’t I’m one of the few
People who don’t uh follow NFL but I’ve seen a lot of you know people say that oh he’s only doing it for the money but like my reading of it he’s going for what is essentially a trial he doesn’t have a contract I’m sure to trial like
He’ll get money but I don’t think he’s going for a big wedge here unless he makes it is that right someone was telling me today that I think the the NFL cover the cost of this International Player Development kind of thing and then he will try out for various teams
And I think the if you actually make a roster seemingly the minimum you know payment you get is like $700,000 if you make a roster even if you’re on a practice squad it can be like2 200,000 or $300,000 so like you know if he makes a squad he’ll still be making like decent
Money but whether he can make a squad even like they’re very different skills he playing wide receiver you know playing rugby Winger I know there’s a lot of crossover abilties maybe having Pace having good hands but if you ever to see the receivers running routes it’s
Very different to how like a Winger runs with the ball in hand so I would be astounded if he like what’s the best kick scario that he’s like wide receiver six on the worst team in the NFL like I don’t see like he’s hard gonna be playing for the Kansas City Chiefs and
Catching touchd s from Mahomes or something yeah like I I the way I look at it is he’s still a young guy he’s been offered a chance you know potentially a chance in a lifetime why not go and see if it works out I know what Luke’s saying he’s not going to
Become a better rugby player but I still think he can come back and he would probably pick up a very good contract um in Europe certainly um maybe even he he might go to to Japan like the whales squad for the Six Nations was named today I like it’s hard to get excited
About some of the stuff some of the names you see in there he’s playing in an awful gluster team so rugby at the moment I’d say isn’t that exciting um so I think like if he goes off like he gives it a go um fair enough if it
Doesn’t work out I still think he’s got plenty of time to have a decent rugby career but again without like I said I don’t follow the NFL I don’t watch it but he’s going from being a relatively Big Fish um in a small pond to being a
Tiny fish in an enormous Pond I mean like the level of talent and athlete that you’re talking about who are going to be at those trials and stuff is going to be off the chart so something special is going to have to happen for him to make one of the squads like you’re
Saying will um so it’s hard to see how it’s motivated by money either so we’ll see how it works out but I’m excited to see if it works out um I have my doubts like I said but um I don’t think we’re going to see an Irish player be doing it
Anytime soon but that’s probably because we lack the fast twitch fibers first well we had a punter playing for the Packers in the playoffs the weekend he’s foran scary so that is where I think if if you if you’re coming from our game punter that like remember
R packing Ry just to kick the ball that’s your only thing is to go on and like kick the ball you really know if you haven’t got a if you’ve got a bad one look we wish look you wish him all the best like he’s clearly taking a punt on this you just
Wonder you know as you really considered you know how good like how good an athlete these guys are like they’re just they’re so specialized and they’re just freaky good like it’s it’s kind of almost like I’m not goingon to say it’s arrogant to think you could go across
And do it but these like these kids have been doing it since they’re five years old more often than not like to be a to think he could just transfer across leaving aside all the athletic ability that they have like it’s so it’s such a technical game as well you know
Um you hear about like even people who like smart people you know talking about trying to pick up a Playbook and understand it people who’ve been in college who are you know who’ve been playing football since they’re like kind of five six seven like being able to pick up these things like it’s
Unbelievably technical um to play at the top level in most of the teams as well so um it’s not just I don’t think it’s like an open and down the the sidelines kind of thing being a wide receiver like it’s it’s pretty tricky trying to figure
Out all all the different uh calls and all that too as well so it’s not just a physical thing and a skill thing um so um yeah it’s it’s an it’s an upward Hill I imagine um but look we wish him well anyone who takes a shot you know you
Like seeing people take shots at things uh and back themselves but I don’t know I feel like he’s plenty plenty of he could be a great rugby player you know and um I I don’t know feels like a real crucial time in your growth to to be
Giving up yeah just just a finish up we have a new slot in the left wing it’s called a left wing moment of the week in association with Bank of Ireland and this week I’m going to pick it was the last game of the weekend I thought was a
Very enjoyable Champions Cup weekend it was just Bordeaux shredding sarson the moment was just as was any of those first half tries where I think sarons were Shell Shocked just how good Bordeaux were and and how much the backline clicked obviously overseen by n mcnamar who will’ll be familiar with
Over here coach schools level the under 20s team possibly in the frame for the ler attack coach rle next year you know he’s overseeing a backline with Matthew jaler Maxim luchu Peno Louis Billy Beret who will all probably feature against Arland in a few weeks time but just the
The Ruby they played was just was just breathtaking and and to see sarson you know a once proud European Powerhouse just absolutely blitzed by it just you know blue meway as well so that’s my moment of a week Keen what about you um um I know what Luke’s going for
So I’m going to share the love um I’ve picked a moment out of the the laner game my favorite thing in rugby and you’ve definitely heard me say this before is a setpiece move just working to absolute perfection even more so when it works without a Defender being able
To lay a glove on you so um for that reason I picked Jordan lmer second try against dad FR at the weekend beautiful move I was asking Andrew Goodman about it yesterday um and he said they’d run it all week in training but they actually didn’t play the inside ball
That Ron and kellerer played that they’d been going to the outside so for Ronan kellerer and Jordan larmour to have concocted that and basically have played the picture that unfolded in front of them I thought was just brilliant I thought it was a sensational try and it
Must be so satisfying when you spend that much time in training working on it and it works Perfection and a Defender isn’t even even able to lay a glove on you so that’s my moment of the week I thought when you mentioned the ler game that you going to go with Ryan Barrett’s
Giant run from his own 22 which we’ve seen him do before but it’s always great to see him in full flight okay Luke you have the last word then what was your moment of the week uh I went with zebo’s try I just thought it was a it was a
Critical moment in the game I thought the way he hid for any any Winger took me so long to figure this out about you know the positions you should try and kind of find yourself in if you watch him he kind of drifts right in behind um
Crowley knowing that he wants the chip to go into that little space on the inside that was excellent execution by Crowley as well but I just loved to Zebo you can see Zebo calling it out to him drifting in behind him knowing that he’s going to be you know coming back inside
Him once the chip is made um beautiful bit of play lovely communication to spot to spot the uh the Gap in behind the the defense and Brilliant execution to hang on to it at a at a big moment he I I think he’s been brilliant for Monster
When he’s been in the Jersey this year critical thing for him now is just staying fit but that was my moment of the match and moment of the week yeah I think he was he’s a special player I think when he’s on form and um loving watching at the moment so hopefully he
Gets his place in that Ireland Squad oh there were plenty of Great Moments last weekend and hopefully we’ll get plenty of great moments on the final round of Champions Cup pool games coming this weekend that’s all we have time for on the latest episode of the leftwing
Podcast I would like to thank Luke and Keane for joining me tonight we will have another podcast after the Ireland Squad announcement so keep an eye out for that so until next time thanks so much for listening and goodbye
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Feels like I’ve seen this before.
Feels like I’ve seen this before.