Leinster vs Toulon

I can't see a match thread for this game so thought I would start one.

This is a great game so far. Leinster are looking much better.

Also I think that Wayne Barnes is doing a good job so far - he isn't letting Toulon away with their cynical play at the breakdown.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:Also I think that Wayne Barnes is doing a good job so far - he isn't letting Toulon away with their cynical play at the breakdown.

If that was a penalty try it must have also been a yellow card surely?

Intense pressure by Toulon. That try was always coming.

Cyril wrote:Intense pressure by Toulon. That try was always coming.

I think Leinster are playing intelligent rugby today, but Toulon are just physically dominating as always.

Rhys Ruddock is in sublime form.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:Rhys Ruddock is in sublime form.

Was just thinking he's playing very well, but haven't seen any other games recently to know if it's a one off!

Leinster deserve their lead. Sexton looks in better form than he did last week, thankfully. Toulon were lucky not to pick up another yellow towards the end, but overall I think Barns has had a very good game.

BamBam wrote:

Rory_Gallagher wrote:Rhys Ruddock is in sublime form.

Was just thinking he's playing very well, but haven't seen any other games recently to know if it's a one off!

He was playing really well last season as well but this season he has been even better. Really putting his hand up for a starting place in the Ireland team. We now have 3 fantastic options at blindside flanker for Ireland when they are all fit in Henderson, O'Mahony and Ruddock. Each bring something different to the team as well.

Absolutely incredible defence there from Leinster. Toulon going nowhere there.

Typical from Sean Cronin. Excellent play in the loose and an awful line-out to follow. If he was good in the set piece he would be world class.

Wonderful defending from van der Flier yet again.

Leinster have no defence for the Toulon maul.

Toulon really do have a knack for winning without playing their best. Some pretty heroic defence by Leinster at times but you really need to score tries to beat Toulon.

I could never imagine this Leinster team losing 3 from 3, but I guess it's a tough pool. That and the appointment of Cullen is a big step-down from the previous coaches Leinster have had (I include MOC in that too) - so they were always going to be up against it anyway. I thought the Irish were a lot smarter in their recruitment. Cullen is a bit of a 'jobs for the boys' and is a very welsh thing to do. I guess Leinster will now be launching an even greater assault on the Pro12?

How was Del boy's shoulder charge into Reddan's back not a card? Deliberate foul play like that surely has to be punished.

Toulon May suffer from not getting a bp, don't think they will win group and it's going to be very tight for best runners up slots,

mikey_dragon wrote:I could never imagine this Leinster team losing 3 from 3, but I guess it's a tough pool. That and the appointment of Cullen is a big step-down from the previous coaches Leinster have had (I include MOC in that too) - so they were always going to be up against it anyway. I thought the Irish were a lot smarter in their recruitment. Cullen is a bit of a 'jobs for the boys' and is a very welsh thing to do. I guess Leinster will now be launching an even greater assault on the Pro12?

Munster did the same with the appointment of Foley, very strange indeed although i think Cullen is doing reasonably well, there were some glimpse of the Leinster of old in the 1st half yesterday but there is not much you can do when Tom Denton (Irish version of Lloyd Peers) is the replacement lock and against a team like Toulon, who can bring on someone like Gorgodze it showed.

Although the loss of Ben Teo was huge, Madigan was very poor once again.

True, but Munster seem to be doing better and for the first time in a while have a slight better squad. I still think Ulster are good btw, and they play some sexy rugby, but are probably still missing the top couple of inches. The French are looking very dominant and I doubt even the Irish will be able to halt them.

As a Leinster fan I'm not happy with where we are but I'm happy with where we're headed.Despite my initial fears it now looks like Cullen is a much better coach compared to MoC,he's just starting form a lower base and has had to deal with the disruption of the WC too.We have a lot to work on but each week with Cullen in charge I see improvements,they are gradual but at least we're getting there.