At what point does selecting this lad become cruel? He is so far off the standard required that it must be impacting the guys confidence/well being.
This has been going on for a couple of years ago and it’s not fair on his teammates or him, himself.
Tough to lose in another final. However, a win today would have masked a lot of fundamental issues within the club. Long term, the stock take this loss will force internally will set the club up for the next decade.
- Firstly, a freshened up coaching ticket. I’m not going to comment on Leo’s level of blame in the final losses, however, it’s clear a change is required. Attendances dropped this year and you’d imagine will continue to drop next year. That alone means a change needs to be made.
- This is the end of an era. We missed our chance with this generation. Sam needs to be invested in at 10. His defence is a flawed, like Clarkson’s scrummaging was when he first broke into the team. He is, however, the most gifted 10 in an attacking sense in the country. We might not win much for a couple of years while he improves his defence but it will be worth it long term. Paddy Mc needs a run as starting LH and we need Hugh Cooney, Soroka’s and JJ Kenny pulled into the XV too. Both Smyths should be introduced to the side. Both are highly rated and Sheehan has went missing too often in big games.
- Furlong and Lowe should move on. The CC system means we they are a luxury we can no longer afford. Harsh, as both have been great servants but it’s simple economics based on minutes played versus age versus cost. The money saved should be reinvested in a 9 that can support JGP.
- We could do with shedding a few bandwagon fans and I think the move back to the RDS will help with that. I have seen some odd comments on here and elsewhere from so called “Leinster fans”. I saw one recently about how Prendergast should be sent to the AIL. That’s not the Leinster I grew up with. This club was built on giving young players a chance. The pipeline isn’t why we have so many home produced Test players. It’s the fact we take the risk and play them in big games and develop them. Unlike Munster, for example, who give young players no game time and act surprised they have no Test players. Hopefully these “fans” if they aren’t bots crawl back to watching Premier League after this season.
Our club is built on solid foundations. UBB will come and go like Saracens and LAR before them. We will outlast them all. Long term, we will be the most successful team in Europe ever. Keep that in mind.