u/mcjoc

Connacht fan here, so i don't think this is cope. Also, cards on table, a certified Cullen and Nienaber hater who thinks them moving on is the best for Ireland long term... But watching that first half back I think Leinster were pretty unlucky. Every bounce went to UBB and they got the rib of the green with Dickson's lottery refereeing.

Dickson is so bad lol. The amount of infringements by UBB during Leinster's first try that were ignored, then immediately onto some fairly marginal pens in the three attempts leading to UBBs first. Everyone always says "it wouldn't have changed the result but I dunno, might it not? Not to say UBB weren't deserved winners, they obviously were, but if Leinster repel that attack (they were winning collisions before the penalty under the posts on Henshaw for some reason) who is to say they don't score next, go 10, 12 or 14 up and it'd a different game!

Anyway, they didn't.

Next infuriating bit is them listening to LBB about Keenan's finger on the kick. Right call in the end but how many times do you hear refs ignore captains saying the TMO will pick it up. Why does this get checked because a player asked? The inconsistency is pretty annoying.

As for the try itself, look at Poitot's elbow here, its that side that goes down and UBB get a penalty (keeping the ball in without any go forward. Hmm...

Then the VdF turnover to knockon. Its just a penalty isn't it! Ball not released and hands in prevent him winning it cleanly. Instead a scrum to UBB.

(Also TOB needs to do better earlier with the kick to LBB).

The penalty on Ringer is soft af. Inconsistent Dickson special!

21-7 now.

The lineout misfire is ridiculous Leinster. Atrocious.

In the phases after the scrum up to the Conan knock on there are a few marginal offsides, just like the one called on Henshaw earlier. Not being able to play on pen advantage is massive in addition to the handling turnover. Conan still needs better hands there but pressure is a thing!

Aside, Clarkson is looking good in the scrum, reckon he can kick on to learn how to milk pens from scrums (shit for rugby but that's the game now).

That "turnover" on 31 minutes is one of the worst reffing decisions I've seen in years. I mean Christ, utterly obvious Dickson! That's then likely a line out 5-10 metres from the UBB try line and it's still only 21-7 at that point. A score makes things very different or even if not its time off the clock which would be useful given how the half ended!

I can't even give props to UBB for their 4th try, nice reactions and they thrive in chaos etc. but there spuffy bounces in 10s is outrageously lucky.

Leinster looking toothless in attack when they do have it. Admittedly a gruelling half. But then the play up to the interception is better, until the last pass.

And that's the game.

Now as I said I'm a Cullen and Nienaber hater but that was such a weird half that I can't even blame them (Osborne should have started over Henshaw).

I just don't think you can draw significant conclusions from that 40 minutes of rugby. UBB are a great team who had a perfect storm where virtually everything went their way, and they feasted.

Taking the season as a whole I do think you can question the blitz system (and its knockon effects for discipline and energy), the deeply average at best attack and the selection policy Cullen keeps getting wrong imo. But reacting to the scoreline to pronounce the demise of Irish rugby is way too hyperbolic IMO.