“It pains me to compliment them!”
As the Irish province knocking over the most sides in the club game, Leinster are copping it from many fans, pundits and even coaches in England, France, Wales, Scotland and South Africa. We are sure not everyone in Italy is too thrilled, either.
So far this season, Leinster have won 22 out of their 23 games, are guaranteed of the No.1 seed in the United Rugby Championship knock-out stages and, as No.1 seed in the Champions Cup, have a ‘home’ semi-final against Toulouse. Their squad is full of Grand Slam winners from Ireland’s Six Nations campaign, with several of the U20 Grand Slam side in their academy ranks.
Last weekend’s 55-24 win over Leicester Tigers had the English side’s coach saying there was a “gulf” between what both sides could pay their players. We also had a former England star complaining about the top seeds potentially having four ‘home’ knock-out games at Aviva Stadium if they reached the final.
On House of Rugby, the stirring defence of Leinster came from two proud Munster men, Greg O’Shea and Jason Hennessy, with Lindsay Peat happy to sit back, nod her head and occasionally chime in with some extra facts.
“Look at Leicester,” said Jason Hennessy, “they had Handre Pollard, Jasper Wiese, Julian Montoya, Tommy Reffell and 10 England internationals in their squad… you can bet many of them are on big money.
“C’mere, I’m as Munster as they get. It pains me to see Leinster doing so well. It pains me to compliment them, but of course I’m going to compliment them because I recognise their success and how hard they’ve worked to get that success. To get a home Last 16 and quarter final, you have to top your pool. They did that, they won all their games. It wasn’t handed to them.”
On the latest House of Rugby [LISTEN to the full show below], the panel set out the reasons why some are cribbing about Leinster, while also explaining why this season’s Champions Cup is set up the way it is.
Dan Sheehan of Leinster celebrates his side’s fifth try against Leicester Tigers during the Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final. (Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile)Leinster stars O’Brien and Ringrose praised
Greg, Lindsay and Jason were back in the House of Rugby studio and there was a heap of hot topics to cover, with two Leinster backs lavished with praise. They discussed:
2:30 – Jimmy O’Brien and Garry Ringrose on fire
6:00 – Where to target Leinster
12:10 – Openside chat & Scott Penny’s fend!
15:00 – In defence of Leinster – “It pains me to say it!”
24:55 – Toulouse skewer Sharks
35:00 – La Rochelle beat Sarries, ROG praise
43:10 – Women’s Six Nations
47:00 – Red card and high tackle madness
58:50 – United Rugby Championship preview
WATCH HOUSE OF RUGBY HERE:
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