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Leinster 'definitely our most physical game of the season'

(Photo by Getty Images)

After a bruising contest in Dublin, Toulouse backrow Rynhardt Elstadt admits Leinster were the French side’s most physical challenge this season.

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Leinster secured a bonus win over the visiting French side at the RDS and maybe, more importantly, revenge against the team to hand them their only loss in the competition so far this season.

The 6’6, 117kg forward is normally to be found in the second row for the Top 14 giants, but lined in the No.7 in what was a heavyweight pack sent into battle in Round 5 of the Heineken Champions Cup. The formidable Toulouse pack weighed in at roughly 950kg, with former All Blacks‘ tighthead Charlie Faumuina tipping the scales at 143kg.

“It was definitely our most physical game of the season,” said Elstadt, who hails from Johannesburg in South Africa.

“They’re right up there,” replied the South African when asked where he saw Leinster in terms of this year’s European competition. “They’re definitely the team to beat.”

In a gripping first half, Toulouse appeared to be winning the physical contest with the Dublin based side, but Leinster drew away in a vintage second-half performance.

Elstadt also dismissed the suggestion that Toulouse might have been relieved to see some of Leinster’s big guns missing from the matchday 23.

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“The next guy on the pitch is just as good. If you want a test of character, that’s the team [Leinster] to play against.”

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J
JW 1 hour ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

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