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Leinster issue injured trio update, including 'hobbling' Furlong

(Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Leinster were left nursing some wounds in the aftermath of defeating Toulouse in the Heineken Champions Cup semi-finals, but coach Leo Cullen didn’t sound that concerned on Saturday evening when providing an update on the status of a casualty list featuring three of his forwards – including Tadhg Furlong.

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The tighthead lasted just 17 minutes of the game in Dublin, with Ronan Kelleher later withdrawn in the second half. James Lowe was also said to have picked up a knock. With the final just a fortnight away in Marseille on May 28, the health of the trio was an obvious go-to topic in the aftermath of the 40-17 victory over the 2021 champions.

“Tadhg seems to be okay there now,” reported Leinster boss Cullen when asked for an update on Furlong and the two others who left the Aviva Stadium scene early. “You could see him hobbling, so he has done something to his ankle. It didn’t seem to be too bad but the extent we will get figured out in the next couple of days. 

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“Ronan went off so he will just go through the graduated return to play. James took a bang at the end on his shin but it doesn’t seem to be too serious from the first reports in there,  but we will get it all checked.” 

Next up on the Cullen agenda is a Sunday afternoon on the couch to learn whether it is Racing or La Rochelle who will play Leinster in the final. “We will watch with great interest how Racing go against La Rochelle. I was listening to Mike Prendergast yesterday [Friday] and just the desire of Racing to win a European star from their owners all the way through the club, it’s a big goal of theirs. 

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“If they were to progress we know then as we came across them before in a final in Bilbao (in 2018) and La Rochelle, we experienced them first hand, we lost that semi-final last year when we didn’t deliver our best performance on the day.

“At this stage of the tournament you need to be delivering close to your best against the best teams in Europe, but it’s a hugely exciting challenge away against a French team down in Marseille which is a different environment and we have experienced that before. 

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“We were down there in a semi-final (against Toulon in 2015). We don’t have many players that are still around from that day. Johnny (Sexton) wasn’t even there, he was away at the time (at Racing) but there are parts of that game, that weekend that still lives strong in my memory for lots of the wrong reasons – but it is just a hugely exciting challenge. It has been a season of many twists and turns to get to this point.”

Reflecting on the semi-final win over Toulouse, Cullen added: “Credit to the lads, there was lots of good stuff in the game. It was amazing to run out in front of that crowd (of 42,076) as well. It was a short week so a huge effort to get that crowd in those numbers. That created a lot of energy for the team and they fed off that. Lots of good stuff against a very good team in Toulouse.

“The lads threw the kitchen since at it but Toulouse hung in and hung in and they are always a constant threat. You could see that in the first half where we were attacking in their 22 and lost possession and they are gone the length of the field. That constant threat was there the whole time but for our guys, I thought it was a good performance overall. There is still room for growth as always but to deliver a big performance in the semi-final is pleasing.”

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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