Leinster Vs Leicester Friday 8pm

[FKAS]

Leinster are playing really dim. The Tigers midfield is struggling with Kelly not fully match fit and Potter with very little experience at centre. Twice now they've been turned over in Tigers 22 when just pounding away at the line. They really should just be generating enough space to set the backs loose. Playing physical really is allowing Tigers to stay in the game.

Dread to think what the score would be if Leinster were playing smart

Exactly. If they concentrated on giving their backs chance to run I'm not sure Tigers would be in touch now.

Great finish by Watson and suddenly it's just a 7 point difference despite Leinster have the better chances.

[paddy no 11]

Some of the leinster clean outs worth a 2nd look?

Van poor done well given there is zero protection at breakdown

[FKAS]

Reffell keeping Leicester in it

Kelly being destroyed

Leinster being dumb enough to keep running into Leicester's big forwards is giving Montoya and Reffell so many chances. Reffell is being given lots of chances and is making hay.

Kelly definitely struggling. He's not match fit and Potter is defending like a winger which is leaving him a bit isolated. Having to mark a couple of high quality international centres isn't helping.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Some of the leinster clean outs worth a 2nd look?

Van poor done well given there is zero protection at breakdown

More than the clear outs for me, bu they don’t get replayed. It’s not just French directors

[FKAS]

Some of the leinster clean outs worth a 2nd look?

Van poor done well given there is zero protection at breakdown

More than the clear outs for me, bu they don’t get replayed. It’s not just French directors

One very incriminating replay of the early tackle on Cronin that should have been at least a yellow card as he was through if not tackled early. Porter's that wasn't an early tackle, at least three replays including slow mo. Absolutely ridiculous. It's just so amateur.

We did get to see Porter giving it the big bollocks, shoving his forearm into Henderson's face and beating a very hasty retreat once Weise hauled him up for a conversation. Those big bollocks shrunk real quick.

[Puja]

Leinster just being very very good, all the time, and it's very hard work to keep up with them. We're going to need to step up our game second half, or have a run of really good luck, otherwise they're just going to wear us down and end up running away with it.

Puja

[Puja]

Speaking of needing luck, we've had bog all luck on the 50:50 calls this half. Could've done with a better start and lucky not to concede.

And, as I type that, we get a bit of luck with the yellow.

Puja

[stepsider]

Leicester midfield passing very ragged

[paddy no 11]

Not a scrum penalty there, leinster just went sideways and threw themselves to the floor

[FKAS]

Leicester midfield passing very ragged

The players just don't seem to be where Pollard is expecting them to be. The pass that goes to floor just after the yellow card is meant for Brown but he's fading off it instead of cutting onto it.

[Puja]

Leicester midfield passing very ragged

That's the second one that Pollard's cocked up. Not looking good this evening, wonderful touchline conversion notwithstanding.

Puja

[FKAS]

Not a scrum penalty there

Looks like Porter ran round without ever going forward. Assistant called that one, not a good call for me.

[morepork]

Leicester midfield passing very ragged

That's the second one that Pollard's cocked up. Not looking good this evening, wonderful touchline conversion notwithstanding.

Puja

The perfect South African-English pivot.

[Puja]

Just too good in general. Nothing we can do when they're so clean and accurate.

Ringrose is such a good player.

Puja

[FKAS]

See my earlier comments about how much more dangerous Leinster would look if they stopped running into a brick wall and gave the ball to the backs. Ringrose man of the match so far, he's been absolutely class.

[morepork]

Ringrose...the centre we all want

[Puja]

Van Poortvliet needs to be outright barred from attempting to make cute attacking box kicks.

Puja

[Puja]

The game's gone now. We should just bring CAtkinson on for 22 minutes experience in a febrile atmosphere - not like Pollard's going to win the game for us from here.

And, as I type, penalty try. Yaay.

Puja

[stepsider]

Tigers can't stop kicking the ball away to one of the best counter attacking sides around. SB legacy?

[FKAS]

Tigers can't stop kicking the ball away to one of the best counter attacking sides around. SB legacy?

We've got three capped fullbacks in the back three but a litany of midfield injuries.

[Puja]

Is it just me or was that not actually a high tackle there?

Puja

[Puja]

I don't think we've had possession since Atkinson came on. Poor sod.

Puja

[FKAS]

Is it just me or was that not actually a high tackle there?

Puja

Didn't look like it to me but we've had sod all off the ref since the yellow card. Some pretty crappy calls helping set up some really good Leinster mauls.

[Puja]

Fair play Leinster - just too good overall. Losing Montoya hurt and not having an actual outside centre was costly, as well as Kelly only having had 10 minutes back from injury, but realistically, we needed everything to go our way in order to win that, whereas Leinster could rely on their own quality.

Thought Martin showed up well, early defensive fuckup notwithstanding, and Heyes was decent. JVP has gone backwards, although was unlucky not to've put Cronin in for an early score when he was tackled off the ball. Aside from that, just looked disjointed, as to be expected with injuries. Listened on in envy to the commentators talking about Leinster being able to rest their 1st XV for the next 2 weeks of the URC.

Puja

[Spiffy]

Leicester played with a lot of spirit and grit, but look a poorly-organized team.
How is Van Poort anywhere near the England squad?