Leinster v Saracens Sat 3pm

[Digby]

Teams finding a way to win through pressure and defence is hardly a new thing, and that's always likely to be a big influence. The question for rugby is whether that's the sort of marque game it wants.

I'd rather watch something more akin to the Super Rugby Aotearoa, but if what you had was power, defence and kicking you could still win with that.

It shouldn’t be a binary argument really. Pragmatism is a hall mark of the most successful teams- sometimes you have to work with what you’ve got, or what develops in front of you. Defence is a big part of rugby, like it or not.

‘Rugby deciding whether it’s the sort of marque game it wants’ made me both grimace and laugh.

That's how the IRB talk about these events, and how it impacts what they care about, which is to say TV audiences and finances

[paddy no 11]

Matt Williams gets most of his work in Ireland hes just giving producers or editors what they want to hear for clicks etc the article is meaningless - irelands only tactic for 2 years was a Conor Murray boxkick yet when sarries do it etc

[Banquo]

Teams finding a way to win through pressure and defence is hardly a new thing, and that's always likely to be a big influence. The question for rugby is whether that's the sort of marque game it wants.

I'd rather watch something more akin to the Super Rugby Aotearoa, but if what you had was power, defence and kicking you could still win with that.

It shouldn’t be a binary argument really. Pragmatism is a hall mark of the most successful teams- sometimes you have to work with what you’ve got, or what develops in front of you. Defence is a big part of rugby, like it or not.

‘Rugby deciding whether it’s the sort of marque game it wants’ made me both grimace and laugh.

That's how the IRB talk about these events, and how it impacts what they care about, which is to say TV audiences and finances

Not stopping me laughing and grimacing.

[Timbo]

Sarries of circa 2019 Heineken Cup winning vintage would often play some excellent attacking rugby. They’d play at a pace and with an efficiency that no other team in the NH could match. They bolted on the more expansive parts of their game as it was needed to get over the line in Europe.

This iteration of Sarries is a bit more prosaic, mainly cos they’ve got no bench, so have to get the clock stopped as much as possible so their front liners aren’t cooked after 50 minutes. That could be a big issue against this Racing team in their stadium. Usually some super fast rugby played on that pitch.

[jngf]

He’s got a huge work rate, good in the lineout and puts his body on the line. Perfect for the premierships general aspirations; he’s not that skilful and is pretty unthinking and dirty. Kind of shows a certain sort of mindset that he got motm.

Will be Eddy’s next openside then