New boy Nathan White (picture from http://bit.ly/oVmh3b )
When Leinster are good they’re brilliant, but when they suck, they really suck. Well, they developed awesome suction in Wales this Friday night. From a team that had to hand Northampton a try on a plate, so tight was their defense last week, to a team that proved as watertight as a leaky sieve this week. And they had some of their big guns back this week, that proved as fearsome as pop guns to the Ospreys. The Welsh won’t turnover the Leinstermen this easy again, well I bloody hope not. As a Leinster Fan, it was horrible to watch, fumble, tumble, stumble. The break down was an out and out disaster. I think the whole team should be given lines – write out 100 times – I must not pass the ball without looking – I must catch the ball when it’s passed to me – I must tackle – I must protect the ball at the breakdown.
Third choice scrum half is obviously an issue, Matt Berquist looks off the pace and a bit underwhelming in general – is he 100% fit?
Then to add insult to injury, all the other Irish provinces won, admittedly either at home or against weaker opposition or both. Lads, this is your golden opportunity to shine while the big boys are swanning around in New Zealand, don’t waste it!
The intensity the Ospreys brought was pretty impressive, they look in good nick. Any simple ball handling skills they displayed made them look masterful in the face of what Leinster were dishing up.
The only bright spot for Leinster on the weekend was in the formidable form of prop Nathan White, Waikato captain up until Saturday, now on his way to Leinster on a one year deal. Don’t really know him but he certainly looks the business. He has some other skills that may help Leinster out with Manu Tualagi if they ever play Leicester again which you can see here:
Aviva Premiership
I watched most of the Irish/Quins match, not too inspiring, Irish are going to have to find some new gears if they want to do anything this year. But what a fantastic win for the Exeter Chiefs, the Irish team for this generation, beating the Tigers.
RaboDirect PRO12
Friday , September 2
Ospreys 27 - 3 Leinster
Ulster 28 - 14 Glasgow
Edinburgh 15 - 38 Cardiff
Benetton Treviso 9 - 11 Connacht
Munster 20 - 12 Newport-Gwent D'gons
Aviva Premiership
Saturday , September 3
London Irish 24 - 29 Harlequins
Worcester 17 - 12 Sale
Leicester 28 - 30 Exeter
Newcastle 9 - 22 Bath
Saracens 15 - 20 Wasps
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