Ross Byrne
Leinster's season petered out at the RDS on Friday night after a season that promised a lot. The Scarlets came to play, and Leinster's defense, which has been dodgy on and off all season, imploded in the face of top class attack from the Scarlets. I can tell you where it all went wrong too - why didn't they run on to 'Welcome to the Jungle'? If it isn't broken, don't fix it! We just looked flat, out of batteries, and off the pace. dropping it, kicking it out on the full, passing it in to touch. It was pretty difficult to watch.
My take on it is that despite the depth of Leinster's squad, they need more depth. Losing three quarters of your squad in the Autumn internationals and Six Nations, then fighting your way to the closing stages of two tournaments really takes it out of you. And we don't have the luxury of signing a rake of top class internationals, we have to go here's one we made earlier, and pluck them of the academy. The positives for Leinster are the young new players - Adam and Ross Byrne, O'Laughlin, Carbery, Daly, Gibson-Park, Leavey, Tracey, Dooley, and more. With another season to bed them in, we are going to have an incredible team. In the meantime, hats off to the Scarlets for their success.
Connacht kept themselves roughly in touch against Northampton, but ultimately came up short. Time to draw a line under the season, and see if the new coach can bring the magic back next year.
Finally, Munster spared Ireland's blushes with an emphatic win at Thomond park. The Ospreys kept it decent in the first half, and then got blown away in the second. Munster must be heavy favourites to win next week.
Saturday 20th May
Aviva Premiership
Exeter 18 16 Saracens FT
Wasps 21 20 Leicester Tigers FT
Top 14
Montpellier 13 22 Racing 92
European Rugby Champions Cup
Northampton 21 15 Connacht FT
Guinness PRO12
Munster 23 3 Ospreys
Friday 19th May
Top 14
Toulon 26 22 Castres FT
European Rugby Champions Cup
Stade Francais 46 21 Cardiff Blues FT
Guinness PRO12
Leinster 15 27 Scarlets
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