Alex Goode just doesn't stop during Saracens celebrations

Leinster did not do enough to ensure ball security. All three attacking opportunities (disallowed try, midfield crash ball, and final tap penalty) should have resulted in a clean ruck recycle but all ended up with losing the ball.

The opponents did some naughty things in those tackles/rucks, and the ref made some bad calls, but that’s no excuse. Leinster should have protected the ball better, should have resourced those rucks better, and should have managed the recycle better.

The last penalty move was really bad, and was really the story of the game. Firstly, it was blatantly obvious to read what they were doing, even without it being a repeat of the earlier tap fake. If you look at the defenders they were fully lined up expected that crash ball on the 15m line, got that read reinforced when the Leinster forwards moved wider from the spot, and the defense were ready with a gang tackle. The ball carrier literally had no options other than to take the tackle, and what it looked like was a planned recycle with a pass to RG Snyman off 9, followed bby a Snyman offload and a famous try by a midfielder. But instead of setting the ruck properly the ball carrier face planted.

How does that happen? You have all of the initiative. It’s 7 forwards against 8. You know where and how you are going to hit the defense. You have your support players right in behind you. The Saints played the ball illegally in the ruck (and got away with it), but they should never have had the chance to do so.

This was like match point in a tennis final, with Leinster to serve for the game. They fluffed it.

Ireland have won 3 grand slams since 2018. Leinster won the ERC in 2018 plus a few URCs since. Leinster have been in 16 semi finals and won 8. With 4 ERC wins. Toulouse have been in 17 semi-finals and won 6. Considering Ireland and Irish teams could count the number of wins they won in the 90s in one hand we will take that. Not enough for an arrogant guy like you too ch1cken sh1t to reveal his country I guess.

Judging from a few years of poor end game match management my hunch is that sorting it out has fallen between the stools of Cullen-Nienaber and previously Cullen-Lancaster. That’s a finger pointing right at Cullen as overall manager.