Gordon D’Arcy
👤 SpeakerAppearances Over Time
Podcast Appearances
So this is the, I think, the kind of key point.
There's a couple of things that are within their control and some of the stuff maybe that aren't within their control.
But now, one of the things that were within their control, we know how they can play 60 minutes, but they need to be able to play that into the final quarter, particularly against Bordeaux, because we know that they have a version of the Le Bon squad.
And that was what turned the game against Bath, despite some interesting refereeing calls or lack of calls.
their strength on the bench was what turned it in their favor.
Leinster have really cemented how they're going to play the game.
It's not going to vary from that, nor should it.
And it's very, very effective.
And that's good.
But I think the bits that are outside of their control, the bench, they need a little bit of sympathy.
You could just, you know, you're now...
I think the second row piece and getting someone to fill that third spot because James Ryan and John McCarthy were unbelievable for the whole game.
But to expect them to play the 80 minutes in a final is potentially a lot unless they get some of the front row forwards back that can take a little bit of the pressure off them.
But I think how the backs in the bench came impacted.
I think I kind of was pro Sam Prendergast coming in as a 15, as a second playmaker.
But I think the inexperience of how to cover the backfield is too big of a stretch.
Now, John, you've rarely been a fan of Frawley filling that gap.
I don't think Prendergast has the capacity to fill it.
Because when he shuffled into 15, Keenan's playing on the wing and Keenan is a brilliant player.
But what opened the door for me with Toulon was that backfield cover was suddenly gone that Keenan is the best at.