If Sam Prendergast started at 10 today and had the exact same performance as Byrne did today he would’ve been ripped apart by the media, this sub and any other commentator from Premier Sport or r/Irishrugby . He would’ve been sheered online and condemned back to the AIL by every commentor. No other player in Ireland is as focused on as Prendergast. He wouldn’t have played worse than Byrne did today, his mistakes today cost us a chance of winning this final (not the win, but a chance of winning). Byrne is an abysmal 10, there is no argument that he should be starting ahead of Prendergast. How we’ve let Frawley go at Byrne”: expense is a disgrace.

To do list:
1. Get back to RDS and build back a bit of home spirit.

1. Nienaber back to SA , probably should head directly back from Bilbao. It’s closer.

2. Leo to travel with JN. Can be his house boy or gardener.

3. Apology to Frawley and ask him to come back

4. Ben Murphy to come back as number 2 to JGP

5. Charlie Tector as back up 10 to Frawley.

6. Reduce the wage bill where possible. Henshaw, Furlong, Sam, Harry, etc. Need to be ruthless. No more of these long good byes

7. New attack minded coaches. Back to the drift defence.

8. Offer J Barrett whatever he wants

9. Most important of all, get rid of the per stained Castore jerseys. Back to Canterbury

I’m only venting after the final but 1. 2, 3, 4, 8 and 10 are non negotiable.

Roll on next season

Oh well

Absolute madness they let him go. Why did everyone just turn their back on Frawley after NZ game last year?

Convinced he will be a huge success at Connacht.

Saw this on Facebook - got a laugh out of it. Here's to a cracking match either way

Lots of posts here in the sub today about who should get fired and/or resign. So I figured it'd be good to see what the actual contract situations are.

I googled the coaches most fans are blaming and it seems like Cullen, Nienaber and Bleyendaal have contracts until the end of 2026/27. So they will most likely have another season regardless of how the URC goes (unless they decide to quit voluntarily).

As for our players:

- Slimani to Toulon.

- Ioane to Blues.

- Snyman is unconfirmed.

- Frawley, Cahir + Connors to Connacht.

- McGrath to Perpignan.

- McKee to Scarlets.

- Carbery returning from UBB.

So as things stand nothing has really been mentioned about who is coming to Leinster (aside from Carbery). There could technically be zero NIQs next season. Is this correct or are there any other players rumoured to be joining?

Also, are there many coaches out of contract after next season you'd snap up ROG? Razor? Mike Prendergast? (McNamara unfortunately contracted until 2029)

Since that final whistle I’ve seen so many people blaming Harry Byrne for today. Was this a good day for Byrne was it his fault we lost no it wasn’t. Yes his pass got intercepted but watch it back it’s a moment of pure class from Bordoux and the pod shape of Leinster in that situation wasn’t great the pod was far to spread out compared to what Leinster usually have in the stage of the pitch. Yes he kicked it out on the full but he also had the try saving tackle in the corner and had a mighty kick for TOBs try.

People are already jumping on the Frawley bandwagon. Frawley didn’t have an amazing season and he had no claim to starting today Harry Byrne had been consistent all season.

Frawley was very good when he came on and will be a big miss next year. In the carry he was very solid but other than that and actual game management and structure it didn’t improve a crazy amount to what people are saying. He also missed touch and over cooked a kick to Ioane. We can all nit pick at each player but it’s the whole teams fault.

People who are singling out individuals like Byrne to me aren’t true fans. That’s the whole teams fault and the coaching staffs fault.

At this stage now I think a whole clear out of Leinster management is needed we need a fresh start.

Looking at the team buses roll in for the final and the difference between Bordeaux Vs Leinster supporters is night and day.

Bordeaux: Flares, chanting at the top of their voice, drums, flags etc

Leinster: Leo the Lion, the drummers, a few flags, auld lads waving their pint glasses, "LEINSTER, LEINSTER, LEINSTER"... Done

I'll take it, this is a big event that costs a lot and France can technically drive there. But it's the same at the Aviva or RDS

True today, true five years ago.

I’m gonna miss the match because I’m away for the day, will be deleting Reddit and rugby pass and Instagram and WhatsApp and any other way the score might get spoiled for me from the phone.

If you’re going to it, on Leo the Lions signal, unleash hell. If you find yourselves riding in green fields with the sun on your face and a fifth star on your chest, fear not, for you are in Elysium, and you are already dead. Strength and Honour. 👊

Hi everyone, I know this is not really important given the scale of what lies before us today , but I was at the Ulster Game last night and queued up for a beer at half time for 20mins , only to be told that no alcohol is served after kick off , only Heineken 0% ,

But you can bring water with you as long as your bottle is open on the way in ..

Oh and its very hot 🔥 inside the stadium 😉.

The poor bastard is going to have a heat stroke tomorrow wearing that suit in the heat.

It’s unbelievably hot and sticky here and the town is crammed with French supporters. San Memes near shook tonight when they gave us a rendition of La Marseillaise.

I think the heat had a big impact tonight for Ulster. I hope I’m wrong.

Another poster mentioned him but I think it’s not a bad idea. Bringing him back could give us a bit of fight and a back bone. He also took no shit and had a well drilled team. I’d also take Joe back but don’t think he’d be interested in living here again.

Grand reveal after we secure our fifth star today!

Tough to lose in another final. However, a win today would have masked a lot of fundamental issues within the club. Long term, the stock take this loss will force internally will set the club up for the next decade.

- Firstly, a freshened up coaching ticket. I’m not going to comment on Leo’s level of blame in the final losses, however, it’s clear a change is required. Attendances dropped this year and you’d imagine will continue to drop next year. That alone means a change needs to be made.

- This is the end of an era. We missed our chance with this generation. Sam needs to be invested in at 10. His defence is a flawed, like Clarkson’s scrummaging was when he first broke into the team. He is, however, the most gifted 10 in an attacking sense in the country. We might not win much for a couple of years while he improves his defence but it will be worth it long term. Paddy Mc needs a run as starting LH and we need Hugh Cooney, Soroka’s and JJ Kenny pulled into the XV too. Both Smyths should be introduced to the side. Both are highly rated and Sheehan has went missing too often in big games.

- Furlong and Lowe should move on. The CC system means we they are a luxury we can no longer afford. Harsh, as both have been great servants but it’s simple economics based on minutes played versus age versus cost. The money saved should be reinvested in a 9 that can support JGP.

- We could do with shedding a few bandwagon fans and I think the move back to the RDS will help with that. I have seen some odd comments on here and elsewhere from so called “Leinster fans”. I saw one recently about how Prendergast should be sent to the AIL. That’s not the Leinster I grew up with. This club was built on giving young players a chance. The pipeline isn’t why we have so many home produced Test players. It’s the fact we take the risk and play them in big games and develop them. Unlike Munster, for example, who give young players no game time and act surprised they have no Test players. Hopefully these “fans” if they aren’t bots crawl back to watching Premier League after this season.

Our club is built on solid foundations. UBB will come and go like Saracens and LAR before them. We will outlast them all. Long term, we will be the most successful team in Europe ever. Keep that in mind.