Leinster’s emphatic win fires a warning shot to Europe but they left clues on how to beat them
Leinster’s ‘drive for five’ started in emphatic fashion on Friday night, drowning Wasps in a sea of blue tries by 52-3 in the opening defence of their Champions Cup title.
This was as dominant a performance as you can get playing with a ball-control philosophy. Wasps were battered phase after phase in a relentless demonstration at the RDS, failing to ever get a good grip in the one-sided arm wrestle. The dam eventually broke and a flood of points came Leinster’s way.
If there was ever debate about needing a balanced territorial kicking game to win a game of rugby, show them this game tape. This is officially the age of ball-in-hand rugby.
If you have the ball, you have control. If you can keep it, your opponent can’t even get into the game.
This is what separates Leinster from everyone else right now. They have a level of clinical execution to carry out this style of play – without inefficiency, without lapses, without getting ahead of themselves.
The limited kicking that they do deploy is usually contested box kicks, with a chance to regain possession and standard exit kicking inside their own 22. Outside of that, don’t expect Leinster to give you the ball. You will have to take it from them, which most sides can’t do.
All defence systems have a ‘maximum capacity load’ before they break, and Leinster has the ability to find that stress point and then exceed it. Their first possession went 12 phases before an error, which buoyed the confidence of Wasps. They quickly conceded a scrum penalty, handing back possession, which Leinster used for another 10 phases before scoring their first try.
Ten minutes later, Leinster piled on 23 phases, marching down inside the five before turning it over at the final hurdle. Wasps were in the game on the scoreboard down 7-3, but not on the pitch. Every Leinster possession chips away at the defence, wearing it down.
In the final minute of the first half, the yellow card to Sopoaga became the first crack in the dam, and Leinster scored after putting 14 phases together.
A James Lowe strike off a midfield lineout, targeting exactly where the missing Sopoaga wasn’t, extended the lead to 21-3 less than a minute into the second half, triggering a landslide.
Wasps Director of Rugby Dai Young said afterwards he was disappointed about what his side did with ball-in-hand, labelling it the biggest issue for the side rather than defence. He is right. The easiest way to relieve your defence is to do less of it, holding onto the ball stops Leinster doing it.
Wasps are below their best right now after suffering some key personnel losses to injury but have so far this season looked a shell of the side they were with Danny Cipriani at the helm. Letting him walk has disrupted the side more than they have anticipated.
The cohesion is missing and they are unable to play with the control they had last year with the mercurial playmaker. The integration of Lima Sopoaga will take time, whilst Cipriani’s playbook moved with him to Gloucester, taking a lot of what worked so well for Wasps last year.
For any side looking to stop Leinster, it will have to be a case of mirroring what Europe’s champions do to stay in the match. Munster, and to a lesser degree Connacht, have made Leinster fight hard for their Pro14 wins, as all the Irish teams have adopted similar game plans.
This is where having a world-class ‘Jackalers’ can be a trump card. Having a genuine openside flanker has long been the thorn of England’s Premiership teams and by extension, the national side. A total loose forward unit that is immovable over the ball, capable of winning turnovers and disrupting their flow could go a long way to beating them.
David Pocock’s turnovers for the Wallabies over the June series against Ireland were worth anywhere between 20-35 points over the three tests, such was his ability to snuff out attacking raids in good field position. Anyone hoping to beat Leinster needs to have this kind of ability or similar control with ball-in-hand.
Wasps number seven Thomas Young won two turnovers at the ruck on nine contests but Brad Shields had zero on eight attempts, and Nizzam Carr zero from three. Young also gave away one penalty, coming away with a net turnover of just one.
Slowing Leinster’s roll is just one part of the equation however – Leinster’s own defence is just as capable and Wasps gave no clues as to how to unlock it. They were completely flummoxed by a dark blue wall.
Leinster took their first step towards a fifth Champions Cup, showing no signs of slowing down and after Friday night, it’s still not clear who will be able to stop them.
Comments on RugbyPass
100% agree with your comment about Touch. I’ve been playing it competitively since Covid. It’s on a Wednesday night after work. It means the weekend is free for time with my family.
1 Go to commentsRodda back is massively important for the Wallabies. Kaitu at hooker important too coz he was very good a few years ago.
1 Go to commentsThe pink cabous might be eligible this year and the Boks don’t need him
7 Go to commentsNasser and kaitu are options for hooker. Especially Nasser. You forgot Rodda who touch wood will be fit at test time and if fit he’s number one. Great partner for the great Skelton and Oz best lineout caller. Third best lock is LSL whom I’d be inclined to sub on for Skelton around 60 minutes. Probably start valetini at 8 because I like a big body back there. Cale should play 6 at the brumbies. For Wallabies definitely cale in the squad but as an apprentice. Dunno who starts at 6 seru wright Swinton hanigan with Will Harris and Harry Wilson not far away. Seru and Swinton my front runners but Swinton is going. Still if we don’t cap seru then Fiji must coz they need his lineout skills and easily compensate for his lack of weight
7 Go to commentsYeah but who was it?
8 Go to commentsThink you might have written this just before the Brumbies got thrashed last weekend
7 Go to commentsI really do believe that Billy Proctor should be selected at least in the larger squad but also it would be my choice at 13, much more a center than Ioane who can still play at wing. Roigard if fit should play, otherwise it should be Perenara or Christie. Also, Iose could deserve a spot at blindside. Of course, being a Canes supporter I’m biased but I really believe that at least Billy P is deserving a chance and being Holland one of the Selectors, I’m having a little hope he could grab it.
12 Go to commentsI would not play Swinton I’d pick Wright or Hanigan. The rest are decent starters, but can’t agree on any subs except Tupou. My take on the subs: Gibbon, Ueslese, Tupou, LSL, Wilson, White, Will Harrison, and Petaia.
7 Go to commentsSBW the biggest moron to pull on a black jersey a park footy player at best
8 Go to commentsSBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
8 Go to commentsJust well you guys are couch 🛋 potatoes selector's, picking a team of greenhorns to play England! “What are you people smoking?” The halfbacks will be Christie, Fakatava, Perenara Props; Newell, Bower, Lomax, Tunga'fasi, Hookers; Asosa Amua when fit, Taylor, Samisoni,
12 Go to commentsQuite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
12 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
7 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
8 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
12 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
12 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
7 Go to commentsSome dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
7 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
12 Go to comments