VIDEO: Lions & Bulls get Irish advice on Leinster conundrum
It was a simple question: ‘How Do You Beat Leinster?’ The answer, it appears, is not so perspicuous.
The Lions, at Ellis Park this coming Saturday, and the Bulls, at Loftus Versfeld a week later, are the next teams in an ever-growing list looking to solve the Leinster conundrum.
The Bulls, ironically, is the last team to beat the Irish powerhouse in any competition – their famous 27-26 squeaker in the United Rugby Championship semifinal at the RDS Arena in June last year.
The Irish province is unbeaten in 22 matches in the trans-hemisphere URC and Europe’s Champions Cup.
They have won 21 of those, with only URC title holders, the Stormers, having managed a draw against them – last month.
The question was posed to former Munster and Ireland star Alan Quinlan in an online media round table this week.
He suggested there won’t be any major ‘revelations’ for those listening or watching the interview.
“They are an outstanding side,” said the 27-times capped retired Irish international – saying he is ‘stating the obvious’.
“One of the key aspects of their game is that the pace of their game is just phenomenal.
“A lot of teams have this impression that you just slow Leinster down and out-muscle them.
“A couple of teams have done it – La Rochelle [Stade Rochelais] did it [in the European Cup Final] last year. Saracens did it [also in the Euro Cup Final] a couple of years ago.
“That is how you have to go,” the 48-year-old said.
“That [slowing them down and out-muscling them] has to be your starting point
“You have got to be really physical with Leinster.
“You [also] have to slow them down a bit. If they get pace and tempo in their game they are so difficult to stop.
“Somebody asked me recently if they have any weaknesses and it’s hard to find any in their game at the moment.”
(Article continues below the Alan Quinlan interview …)
He pointed to their 22-match unbeaten run, saying it is about having a big squad and players that can seamlessly transition in – something missing from most of the South
He said he was ‘stating the obvious’ by suggesting that you have to be “physical” with Leinster.
“You have got to try and go after their set-piece and slow them down and then hopefully make a game of it.”
“To beat them, you have got to be on it for 80 minutes and you have got to play at a high level right across your team because effectively they are an international side.”
Reflecting on what underpins Leinster’s success, Quinlan said: “They are built on a really good schools system where players come out of those schools well developed and conditioned. There is a conveyor belt of these young players coming through.
“They have also done a wonderful job in recruitment and have good staff behind the scenes. The system and the coaching there are superb.
(Listen as Leinster coach Leo Cullen speaks about playing at iconic stadiums like Ellis Park and Loftus Versfeld …)
“They seem to be the envy of a lot of teams across Europe.
“As a former Munster man, I am very envious of what they are doing! It’s phenomenal. You have got to give them credit.
“I think it’s a little bit unfair when people say they are winning just because of money.
“They have produced these players. The result of their success is they have 15-20 internationals and what their salary budget allows them to do – with the top-up from the Ireland Rugby Football Union for nationally contracted players – is retain those players.”
Table-topping Leinster round off their regular URC season with two games out in South Africa, against the play-off chasing Lions and the Bulls.
Looking ahead to Saturday’s fixture in Johannesburg, Quinlan believes this might be the point where the Irish giants’ unbeaten run comes to an end.
“I just have a feeling the Lions might produce a performance,” he said.
“The key for me is whether the Lions can keep with the pace of it. Power alone won’t win this because Leinster won’t lie down.
“But I just fancy the Lions may get a result against Leinster on Saturday.”
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* Additional reporting by @URCOfficial
