Heineken Champions/Challenge Cup 2022 Finals Weekend

[OomStruisbaai]

I always rated Dillon Lleyds but Rhule sure look like a totally different player. His defense was his weakness.

Look like Leinster B is stronger then Leinster A. Time to change the old wood.

[ASMO]

LaR just worked Leinster out, Leinster murder teams when they are allowed fast ball from the ruck, LaR just took that away from them by attacking the ruck and slowing the ball down. Coupled with a really strong defence they have created a blueprint for other teams to follow.

Honestly it was clear Leinster did not have a plan B as they have never ever had to use one.

[OomStruisbaai]

To play against them at home will be a total difference story.

[TheFrog]

Nice to see a game with no head contact issues.

Haddad was taken off temporarily for HIA.

[TheFrog]

They are shite. Leinster should not have let a shite team beat them. That's all on Leinster

3 tried to nil. Not bad for a shite team.

[TheFrog]

Don't know why Priso was pulled early but for once he looked like the player who threatened to be a quality intl. Let's see if this is a stepping stone on the way to better things.

Pinged 2 or 3 times in the scrum. O'Gara wanted to avoid a yellow i suspect.

[Torquemada 1420]

LaR just worked Leinster out, Leinster murder teams when they are allowed fast ball from the ruck, LaR just took that away from them by attacking the ruck and slowing the ball down. Coupled with a really strong defence they have created a blueprint for other teams to follow.

Honestly it was clear Leinster did not have a plan B as they have never ever had to use one.

Yup. LaR rolled the di there but it was the only option they had so not really a gamble. They f**ked Leinster at the breakdown by flooding it (and then cutting off Sextons ability to get wide quickly with a rush defence). Ironic that they used the Irish's own, often illegal tactics there against themselves!

[CM11]

I always rated Dillon Lleyds but Rhule sure look like a totally different player. His defense was his weakness.

Look like Leinster B is stronger then Leinster A. Time to change the old wood.

[GogLais]

Nice to see a game with no head contact issues.

Haddad was taken off temporarily for HIA.

True, I should have said contentious issues.

[FalseBayFC]

Great scenes from La Rochelle. Particularly happy for Leyds, Rhule and Liebenberg. What a way for Wiaan Liebenberg to retire. He's leaving rugby early at 29 years old. But a nice bookend to his career. He captained the Junior Boks to the IRB Junior World Champs in 2012. IIRC he provided the matchwinning assist for Jan Serfontein's try.

[OomStruisbaai]

Liebenberg is a legend Worcester Donkey.

[Tichtheid]

Fantastic scenes, great stuff

[Torquemada 1420]

A very good friend of mine is a former LaR player [/Globus]. Ironically, he is on holiday in Africa and so missed the final.

[TheFrog]

Well deserved for La Rochelle who have built up surely and patiently from 2nd division rugby to the top of Europe. Good recruitment, good management without ever overstretching the budget

They were good at bringing in players who were not front players in their respective countries but brought them quality abs depth.

In fact they must be the first team with so few active internationals to win the Champions Cup. Atonio and Danty are the only one in their lineup who are playing international rugby and they signed Danty at a time when he was on the fringes of the French team.

[duke]

Well deserved for La Rochelle who have built up surely and patiently from 2nd division rugby to the top of Europe. Good recruitment, good management without ever overstretching the budget

They were good at bringing in players who were not front players in their respective countries but brought them quality abs depth.

In fact they must be the first team with so few active internationals to win the Champions Cup. Atonio and Danty are the only one in their lineup who are playing international rugby and they signed Danty at a time when he was on the fringes of the French team.

Aldritt as well surely?

[TheFrog]

Well deserved for La Rochelle who have built up surely and patiently from 2nd division rugby to the top of Europe. Good recruitment, good management without ever overstretching the budget

They were good at bringing in players who were not front players in their respective countries but brought them quality abs depth.

In fact they must be the first team with so few active internationals to win the Champions Cup. Atonio and Danty are the only one in their lineup who are playing international rugby and they signed Danty at a time when he was on the fringes of the French team.

Aldritt as well surely?

Yes! Sorry. Missed the most prominent among them.

Some reckon that the lack of active international proved to be a strength for La Rochelle in comparison to clubs like Toulouse whose internationals are burned out.

[laurent]

Well deserved for La Rochelle who have built up surely and patiently from 2nd division rugby to the top of Europe. Good recruitment, good management without ever overstretching the budget

They were good at bringing in players who were not front players in their respective countries but brought them quality abs depth.

In fact they must be the first team with so few active internationals to win the Champions Cup. Atonio and Danty are the only one in their lineup who are playing international rugby and they signed Danty at a time when he was on the fringes of the French team.

Aldritt as well surely?

Yes! Sorry. Missed the most prominent among them.

Some reckon that the lack of active international proved to be a strength for La Rochelle in comparison to clubs like Toulouse whose internationals are burned out.

Yet toulouse buys anything from the U20 or new internationals that doesn't have cast iron contract.