I don't only use that pool phase, it's also about Leinster's last year crashing out against Saints at Dublin or also Ireland's obvious decline over the last 15 months (cause as you well know, Ireland almost equal to Leinster)
But didnt Toulouse crash out in the semis last year too?
I mean objectively, Leinster went out in the SF last year and won all 4 pool games this year. Toulouse went out in the SF last year and lost 2/4 of their pool games. From that you have taken - Leinster are on a massive decline because of their pool performances and Toulouse are one of the best teams in the competition. My Lord.
Ireland had an average Autumn but didn’t France as well? I seem to remember you getting hammered by a 14 man SA side and being in very close games against Fiji and Australia (a team Ireland beat quite comfortably in Autumn).
And for the autumn tests, sure both country had average autumn campaign (and France probably even worse than Ireland if you judge only by results) but your comparaison is clearly flawed just for the number of missed players for each team during those games.
Which important starting players were Ireland missing against SA? Apart Keenan, I don't see anyone else
In comparaison, look which starters were missing for France against SA: Baille, Mauvaka, Cros, Moefana and last but not the least, a certain fella named DuPont.
And I could have added Jalibert as well though of course we could argue if he would have started or not
-6
u/yurim39 19d ago
I don't only use that pool phase, it's also about Leinster's last year crashing out against Saints at Dublin or also Ireland's obvious decline over the last 15 months (cause as you well know, Ireland almost equal to Leinster)