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FORUM / RUGBY /  Can Leinster be Bordeaux's kryptonite?

Can Leinster be Bordeaux's kryptonite?

Started by Pakie3 REPLIES287 VIEWS· 04 May 2026, 08:34
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PA
PakieCaptain17,321 posts
04 May 2026, 08:34
#1
04 May 2026, 08:34#1

Leinster has the Nienaber defense going. We know the French struggle if you can get between them behind the gain line - Leinster all but neutralized Toulon that way, although Toulon of course is not nearly on Bordeaux's level. Having said that, Bordeaux will have the ability to get wide beyond the rush, and even though Toulon from set piece didn't get much going, they did show that Leinster can be vulnerable once play fractures.


Where Bath often fell short with unimaginative pick and go attacks once they got in range, Leinster have all the tricks in the book and they have the courage to give it a full go, as evidenced by their shenanigans when they were 2 men down against Toulon. And despite that, Bath still managed to suck in enough Frenchies to open space wide on more than one occasion to score - there were likely more such opportunities that they didn't take, which Leinster will be unlikely to decline.


However, the scoreboard refusing to yield to Leinster's almost complete dominance against Toulon should be cause for concern for them.


Discipline will be crucial to both sides. 13 men against Bordeaux will likely have a different result than 13 men against Toulon, and the French likewise will be hard pressed not to go a man down against the tricky Irish.


In between now and the 23rd Leinster still have to play URC - fortunately all at home, so no travelling. Will this help or hurt them? What say the pundits?


Should be a fascinating game. The final is taking place in Spain, so neutral ground.

BO
bobbok...Captain10,129 posts
04 May 2026, 08:48
#2
04 May 2026, 08:48#2

bn

PL
PlumCaptain21,007 posts
04 May 2026, 10:48
#3
04 May 2026, 10:48#3

Noticed this on the weekend from both French sides, Paks...


Looks like they are trying to come up with solutions for defenders getting amongst them...


They seem to be setting deeper and then running at the defensive line at an angle... right-hand side image.


Interesting because it forces the defensive line into a diagonal arrangement.


What do you do? If you chase them too hard your defence has lost its structure in the hopes that catch them behind the advantage line...but if you don't chase them you have backs running onto the ball at pace and creating one-on-ones.

CL
clevermikeCoach57,555 posts
04 May 2026, 14:16
#4
04 May 2026, 14:16#4

No - I think it will be a cricket score win by Bordeaux.

— END OF THREAD —

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