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Leinster hope training intensity will prepare them for fan-free matches

Stuart Lancaster is a fortnight back on the training field and his side have been increasing exertions to match levels.

LAST UPDATE | 17 Aug 2020

IT’S A LITTLE over eight months since Leinster played in the Aviva Stadium.

When they return on Saturday there will be no sense of mid-season momentum, no festive cheer. In fact, there will be very little cheering of any sort because the 42,041 who watched them put 50 points on Northampton in the flesh will be barred.

Empty sporting venues have become a regular feature broadcasts in recent weeks as football, basketball and golf made their way back. And while fans  of rugby could indulge in what seemed like nostalgia by watching full houses pack in to see New Zealand’s competition play out, even the isolated pacific nation has had to shut its stadia again and cancel a fixture to halt community transmission of Covid-19.

Empty venues, without the roar of approval for a well-made tackle, a cleanly-taken high ball or a gutsy late delivery of energy are a part of sport we all must get used to. And after Munster revealed a Covid-19 case within their academy, we really should embrace it as a bonus.

As Leinster prepare to host Munster in an eerily empty Aviva on Saturday, they are banking on their efforts in training to prepare them for a big-game in front of thousands of empty seats.

“None of us really have experience of it. So it will be new,” says Rhys Ruddock.

Like most of his team-mates, Ruddock has a limited experience of the All-Ireland League and its more modest crowds. Those with recent experience of playing provincial A fixtures may well boast an advantage in this sense.

“As opposed to arriving at a game and there not being as many people as you’d expect and the atmosphere being damp, we know what to expect,” Ruddock said, welcoming one less variable.

It’s literally going to be our energy that will dictate the atmosphere for us. The way we deal with it is training at slightly higher intensity, higher pressure in training.

“So there’s no fans, but we’re going to be asked to commit like it’s a game; get used to match scenarios, playing with scoreboard pressure, all those things that make it feel like a real game. It’s slightly different when you’re playing against Munster or Ulster, but it’s seriously competitive in here at the moment, everyone’s fighting for places.”

That high intensity reached a peak during Leinster’s sessions last week, but it has been a relatively short run-up to the restart with senior coach Stuart Lancaster only returning to on-field coaching a fortnight ago after spending lockdown with his family in England.

“Yeah, we have. We talked about it this morning as a matter of fact.

“A lot of our training takes place behind closed doors,” Lancaster said last week, “a lot of our internal competition that we generate is there so the players are used to training and putting performances in in training sessions without people watching.

“We trained at the RDS, as an example, with a referee to replicate what looks and feels like. We have talked about it. You can look at examples from German football which was the first one back and there were stats about more away wins.

“I was watching Leeds Rhinos (last weekend), at home, and they lost 48-0 against St Helen’s.

“It will be different but it is up to us to generate our own atmosphere, energy and enthusiasm because normally you rely on that RDS or Aviva crowd to help you with that.

“If you were to ask the players what would you take they would definitely take playing behind closed doors. For the sporting public as well, I would hope that they would take that too. We’re just delighted to just train, which is amazing, and then to play competitive rugby. People will enjoy it from home I am sure and if things improve hopefully we can get some crowds in.”

While there is a lament from Ruddock when he says it ‘will be different’ playing without supporters in the stands, the overriding message the back row gives is gratitude.

Sport’s hiatus gave us all time and space to think about the big picture and weight up what was really important. Ruddock was not part of the Ireland squad when their Six Nations campaign was halted, but his place in Andy Farrell’s pecking order has not been weighing on his mind.

“It wasn’t really a factor. There was so much more to be concerned about. Also so much more to be thankful and grateful for. There’s much bigger things going on in the world.
“Obviously at the time I was keen to prove myself through performances. Didn’t get a chance to do it, but it really wasn’t in my mind with everything else that was going on.
As well as being a nice break for the body and a chance to reset, mentally (it was a break) as well.

“It’s made everyone really grateful and appreciate the job we get to do, getting back together and getting ready for a game in a couple of weeks time… you’re kind of, ‘wow, how lucky are we to be able to do this job’.

“We’re grateful to everyone who put in the work in our environment, the backroom staff and everyone who made it possible to get back training in the manner we could. Also the wider community, frontline workers and everyone else who made it possible.”

It’ll be good to be back, even if things aren’t quite what they used to be. 

First published today at 07.00

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24 Comments
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    Mute Farz Saadat
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    Feb 5th 2023, 8:55 AM

    Funny. I’d have given Liam Williams a kick up the backside if I were his coach. They way he went down like he’d been shot after Henderson made slight contact with him was embarrassing. Clearly milking it trying to get a card.

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    Mute thesaltyurchin
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    Feb 5th 2023, 8:59 AM

    @Farz Saadat: He’s a master of the football-esque winge

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    Mute David Corrigan
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    Feb 5th 2023, 1:25 PM

    @thesaltyurchin: He turns my stomach.

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    Mute Brian O'Grady
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    Feb 5th 2023, 2:55 PM

    @Farz Saadat: I actually thought Porter was unlucky to be penalised, Williams should be ashamed of himself and his carry on yesterday, bloody Neymar would be proud of the the way he went down and rolled around. Gatland is doing what Gatland does, having a whinge and a moan about “decisions” to deflect from the 60 mins where Wales were completly and comprehensively outplayed. Murray and Sexton played great ball yesterday, took me back a few years to when they were lethal combination.

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    Mute Cormac Lucey
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    Feb 5th 2023, 7:55 AM

    “Strangely, I’m not that disappointed with many things in the game”. Perhaps it’s Warren who needs a kick up the backside.

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    Mute Cian Nolan
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    Feb 5th 2023, 9:18 AM

    That call on Porter was nonsense. Perfectly legitimate attempt to try and prevent a grounding of the ball (a long shot, granted, but he’s entitled to do that). It was the 2 Welsh players who came in on top of Porter afterwards that inflamed the whole thing. The fact that the assistant ref then said Dickinson needed to have a chat with Hansen was hilarious. Thought the ref had a decent game overall but that was farcical.

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    Mute TL55
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    Feb 5th 2023, 10:21 AM

    @Cian Nolan: Porter gave away a lot of penos. Another ref could have lost patience and given him a yellow.

    However he’s a great player who’ll put that right next week.

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    Mute Doug Storms
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    Feb 5th 2023, 11:00 AM

    @TL55: yes but I don’t recall us being warned to stop or risk yellow. All fouls are not equal.

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    Mute Elrond Rivendell
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    Feb 5th 2023, 11:32 AM

    @Doug Storms: Persistent infringements can lead to a yellow.

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    Mute Jim O'Connor
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    Feb 5th 2023, 1:40 PM

    @Cian Nolan: totally agree that porter’s tackle was legit. The referee Dickson wasn’t bad yesterday but the two assistants on the line intervened to make some poor calls.

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    Mute Doug Storms
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    Feb 5th 2023, 2:09 PM

    @Elrond Rivendell: but you will be warned if one is due. We were not warned.

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    Mute Gearóid MacEachaidh
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    Feb 5th 2023, 2:44 PM

    @Jim O’Connor: agreed. I thought the line judges were made a few mistakes but the ref by and large had a decent game.

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    Mute Chris Tobin
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    Feb 5th 2023, 9:05 AM

    He is right about Porters slide into the try scorer, Liam Williams was cured very quickly after the Henderson challenge. Quite a few Welsh lads were playing “dead” after some tackles, aka premiership football

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    Mute thesaltyurchin
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    Feb 5th 2023, 9:02 AM

    Meh, frontline hounds like Porter get in trouble, as well they should, definitely had a few too many penalties but more from the set piece, sensational effort holding up that try as he has to be part of the tackle too.

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    Mute Ciaran Kennedy
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    Feb 5th 2023, 7:35 AM

    He’s right. Possibly because Porter made that wonderful intervention previously he got carried away with himself in the split second.

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    Mute BArry Hawke
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    Feb 5th 2023, 10:42 AM

    We’ve all seen far worse inflicted on Ireland try-scorers and nothing was said. It’s a pathetic wind-up from Gatland…The Liam Williams Oscar bid was much worse.

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    Mute Peter Denham
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    Feb 5th 2023, 12:34 PM

    Gatland is delighted with his “We Gave The Irish a Game for 30 Minutes” trophy.

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    Mute John Lowry
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    Feb 5th 2023, 11:04 AM

    Does Gatland think he’s coaching Ireland ?

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    Mute Criiochúr Daniel Daithí O'Chathail
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    Feb 5th 2023, 8:16 AM

    I’m not a fan of his, but Gatland does strike a chord. Porter really did not need to do that. He’s definitely a big part of Ireland’s pack dominance, but every now and then, does needlessly stir things up that leads to stupid penalties like the one he gave away after the try was scored. It was the tone that was set for those 25 minutes where Ireland stopped playing and allowed Wales back into the game when they should have been well out of sight and racked up a bigger score.

    If they’re going to win a Green Slam and possibly a World Cup, they need to cut that crap out. And that goes for Porter. He should focus on his own game, and not try to rile up the opposition.

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    Mute Oran Burns
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    Feb 5th 2023, 8:33 AM

    @Criiochúr Daniel Daithí O’Chathail: he is entitled to contest and try to prevent the grounding.
    No issue there for me.

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    Mute Doug Storms
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    Feb 5th 2023, 8:47 AM

    @Oran Burns: 100% correct, ignore Gatland’s sore comments- I seem to recall Oscar nominee Liam Williams sliding a double knee into one of our own try scorers some years ago.
    The reaction from the Welsh was like a bully trying to create a row to rile the crowd. It was the sign of a team with nothing to offer on the field.
    Yesterday we build a score, early, held it and then their soaked pressure with a type of determined defending that I’ve previously seen from NZ or England on their way to winning world cups.

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    Mute amusing_musings
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    Feb 5th 2023, 8:58 AM

    @Criiochúr Daniel Daithí O’Chathail: What are you talking about? Why wouldn’t he try to stop a try? It’s a winner’s mentality. Wales are the worst for sliding in with two knees into try scorer’s backs. And yesterday’s non injurious attempt by Porter was the first time I’ve seen it penalised. Ref caved to the Welsh reaction and the home crowd. I’d be singing Porter’s praises if I was Farrell. That mentality is why we walked it yesterday.

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    Mute John Brennan
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    Feb 5th 2023, 9:21 AM

    @Criiochúr Daniel Daithí O’Chathail: I’d say if Andrew Porter was Welsh Gatland would have his name on the team sheet first. They lost move on heading to a rejuvenated Scotland should be his priority. They left scores behind for sure but that’s because of Irelands excellent Defence. On a separate note delighted for Conor Murray proving the experts wrong yet again.

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    Mute TL55
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    Feb 5th 2023, 10:24 AM

    @Criiochúr Daniel Daithí O’Chathail: Getting up the opposition nose is POM’s job not Porter’s!

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    Mute James
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    Feb 5th 2023, 11:26 AM

    @TL55: tbf I think the point is not the penalty given away during Williams try, i think its the other 4 or 5 that Porter gave away in short succession that kept handing Wales momentum and entries in to our half/22. It was crazy watching it at the time. Obviously a fantastic player that just had various rushes of blood to the head!

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    Mute Brian O'Grady
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    Feb 5th 2023, 3:01 PM

    @John Brennan: I was delighted for him too reminded me the way he played a few years back, hopefully will do his confidence good. Only critique I would have was box kicking in the 39th minute instead of holding the ball and closing out the half easily, but only something small.

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    Mute Tom O'Gorman
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    Feb 5th 2023, 3:12 PM

    @Criiochúr Daniel Daithí O’Chathail: no that challenge was legit and Porter is entitled to make it and see if he can disrupt the grounding. It wasn’t late.

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    Mute Criiochúr Daniel Daithí O'Chathail
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    Feb 5th 2023, 3:59 PM

    @Tom O’Gorman: While Porter, like everyone else is well entitled to stop any potential grounding action, in this situation, he was never going to stop that. He simply reacted foo late. The ball was grounded milliseconds before he made contact with Williams, and the referee, whose decision is open to debate ended up pinging him for the scuffle.

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    Mute Criiochúr Daniel Daithí O'Chathail
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    Feb 5th 2023, 4:01 PM

    @Oran Burns: He is entitled, yes, but he was NEVER in a realistic position to stop that grounding. The ball was grounded milliseconds before he made contact with Williams, and whatever anyone says about the referee, Porter was the one who ended up pinged for the afters.

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    Mute Criiochúr Daniel Daithí O'Chathail
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    Feb 5th 2023, 4:04 PM

    @TL55: The explain Porter’s action where he shouldered Nic White who kicked the ball dead in the Ozzie game at half time. I recall O’Mahony wasn’t the player who started that…

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    Mute Niall Mulligan
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    Feb 5th 2023, 5:52 PM

    @Criiochúr Daniel Daithí O’Chathail: “The ball was grounded milliseconds before he made contact with Williams”
    So Porter who had Milliseconds to attempt to prevent the try which is his role, should have summed up that he would miss holding the ball up by milliseconds and not tried to prevent the try? Ummmm, seriously?

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    Mute Niall Mulligan
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    Feb 5th 2023, 5:54 PM

    @Criiochúr Daniel Daithí O’Chathail: And the “scuffle” was instigated by none other than Daniel Biggar. Had he not come in guns blazing, there would have been no handbags, no drama and everybody would have reset and gotten on with it.

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    Mute Kieran Collins
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    Feb 5th 2023, 7:10 PM

    @Criiochúr Daniel Daithí O’Chathail: you should try re-reading your own comment….how ’bout that?

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    Mute Criiochúr Daniel Daithí O'Chathail
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    Feb 5th 2023, 11:22 PM

    @Niall Mulligan: And yet who was penalized? You ever consider that the end is more important than the start, Niall?

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    Mute Criiochúr Daniel Daithí O'Chathail
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    Feb 5th 2023, 11:23 PM

    @Kieran Collins: Nah, not really. Especially not on the advice of someone who offered it in such a petulant manner.

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    Mute Niall Mulligan
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    Feb 6th 2023, 11:18 AM

    @Criiochúr Daniel Daithí O’Chathail: Your logic is illogical dude with too many names :)

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    Mute Joe Vlogs
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    Feb 5th 2023, 9:04 AM

    https://youtu.be/u-XGWHmIVeo
    I’d hate to have been Williams’ backside so, after this. He must have gotten a proper walloping.

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    Mute thesaltyurchin
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    Feb 5th 2023, 9:26 AM

    @Joe Vlogs: that’s a dinger, few match ban these days, easy. Liam Williams legacy will read like this if he’s not careful: https://www.balls.ie/rugby/ireland-wales-liam-williams-iain-henderson-541703

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    Mute Stuart Quinn
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    Feb 5th 2023, 1:03 PM

    @Joe Vlogs: that’s the one. Gatland was quiet about that. Interesting to see who the ref was and typical of his performances over the years when we played Wales. Thought the TMO had an oversized involvement in a few of the dodgy calls yesterday.

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    Mute Padraig Nolan
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    Feb 5th 2023, 1:46 PM

    I was mad with Henderson. He had a clear opportunity to poleaxe that annoying play actor Williams and completely messed it up

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    Mute Cable Stayed
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    Feb 5th 2023, 1:25 PM

    Porter was making a genuine attempt to get under the ball, but was a fraction of a second too late. If he is a little faster then he is a hero, he is a little late and it’s a penalty. There’s is nothing more to it, claims of malicious play needing a coaches sanction is just grasping at straws.
    Henderson also made a genuine attempt to charge the kick and even twisted his body mid air to avoid full contact. It also warranted nothing more than the Penalty that was given.
    Both actions were valid and to be encouraged but need to be a bit tidier to avoid penalties and I am sure that’s why they will be told in the review.
    I have no doubt that the French would have been every bit as dominant against the Welsh. It’s going to be a titanic battle next week…can’t wait!

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    Mute Emmet Martin
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    Feb 5th 2023, 3:05 PM

    Liam Williams is the biggest cheap shot merchant in the tournament and has been for years so people in glass houses etc.

    However Porter’s discipline was all over the place. He conceded 6 penalties and many of them were poor ones – not rolling away, in at the side etc. that’s hard to defend

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    Mute John O Reilly
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    Feb 5th 2023, 3:30 PM

    He wonders why he is not popular in Ireland ! He still has a chip on his shoulder about being fired

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    Mute Pat O'Leary
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    Feb 5th 2023, 3:05 PM

    Would have thought Fatland had plenty of his own problems to worry about after yesterday.

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    Mute Sustainable Hedgehog
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    Feb 5th 2023, 3:35 PM

    I reckon Porter was within his rights to try to get a hand under the ball to prevent the grounding but he roughed Williams up in the contact which was needless. He made a lot of errors in the 2nd half and needs to get his discipline sorted. I thought Williams was shameful in his reaction to Henderson’s attempted charge down. Henderson had every right to go for it, he couldn’t have known the trajectory of the ball. But Williams throwing himself down and rolling about after being touched by Henderson’s hand was embarrassing. The BBC commentary team, and especially JD1, were just as bad. This playacting has been about for a good while but it hasn’t become prevalent, World Rugby need to clamp down on it before the World Cup.

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    Mute Sustainable Hedgehog
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    Feb 5th 2023, 3:39 PM

    @Sustainable Hedgehog: The playacting annoys me especially because we want dangerous play eradicated and shameless gamesmanship taking advantage of strict refereeing shouldn’t have a place in rugby.

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    Mute Sustainable Hedgehog
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    Feb 5th 2023, 3:40 PM

    @Sustainable Hedgehog: And Williams is no angel, anyone remember his late knees first slide into Paddy Jackson after Paddy had scored a try for Ireland.

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    Mute Reg Gordon
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    Feb 5th 2023, 5:40 PM

    Not gonna mention the welsh player sliding in feet first when Keenan grounded the ball in our end zone? Didn’t make contact but it was cynical and potentially dangerous play that should have been picked up on.

    Porter had every right to make that attempt. It was when the other 2 welsh players piled on that things got nasty.

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    Mute Tony Joyce
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    Feb 5th 2023, 5:15 PM

    Gstland should worry about his own team and keep his nose out of ours. C’mon Ireland

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    Mute Tom Collins
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    Feb 5th 2023, 2:12 PM

    To be fair Porter was committed but his timing was off. I don’t think there was anything sinister in it at all and the ref got it right. Gatland would have been kissing his a#se if Wales got a try off it. So maybe the kick should be reserved for the welsh hooker

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    Mute Ray Walsh
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    Feb 5th 2023, 6:11 PM

    Gatland should start with a kick up the ass to the entire Welsh Team

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    Mute Johnny Kelly
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    Feb 5th 2023, 3:47 PM

    So would I

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