Good afternoon and welcome to coverage of Louis van Gaal’s last game in charge of Manchester United. Reportedly.
The 11-time winners take on a side who’ve never won a major trophy in their long history in Crystal Palace.
The game, of course, is a repeat of the 1990 decider in which Eagles boss Alan Pardew lined out. After a thrilling six-goal draw, United won a drab replay under floodlights.
How do you see this one playing out?
““It would be nice to say ‘fuck you’ to a few people, people who never believed in me. I believed in myself. But we’ll only cherish it if we win it. We had a meeting earlier this week and spoke as a group about what the Palace team did back in 1990. I have huge respect for what they achieved, getting to that final and then to the replay against United, but they didn’t win it. It’s important to remember that. They’re still talking about that team after 26 years, so imagine if they’d actually won it.”
Looking for some before-kick-off reading? This Dominic Fifield interview with Corkman Damien Delaney is excellent. Let’s hope he does himself justice this evening.
Oh no!
Former Manchester United winger Wilfriend Zaha is rumoured to be out of the game because of an injury picked up in the warm-up. He left the pitch in tears.
Ooof! Fellaini starts. Here’s the United team:
And Zaha will, in fact, start. He’s been named in the XI despite that injury rumour. The Guardian report that he was crying because of emotional messages he received.
Crystal Palace: Hennessey; Ward, Dann, Delaney, Souare; Zaha, Cabaye, McArthur, Jedinak, Bolasie; Wickham. Subs: Speroni, Mariappa, Sako, Puncheon, Gayle, Adebayor.
Fergie and Steve Coppell have arrived, continuing the 1990 nostalgia.
Scholesey looks in good form already.
LVG is talking about the decision to drop Jesse Lingard on BT. It is very, very tough, he admits.
We’re about to start the 10-minute pre-game stuff. Steve Coppell and Fergie are about to walk out with the cup and the volume is getting cranked up by the supporters, with the Palace end impressively coordinated as always.
Alex Ferguson’s advice to the players? “Go out there and enjoy it… but you can only enjoy it if you win.”
Somewhere in the east midlands, John Giles is spitting his tea across his living room. Tinie Tempah emerges from the tunnel in a nice spaceman bomber jacket to perform an atmosphere-killing medley of his hits.
The singer who was to perform the British national anthem missed her cue and joined in halfway through like fellas on the Hill with Amhrán na bhFiann.
And, at last, we’re up in and running in the 2016 FA Cup final.
First corner ball of the afternoon goes to Palace, who’ve started well.
Cabaye plays it to the near post and it’s too close to De Gea.
Fellaini could well be the key to success and failure this evening.
The Belgian was lurking with intent on the back post there and was found with a diagonal ball from Blind but his header was tame enough.
Rashford tests Damien Delaney by playing the ball past the Corkman and challenging him to a foot race.
The Turner’s Cross man launched a vital last-ditch tackle and conceded a corner. It’s been an open start to the game.
Chance! Another Man Utd corner and Fellaini is again the target. The Belgian gets a good header on it, after getting in front of his man marker Jedinak, but it goes wide again.
Rojo has a shot on target but he might have done better putting it across the six-yard box. Wayne Rooney picked him out with a lovely ball from deep.
What have you made of this first 15 minutes or so?
Palace have the ball in the net but it’s ruled out!
Conor Wickham gets past Chris Smalling who falls. Wickham drives into the box and tucks it away but Mark Clattenburg calls it back for a free in. Weird one.
Howard Webb says the ref should well have played advantage there and he’ll be disappointed.
Big save! Juan Mata pops up for the first time to shoot after a poor clearance from inside the box. Hennessy got down to get a strong hand to it and the danger is gone.
Fellaini again comes close! He’s the target for another corner after getting in front of Jedinak, put he can’t steer it home. Another corner.
Palace get two shots off in successive attacks; first from Bolaise and then Wickham. We’re half an hour in and it’s still scoreless, but there’s goals here.
Who had 32 minutes in the Giggsy-off-the-bench pool? Collect your prize at the back of the hall.
Great chance for United! Damien Dempsey dives in a little and is done by Rashford out wide.
He heads goalwards squares for Martial and the French forward’s shot is blocked.
Penalty shout!
Daley Blind loses the ball in a bad position and Zaha is in on goal. Rooney slides in and doesn’t seem to make any contact with the ball as his former teammate hits the deck. Clattenburg waves play on.
Rojo’s booked for a tussle with Zaha, and he’ll have to be very careful if he doesn’t want to pull a Kevin Moran.
Alan Pardew is furious the ref didn’t leave them play on again, meanwhile.
Juan Mata’s booked now too to become the third United player in the ref’s book after Snalling and Rojo. We’re into injury time.
Half-time! Man Utd 0 Crystal Palace 0
What have you made of that?
Mark Clattenburg — who officiates the Champions League final next week — is getting dog’s abuse on social media. The consensus on BBC is that he’s not had a good first period.
Finish those drinks and get back to your seat. The second half has kicked off.
Scott Dann’s booked for taking out Rashford, who’s been United’s brightest player if you ask me.
Fellaini hits the post!
The Big Belgian Battering Ram is getting closer.
Rashford again is the key. He’s been brilliant and again he picks out a teammate — this time with a flick. Fellaini takes it early but his shot canons off the woodwork.
The game is frantic enough now.
Martial headed goalwards from 15 yards or so out after a Valencia cross but it came off the post again.
Meanwhile, Damien Delaney’s been booked. He went through Marcos Rojo after a heavy touch and the Argentine is still on the ground.
Matteo Darmian is introduced in place of Rojo who leaves the fray with Damien Delaney’s stud-prints as a souvenir.
Jason Puncheon is preparing to come on for Palace. From the shadows will come heroes as Sam Torrance was wont to say in his Ryder Cup pomp.
Ashley Young is togging out as Rashford leaves the dray with a knock. That’s a blow for United’s chances.
It’s Cabaye who trots off to make way for Puncheon. Young goes into Rashford’s central role rather than Martial.
LVG loves to play people in the wrong places doesn’t he?
GOAL! Crystal Palace 1 Man Utd 0, Puncheon 78′
What a goal from the south London favourite.
After a Palace corner is cleared, Delaney lofts it back in to Puncehon. The sub takes one touch and blasts it past De Gea.
They’re level. Wayne Rooney beat three Palace players at least before cutting the ball back. It falls to Mata via Fellaini’s chest and the Spaniard drills it home.
I’ve been trying to find a gif of Alan Pardew’s dad-dancing which clearly angered the football gods. United equalised three minutes later.
He’s gonna look pretty stupid if he ends up on the losing side.
Mata’s off in place of Lingard, meanwhile.
A downcast and apparently injured Scott Dann’s been replaced by Adrian Mariappa.
Wilf Zaha’s had a pop at goal under pressure from Valencia, meanwhile, but it fizzes wide.
Full-time: Manchester United 1 Crystal Palace 1
Extra time!
Both sides have made all their changes and we’re set for another half hour of this.
Palace get their first sight of goal in extra time.
Bolaise plays a lovely ball to Zaha on the half turn. The United defence get back in numbers and sniff out the danger.
Bobby won’t be hugely impressed by the fare in extra time so far. It look like both sides have their eyes on penalties already.
Rooney leaves his foot in on Puncheon to prompt calls of ‘off’ from the Palace fans. He’s already been booked and Mark Clattenburg looks in no mood to dismiss the England skipper.
Moments later Fellaini has his name taken for one of those elbow-first aerial challenges. Had to happen.
Save from De Gea! Bolaise volleys a ball goalwards and the Spaniard has to get down to the corner and palm it behind. Great effort too.
RED CARD! Chris Smalling picks up his second yellow card for dragging down Bolaise. Stupid stuff.
What do these managers say to their teams now?
Rio Ferdinand on BT says Pardew needs to gamble on the win in his period.
Is this the last quarter of an hour of Van Gaal’s tenure?
We’re off in the second period of ET.
De Gea save again! Gayle was played in and should have scored but the legs of the Spaniard are in the way. Massive let off.
Michael Carrick — who’s never won the FA Cup — arrives late in the box to meet a cross but he heads wide!
GOAL! Man Utd 2 Crystal Palace 1, Lingard
What a volley! Another sub gets his name on the scoresheet. Valencia plays a ball across the face of goal, it’s half cleared but pops up for the young winger and he lashes it home first time.
Van Gaal goes nuts on the sideline.
Damien Delaney’s playing at centre forward now. It’d be some story if he got an equaliser.
The Selhurst Road brains trust are looking pretty downbeat now with a couple of minutes left.
MAN UNITED WIN THE 2016 FA CUP!
Louis van Gaal has led United to their first trophy in the post-Fergie era while Palace lose another FA Cup final. Their wait for a major trophy goes on.
With the Galzer family looking on, will this this victory be enough to save LVG at Old Trafford?
Wayne Rooney’s actually speaking really well to Des Kelly about this — his first FA Cup final — and what it means to him.
The Palace fans are traipsing up the famous Wembley steps to collect their medals.
As the Stone Roses’ This Is The One comes on the PA, Carrick and Rooney lift the cup.
Thanks for your company. We’re off to do the Pardew.
A win is a win but that doesn’t inspire confidence
@Jacob: Were you seriously expecting a walkover? Northampton are a good side and this is the semi. Leinster blew away Toulouse in the last two semis but that’s the exception, not the norm. La Rochelle scraped through their semi last year and everyone wrote them off. We all know what happened. Semi finals mean nothing except getting to the final and performing when it matters.
@Conor Lynott: tougher challenges lie ahead. Let’s hope for a Leinster win
@Conor Lynott: Rubbish, the problem is leinster went back to a kicking game second half and gave the ball back to Northampton and their dangerous counter attacking backs. They made the same mistakes the last 2 finals against La Rochelle in panicking and kicking away possession, when in the ascendency. They obviously haven’t learned yet and were incredibly lucky to get away with again today. Abit of better leadership was needed in there, conan was the only one who seemed to be taking it on.
@Jacob: as the man said – semis are for winning. I’d give my right arm for a similar win tomorrow. And a cruise over saints would have been no proper prep for a final
@Jacob: going no further without Keenan starting and Ringrose on the bench at least.
@Jacob: woeful performance, but ironically I’m almost relieved. If they had been as good as the Lá Rochelle game, they’d risk being too cocky for the final. Brings them back to earth big time.
I’m delighted for Leinster. However, the RTE commentary was bordering on arrogance. Our rugby pundits are getting way too far ahead of themselves.
@M D: yep leinster need to fix the issues that let saints back in it
@M D: I couldn’t agree more . They didn’t acknowledge the contest unfolding until the last play. These guys really need to open their eyes and be more neutral in their broadcast and commentate on what is happening on the field rather than these long stories praising every player in a blue jersey .
@M D: even High Cahill kept referring to Leinster as current URC leaders. They didn’t even have his homework done
@M D: Bordering? The border was a speck in the rear view mirror.
@sean o’farrell: ah sure Northampton were only making up the numbers…
@M D: 100% Gone as bad the English soccer punditry during major tournaments. Blinkered and arrogant.
Need to move Frawley to 10 for the final . Ross Byrne has been a great servant but he offers little in attack or defense at this level . Northampton were able to ignore him as a running threat and gain a defender each time he had the ball
@Owen ODonoghue: Ross is the current european hide and go seek champion
@chris mcdonnell: that’s harsh – I think S&C need to take hold of him for 6 months and let him put on some bulk, he adds between 5 and 10kg and he is a different animal
@Owen ODonoghue:…now im disagreeing with you….he’s the accountant vs the entrepreneur, the belt and braces vs the risk taker with the most exciting rugby investment opportunity on the planet. Who do you give it to?….not Ross.
@chris mcdonnell: Tasteless comment. Give it a rest and enjoy the win.
@chris mcdonnell: Chris, you’re a knowledgable poster, but I dislike the personal attacks on certain players, mainly Ross Byrne. Not his best game but he was POTM against La Rochelle last time out.
@Michael Murray: Hahha some description !
@Kenjo: agree 100% – no need for personal attacks , he’s been a great player for us and it just wasn’t his day today
@Owen ODonoghue: So… let’s deal with this scapegoating of Ross Byrne. 1 bad performance and a certain few are out for his head… and guess what? This wasn’t even a bad performance and you are still out for his head. I’ll never understand it. After the La Rochelle game, where you on these pages telling everyone how good he was and how he should be given the 10 shirt indefinitely? No. Nor would I want you to. So why after this game are you calling for him to be dropped?
@Owen ODonoghue: That is the least of his problems, putting on abit of weight, though it would be no harm. His defence, lack of pace and more importantly not taking the ball flat to the line, sitting too deep and slow delivery is a huge problem. People are being too harsh on him here, however he should only be a very good back up option off the bench for a team of Leinster stature and looking to win champions cups.
@Paul Ennis: never called for him to have the jersey indefinitely – he performed better than I expect against LAR and i owned that but his performance dropped significantly today and it’s due to the same reasons that have come up since the 2019 World Cup . The issues that hold him back are solvable but never seem to have been addressed in that time . I sincerely hope he plays a stormer in the final but its hard to see that after todays game
@Owen ODonoghue: Why would anyone call for him to have it indefinitely… that’s my point. But by the same logic, why take it off him after 1 game. Should Larmour be dropped too… or Osbourne. Both were quiet. Ross Byrne’s intercept of Finn Smiths pass lead to a crucial try. Will Northampton fans be calling for him to be dropped? You pointed to Byrnes missed kicks as one of your reasons! He is normally very reliable from the tee and every kicker has an off day every now and again. Byrne doesn’t have 2 in a row. At least he had it on a day that we won, and hopefully you are right and he plays much better in the final.
@Paul Ennis: maybe it was hubris after the LAR win but Ross doesn’t have enough credit in the bank to let this performance go – remember this is his first season as Leinster starting 10 and he is under pressure from 3 challengers – needs to perform at a high level consistently
For the others – yes I see Osborne being dropped for Ringrose and Larmour for O’Brien
@Paul Ennis: its unfortunate that when a player gets a bad rep, that when they play and average game people then ponce on them, but a player with a good rep will get a by ball for an average game. Ross isn’t a bad player, just isn’t JS. For European OHs he’s still prob in top 10. But Leinster normally have top 3-5 in every position.
@Kingshu: This is the problem I think. It’s a bit like Keatley following O’Gara. People need to give him a break and let him play… the team is strong enough to support him
@Paul Ennis: it’s an apt comparison, Munster persisted with Keatley and they dropped down a level. I think with Ross we’ve seen enough to be convinced we should have a better outhalf
@Owen ODonoghue: No… Munster should have backed him in the same way Kidney backed Sexton… he wasn’t O’Gara, but then nobody was nor has anyone been since… not even Sexton. They were 2 completely different 10s and RB has to play his own game as best he can. I wonder would a trophy shut people up for a while. Maybe we can at least share that hope – for the trophy that is.
@Paul Ennis: lol a trophy would help ! Agree if Ross leads them to a trophy or two this season and performs on SA tour all these doubts will go away
@chris mcdonnell: Chris McDonell is the current European snidey comment champion.
Well done Leinster but you’ll need to be much better in the final to beat Toulouse.
@Kenjo: or Harlequins
@Kevin Dillon: won’t even be close Kevin, Toulouse are a different animal.
@Kenjo: Heard that song today, didn’t play out that way
Leinster stopped playing when it went to 20-10, like they did in final last year. Insert that famous Einstein quote with this current Leinster team every year. Ross Byrne hasn’t the bottle for the big place kicks, was no problem for young Fin Smith and Crowley also is very good at them. It’s like the 2009 Barcelona team with Peter Crouch at striker. Give young Prendergarst the jersey for the final, you won’t see that lad hiding like Byrne when the pressure comes on
@Eoin H: What is Ross Byrnes % this year… or any year? Do you know?
@Paul Ennis: Way above what it was today. Hopefully he’ll be back to his normal stats on the day of the final. For Leinster to win imo he’ll need to be.
@Eoin H: would be crazy to go SP for final even though I agree he is the next generational outhalf Ireland have. For final it depends on who we get . Leo picks Ross if it’s Quins, if it’s Toulouse I think he may want that extra physicality and running threat at 10 and so he’ll go Frawley or even Harry.
That was far too tight, just didnt turn up in the second half but fair play to Northampton. Can’t see us beating Toulouse with Alatoa as replacement tighthead. He can’t even lock out a scrum
@Dave Moran: We’ve blown away Toulouse the last two times we played them and Ala’alatoa was on the bench both times so that’s rubbish.
@Conor Lynott: Past counts for nothing, ask ROG
@PJ Smith: Exactly. So people shouldn’t read too much into a semi-final. It’s all about the final. Like you said, semi final is in the past, on to Toulouse or Quins now
@Conor Lynott: Your not terribly smart are you?
@Conor Lynott: Toulouse had an extra time game the week before against Munster in the first of those. More importantly they’ve a stronger squad this year. Also those games were at the Aviva not a neutral venue.
@Dave Moran: It’s called using an opponent’s own words against them. Classic debating tactic. You should try it sometime, You didn’t know that? I’m not surprised. You probably couldn’t understand a word, so went straight for the personal attack. Boring and predictable. If in doubt, play the man haha.
Jenkins did well off the bench, the rest were poor. Frawley is not a full back, he’s not fast enough and doesn’t know how to cover space. Keenan, Ringrose and James Ryan have to come back or they haven’t a hope vs Toulouse
@Eoin H: Ryan’s out till next year I believe. Keenan 100% agree
Time to give Prendergast a run. Ross Byrne isn’t a first cousin of an international 10.
@Brian Flynn: yeah absolutely. Definitely time to give him a run in the biggest game of the year. Will never and should never happen.
@Kevin Dillon: How old is Northampton ‘s 10?
@Mary Corrigan: 21
Far too close. Leinster need to change their SA tour strategy. At least play one of the teams with a full side and give it the respect the tour deserves. They need to be more battle hardened.
@Darren: URC needs to cop on and cut the nonsense of South Africa tours before Champions Cup knockout games.
@teuO6nLS: How many of the team went to SA?
@Lulu: how many of the other semi-finalists were asked to travel to South Africa for the 2 weeks before the game? The URC needs to sort out the scheduling because no one in their right mind will send their full team to South Africa for meaningless games before a semi-final. No reason they can’t have the SA sides playing each other during that window instead
@teuO6nLS: So change the entire system to suit Leinster, yeah?
@teuO6nLS: LoL URC cant be blamed, unless you think that when URC set out the fixtures they should have no teams tour SA before the R16, Q final, or semi final and Final as the URC don’t know whos going to be playing knock out games (in Hcup and Challange Cup), before the season starts. Guess we need to add 8 weeks to the season to accommodate your approach, but then guess you’ll complain about player rest and welfare esp with summer tours and say, actually, URC was right, and I was wrong.
@teuO6nLS: yep agree, let the saffas at it against one another in SA on chanel 63 while the real sides compete in the semis/final of the “Champions cup” on TNT 1..
@Lulu: no, not at all. Imagine it was Munster or Ulster in a European semi final and they were asked to go to South Africa for the two weeks before. Think they’d send their full squad down?
@teuO6nLS: Bang on
@teuO6nLS: absolutely agree with you and I’m a Munster fan. The URC are obliged to help their teams in Europe. Sending the serious contenders to cross the world before knock out games can and should be avoided
@Ciaran Kennedy: tell me how it can be avoided, rem theres teams in the Challenge cup knock outs so cant be sending them either? And fixtures are set before the season starts. In truth last 2 season have benefited Leinster where have had top spot sewn up and could send weakened teams and still finish too, this season its been a bit earlier and not suited Leinster as much, but thats just the way the cookie crumbles
State of your man in the crowd wearing a Munster jersey.
@Daniel Murphy: having a sense of humour should be banned.
@brian o’leary: Wearing a Munster jersey is a joke now?
@PJ Smith: in that context, yes.
@PJ Smith: I heard of a nut job once who wore a his celtic jersey under his jacket while watching his team with the home support at Tynecastle, revealing his colours when the away team scored…. completely different context.
@brian o’leary: depends on your perspective really, could be read as Munster fan supporting Leinster but you may not want to hear that.
Biggest issue for me was the change in tactics in the last 30 min or so. They stopped carrying and started box kicking away the ball. That was what let NH back into the game
Wouldn’t instil you with a lot of confidence going into the final.
From start of the season, thought Leinster and Stade Rochelle weren’t as good as they have been in the last two years. Just Stade had declined more. Lot of Leinster fans writing Toulouse off in group stages, saying had beaten them easily last two years so wouldn’t worry them, but Toulouse could beat Stade Rochelle when Leinster couldnt and its forgotten they were the scissors it rock paper scissors. Think in contrast to Stade Rochelle and Leinster Toulouse have improved from last year, if they make the final it will be a very close game, best result for Leinster is that they play Harlequins, as they would be favourites for that Toulouse is more 50/50.
@Kingshu: This is nonsense, Leinster fans would never write off a Toulouse team these days. Unless you’re basing your view on the comments of social media fans who represent nothing. If so, you should know better. LAR, Leinster and Toulouse have been in a game of rock paper scissors for a few years but it’s coincidence, nothing more. Any team could have won those games on a given day. You’re inventing a narrative to suit your personal bias. A final against Toulouse would be absolutely no better than 50/50 but if they’re dominant tomorrow they will be clear favourites.
@PJ Smith: may want to scroll up and tell @Conor Lynott that, not the first time he and some others have written Toulouse off this season because Leinster beat them well last few years. Think as much as Leinster adapted to beat Stade Rochelle, Toulouse may have been doing the same for Leinster? I think Leinster will add the 5th star, but don’t think this teams is as good as last season or seasons before.
@Kingshu: That was in response to a claim that Ala’atoa can’t play off the bench vs Toulouse. Recent history of the fixture shows he certainly can. Do not take my comment out of context.
@Kingshu: That’s why I said social media fans, they’re not a representation of any fan base. You always seemed sensible enough on here so you should know that. I wouldn’t be betting on a 5th star right now, it’s lightyears away at the moment
@Conor Lynott: you did in a previous round, thought its bit early to be counting chickens then too. Maybe it was out of context and a response to moran as well, my bad and apolgies if it was as its fair enough to fight fire with fire when repling to him. @PJ Smith: normally want an Irish team to win Hcup but URC sometimes I don’t. Think at times its better to have someone else win, as it strengthens the URC and hence all provinces in the long run (rather than short term for one), first season Stormers V bulls final was best result for all as it really set the URC of with a bang in SA which benifits everyone now. This year if Ulster don’t win it, want Leinster to, as its poor on the league if the best team in it doesn’t win it for 3 years in a row, and its already cemented its place in SA.
Let’s see if Leinster coaching team have learned anything from past failures. 3 week break did that team no favours, ran out of steam in the second half. Can’t afford to try protect these players by not playing full strength for the next 3 weeks and building momentum. Ross clearly pulled up in the first half but kept playing and left 7 points behind as a result. Don’t select Harry if you don’t think he can handle it. That performance cost us a championship last year so at least got the win today but the final will be a different beast and Leinster will have to be very different as well. Thank the lord for Jamo!
What is it with us in the 2nd half big games!? This would have been the worst as we were so dominate and they were so nervy and rubbish for 55 mins, I could not believe the phase before Conan/Doris turnover was actually unfolding before my eyes….
Job done but made it far more difficult than necessary. Played Raynal horrifically. He clearly didn’t care about the laws of the game yet we still tried to abide by them and got exposed out wide. Will need Ryan, Ringrose and Keenan back to have any chance against Toulouse
@teuO6nLS: is this just for saints or both sides ?
And we think we are going to go to South Africa and beat the world champions. Spare me please.
@Ray Ridge: will be tough but the Munster contingent are big difference makers with Crowley & Beirne in particular being standouts. Also we have a get out of jail free card with Bundee when in possession
I think Murray from the bench will also be crucial if we have a slender lead going into the last 20
It’ll be a tight series
@Owen ODonoghue: will ye stop hyping up these glorified friendlies, these tours should have a development/ rest remit.
@brian o’leary: I’m looking forward to it more than the European final to be honest – great chance to test ourselves against the world champs in their own back yard – need to go all guns blazing like they will
@brian o’leary: But they are not development or friendlies. It is not how rugby is structured. All nations take the tests very seriously… as seriously as a tournament match. Rugby doesn’t have qualifiers for the top 12 nations, so therefore there has to be a level of competitiveness for the summer and autumn tests.
They (and Ireland) clearly miss Ryan. I never really rated him, but it’s become clear in the last year that he is both Leinster’s and Ireland’s talisman. The were bossing Rochelle, he gets hurt, the game momentum completely turns, and Leinster lose. We lose him for the World Cup Semis and New Zealand eke out a W. They just look jaded and a step slow without him. Leinster better hope he’s healthy for Toulouse. Ireland better hope he and Keenan are healthy for South Africa. Or it’s going to be a long, long, long summer.
@Brian Goldych: Uncle Brian !!
What gives us as Irish supporters the god given right to dish every team we play ,Leinster got the win just. We are slowly getting like the English arrogant and self absorbed with ourselves god help us
Reading these comments, I can’t help feeling you all seem to expect perfect performances every time. That game could have ended in a 20 point victory. A lucky try from a defensive misunderstanding and Leinster relaxing a bit too much in the final 15 minutes. But for 65 minutes Leinster were ruthless, suffocated Northampton’s attacking play and took points very easily. I find it hard to understand all the over-the-top criticism. I am a Munster fan but I was highly impressed for three quarters of this game and I would be proud of my team.
Probably the worst rugby atmosphere I have ever been at where Leinster were playing. Woeful second half. I think Ringrose and Keenan are badly missed.
@Tom Reilly: I was there. Atmosphere was electric. What are you talking about? Aviva pathetic in comparison.
Sorry lads we were on the vino and couldn’t make the game on time thanks for delaying the kick off.
With nothing only respect and credit to Northampton saints,Toulouse will be licking their lips after this evening’s performance but I think we will rise to the occasion in London
@Jb Walshe: rope a dope?
@Jb Walshe: I hope that Toulouse are licking their lips… they should be, but AFTER they have beaten Harlequins. If they are thinking about Leinster already, they won’t make the final themselves.
@Paul Ennis: except that, Leinster are to Toulouse what La Rochelle have been to Leinster.
Leinster fans will be praying for an upset tomorrow.northhampton will be crying when they look back at that.that 1st try was shocking 2 players marking Lowe.
Well, that was pants…
A perfect victory, much better than a 30 nil
@Rugbyanbeer: Yep I think that result will really stand to us. You need an ugly win in a cup run!