Rúaidhrí O'Connor and Fiona Hayes joined Joe Molloy on Monday Night Rugby this evening, reviewing Leinster’s latest Champions Cup outing versus Racing 92.
Rugby watchers need to avoid “falling into the trap of waxing lyrical about Leinster” before they “back it up” in the latter stages of the Champions Cup says journalist Rúaidhrí O'Connor.
After a 42-10 triumph over Racing 92 at the weekend, the Stuart Lancaster managed outfit’s “exceptional performance” once again has ignited hype around just how far they are expected to go in the competition.
“They’re clearly angry about what happened against La Rochelle in Marseille…there’s a response there” says O'Connor.
“This was their chance to go back to France for the first time against a highly rated Racing team who have the profile of teams they have struggled with in the past and lay down a marker. And they did lay down that marker.
"The difficult thing for them is we expect them to do this all the way because really where there will be measured is in May, they've got to win this trophy."
Citing that “they can beat you anyway” now, Leinster have to go on and put their impressive displays to good use.
“They’re too good only to have one Champions cup in ten years” he says.
“To take Sexton and Furlong out and still produce that level of performance, you just run out of superlatives.”
“You do also have to step back because we do sometimes fall into the trap of waxing lyrical about Leinster and then it comes to May and we’re all shocked at the fact that they haven’t got the trophy to show for it.
“That’s what they have to get done this season.”
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