Andy Dunne believes Leinster’s lock pairing of Devin Toner and James Ryan should not waste their energy on disrupting Racing 92’s set-piece.
The Irish duo face Donnacha Ryan and Leone Nakarawa in the Champions Cup final at the San Mames Stadium in Bilbao on Saturday having watched the pair dominate Munster at the lineout in their semi-final victory.
But Dunne, speaking on the Saturday Panel, has called on Leinster to focus on their own set-pieces as a way of preserving mental energy.
“It’s kind of like the old cowboy movies. They’re both facing each other but one has the draw early in the lineout,” Dunne said.
“Your hooker is holding the ball. It’s not like it’s up for a challenge. He has the ball and he know where he’s throwing it. He knows the call.
“If the footwork is right, if the lift is right, if the jump is right and the throw is on point – you win your lineout. That’s it. It doesn’t matter how many times they analyse their line-out.
“They throw a guy up and read it – if your timing is better, you win your lineout. And I think it can be that simple and it has been that simple at times.
“I think Munster got that completely wrong in the semi-final. I think Donnacha Ryan psyched them out. In the first five minutes they threw a ridiculous short throw and got spooked.
“I think there can be a paralysis by analysis. These guys are doing six, seven hour days on video analysis and every modern day team has a lineout nerd. And it can get over the top.
“You have 120 calls and guys are losing the run of themselves. If you just break it down and get your process right – you’ve got the early draw with the throw.
“I’m not being dismissive to say it can be that simple. It’s just so difficult to get that process right.”
Listen to full match commentary of Leinster v Racing 92 on Off The Ball with Dave McIntyre, Keith Wood, Liam Toland and Matt Williams.
Written by James Hopper
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