LEINSTER COACH JOE SCHMIDT was so enthused with his side’s 33-14, bonus point win over Llanelli Scarlets that he mixed up his movie references.
Asked, post-match, if he was pleased with part one of ‘The Great Escape’, Schmidt referenced another World War Two prison break-out classic.
He began to wax lyrical about the Sylvester Stallone and Bobby Moore footballing masterpiece, Escape to Victory.
“It’s a great movie,” he told TheScore.ie. “Some of the acting in it probably isn’t great.
If Pele’s available, he’s more than welcome.
“Although, we didn’t kick tonight so he may not have been much use to us.”
Leinster’s own number 10, Jonathan Sexton, may be miffed with the competition but he was happy to forgo penalty attempts as his side successfully hunted down tries.
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Staying Alive
Schmidt was delighted that his team were able to ‘hang in there and stay alive’ but he still felt hard-earned scoring opportunities were spurned in the second-half against a combative Scarlets outfit.
“It was a punishing game,” he commented. “There’s a lot of tired and fairly beaten up bodies in there at the moment so that’s a credit to Scarlets and I’m pretty sure they are feeling the same way.”
Familiar sight: O’Driscoll with a tender ankle. (INPHO/Dan Sheridan)
Brian O’Driscoll, on as a sub, was playing his first game back at the RDS since he damaged his ankle there in October.
Supporters would have been worried as he got treatment on his right ankle and hobbled through the last three minutes as he refused to drop Leinster’s numbers to 14. Schmidt had better news than the picture [above] might suggest.
“I think Brian is good,” said Schmidt.
“I think Sean [O'Brien] is good, Kevin McLaughlin should be good. Richardt Strauss is good as well – he maybe could have played tonight but Aaron Dundon has been a really good soldier for us. He came on and made a really positive impact.
It was the same we Sean, he could have probably played tonight. He was just off-colour but didn’t really pick up today.
“One of the things we have is a lot of faith in a guy like Rhys Ruddock and I thought he was immense tonight.”
Schmidt went through the permutations of other Heineken Cup results and seemed most worried about runner-up rivals Montpellier, who host Toulon at home next weekend.
“All to play for but we’re still looking at miracles, to be honest,” he remarked.
Why as Irish people can we not celebrate any Irish and reserve parish support for, and if, we meet in the later stages of the HC? Most of the comments point to emotional and intellectual retardation.
Hear hear, the outdated parochialism is silly. The better we all do is surely better for the game nationally as a whole. Be great if three of the provinces got through to the quarters. Unrealistic at this stage though it would seem.
Don’t worry about elrat he’s a bitter little fella. Can’t handle the 3 times champions are still miles better than the in transition team from the south.
If Leinster and it’s a big if get out of the group have a very real chance of retaining the title, Munster even if the go through have little or no hope of winning.
Les I sat at 3 Heineken cup finals watch Leinster prove they are the best team in Europe, those 3 seats belonged to Munster fans who had this crazy notion that Munster would be in the final.
What makes me laugh is that you still believe your still a top side. Third best team in Ireland and gong backwards
Nope don’t think so. Scarlets are not a bad team and they actually played far better tonight than they did against Ulster last week and Ospreys the week before.
Good result but performance was average, won’t get bonus next week playing like that.
Re article: O’Driscoll wouldn’t have left the side at 14, Boss was ready to come back on. He didn’t come off because the scrum was taken before they could make the substitution.
@Mark – I couldn’t see the Leinster sideline from where I was in the ground but it wouldn’t surprise me. Boss fancies himself as a centre! O’Driscoll was adamant, though, that he wasn’t going off despite two attempts to talk him out of it.
If Munster win today with bonus point and Leinster & Munster both win next week with bonus points, then it will be the most trys scored out of the 2 of them as to who goes through as best runner up! Adios Leinster???
If Munster win both with bonus point I think that puts them on 21 point leinster can only reach 20 points, with racing losing yesterday Munster should be good for bonus win in thomond next week it’s today is less straight forward for them especially on last weekends dreadful performance. Leinster will do a job on Exeter next week but will not be enough
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Darcy was superb as always.
Why as Irish people can we not celebrate any Irish and reserve parish support for, and if, we meet in the later stages of the HC? Most of the comments point to emotional and intellectual retardation.
Hear hear, the outdated parochialism is silly. The better we all do is surely better for the game nationally as a whole. Be great if three of the provinces got through to the quarters. Unrealistic at this stage though it would seem.
Don’t worry about elrat he’s a bitter little fella. Can’t handle the 3 times champions are still miles better than the in transition team from the south.
If Leinster and it’s a big if get out of the group have a very real chance of retaining the title, Munster even if the go through have little or no hope of winning.
Its you’re modesty munster fans love. Does daddy have a portnership in k.p.m.g.
Les I sat at 3 Heineken cup finals watch Leinster prove they are the best team in Europe, those 3 seats belonged to Munster fans who had this crazy notion that Munster would be in the final.
What makes me laugh is that you still believe your still a top side. Third best team in Ireland and gong backwards
Im still laughing how seriously the leinster fans take elrat .. wouldnt know humour if it slapped them on the cheek !
Loretta Convent would have beaten Scarlets
That is very hard to prove so shut up and take the victory on its merits.
Nope don’t think so. Scarlets are not a bad team and they actually played far better tonight than they did against Ulster last week and Ospreys the week before.
After watching the rugby last weekend I’d day there’s a team in red the convent might beat.
Good result the first time we’ve seen Leinster at their strongest well done. I think next seasons our season though.
Good result but performance was average, won’t get bonus next week playing like that.
Re article: O’Driscoll wouldn’t have left the side at 14, Boss was ready to come back on. He didn’t come off because the scrum was taken before they could make the substitution.
@Mark – I couldn’t see the Leinster sideline from where I was in the ground but it wouldn’t surprise me. Boss fancies himself as a centre! O’Driscoll was adamant, though, that he wasn’t going off despite two attempts to talk him out of it.
If Munster win today with bonus point and Leinster & Munster both win next week with bonus points, then it will be the most trys scored out of the 2 of them as to who goes through as best runner up! Adios Leinster???
If Munster win both with bonus point I think that puts them on 21 point leinster can only reach 20 points, with racing losing yesterday Munster should be good for bonus win in thomond next week it’s today is less straight forward for them especially on last weekends dreadful performance. Leinster will do a job on Exeter next week but will not be enough
Egg Ball United
Surely commenting on this article is delaying you from cooking the nice bit of ham for tomorrow???
Opp
yes