LIVERPOOL’S HOPES OF qualifying for next season’s Champions League are almost extinct after being well beaten 3-1 by Southampton this afternoon.
Brendan Rodgers’ team were swept away by the aggression of the relegation strugglers in driving rain at St Mary’s Stadium.
Goals from Morgan Schneiderlin and Rickie Lambert within the opening 33 minutes was due reward for the early dominance of the hosts, who took full advantage of shambolic defending from the visitors. Philippe Coutinho gave Liverpool hope by pulling one back on the cusp of half-time but the off-colour Liverpool failed to make their marginal second-half improvement count.
With 10 minutes remaining, the excellent Jay Rodriguez slalomed through the porous visiting rearguard and sealed the win with a finish at the second attempt.
The win helped Southampton climb seven points clear of the bottom three while Liverpool are seventh, three points behind Everton and seven adrift of fourth-placed Chelsea. Mauricio Pochettino set his team up to attack the visitors and it paid rich dividends early on as Liverpool’s defence and midfield were taken to the cleaners by the aggression of the hosts.
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The excellent Schneiderlin was a standout and his untracked run led to the opener after six minutes.
Gaston Ramirez’s inviting cross was nodded down at the back post by Rodriguez and Schneiderlin dashed in ahead of the floundering Daniel Agger to flick the ball in. Southampton kept their foot on the accelerator and created a glut of chances as they took advantage of a Liverpool completely lacking in balance and fortitude.
Shortly after Brad Jones had saved well with his legs to keep out Lambert, the boyhood Liverpool fan made amends with his 13th league goal of the season. There was a degree of fortune to the 33rd-minute free-kick but it was nothing that the hosts did not deserve given their dominance.
Lambert’s strike hit Daniel Sturridge and went through the wall and into the bottom corner while Jones stood rooted to the spot.
Despite their defensive woes, Liverpool looked threatening going forward and Coutinho gave his team hope with his second goal in four games for his new club.
After Sturridge’s shot had been blocked following a smart header by Steven Gerrard, Coutinho kept his composure to slam home the loose ball on the stroke of half-time.
It gave Liverpool a foothold in the game that they scarcely deserved and Rodgers responded at the break by reversing his selection that had badly backfired, replacing the ponderous Joe Allen with Lucas.
This brought greater aggression and balance to the visitors, and they were a far more effective force in the second half.
But, with the game in the balance, Southampton continued to create opportunities and Rodriguez made Liverpool pay for more shambolic defending to score the sealer on 80 minutes.
Barrett now looks like an inspired signing. People were wondering who would be dropped but Cullen knows only too well at this stage that International rugby does the dropping for him.
@Tom Reilly: Plucking an unknown and taking chance would be inspiring, jumping at chance to sign one of the best players in the world is just common sense.
@Fionn Bohane: You are looking at my post through a very black and white lense. If you study it more closely you may see it emerge in a more nuanced way. Many people would have criticised Leo for signing Barrett and denying Irish lads a place on the team.; as if he was a needless luxury. Now with all the injuries in the backs an injury free Barrett could be the key to Leinster winning a trophy this season. If that were to happen then indeed it would look like an inspired signing.
@Dara Gannon: Well listening to all the Leinster players saying how much Barrett inspires them then I would say that there is a lot of inspiration floating around and I haven’t even started on Snyman.
@Tom Reilly: I know what you’re saying it’s more convenient than inspired though and ye could easily have done without him and continued to be a fabulous team. Who wouldn’t want him in all fairness.
That’s a good line up. Nice consistency with last week and good go see Turner starting, with young Osborne in the 23.
No doubt there will be some mixing it up again during the game, especially if one of the centres needs replacing. Effectively, Leinster have 4 centres starting.
@Con Cussed: What way would you manage the subs. Last week RB came on at 12 but if the game is out of sight with 20 mins left, he probably comes on for Sam. Osborne will be coming on for a winger. Which one? Or will there be more shuffling to move Barrett to 12, JOB to 15? Is Fintan Gunne on the bench a sign that Luke is falling down the pecking order or just a bit of rotation?
@Brian Corcoran: Think it’s an inspired option to have Baird playing AIL. I’d like to see more of it… The poor fella has had insanely bad luck this season. I think his two sub appearances this season have resulted in going off twice within 60s of coming on with head knocks. Get 60 or 80 mins into his legs, let him come through unscathed then he is a live option come the interpros.
This is now VDFs 6th start in a big game in a row, cannot be good for him. Where is Baird, Milne and Larmour? All 3 could have been in the 23. Glad Gunne is getting another run, McGrath is not up to scratch and Foley’s hasn’t hit form this season
@Andrew Slazenger: Bairds playing for trinity. Rough start to the season so must be getting some easy minutes in. Ross came on for larmour last week so must be injured. Milne doesnt seem trusted and it looks like theyre leaning towards Boyle
Great to see Clarkson getting exposure. Though disappointed to not see Boyle or Milne not involved. Healy and Slimani are probably the oldest prop duo! Also quite disappointed not to see Ryan Baird involved. Would prefer Andrew Osborne to start over Turner.
@Peter McElwee: Baird is playing off the bench for Trinity this weekend, presumably because he is making his way back from injury and isn’t ready for champions cup level yet.
@Brian McElhinney: Open now so I suppose there is no ned to get you tin foil hat out… sometimes it is delayed (maybe to stop trolls going direct to the comments). There is also a Correction/Tip button which allows you to request them to open it. They are really good at replying.
Interesting selection as it is not far off full strength even though there are suggestions that Clermont are travelling under strength. Snyman on the bench certainly suggests that Nienebar sees his role as an early impact sub. I suppose this allows Joe to empty himself in the first half. Strange that Larmour is out of the squad completely and no word of an injury. It’s not like he has too many minutes this season. Finally, Max “trippy” Deegan is probably lucky to keep the 6 jersey ahead of Conan. His lineout work is pretty good so he now has a chance to impress POC ahead of the 6N. I don’t think this will be a classic Leinster-Clermont clash.
@Darren O SULLIVAN. Slowe is the Slowest winger in World Rugby. Watch him cut back inside or drop it onto the left boot and not much else. Rugby’s changing and the Jordan’s, Kolbe’s, Arendse’s and Penaud’s of this world are better to watch and score tries. Ireland probably has the Slowest wingers in test rugby hence their poor strike rate.
@Caballo Blanco: James Lowe has an impressive strike rate as an international winger so your argument is a bit shakey there. “slowest winger in world rugby’….. a little over the top there too.
@John Ludgate: Chris Ashton once called him overweight and Slow, he knows a thing or two about scoring tries as was the Premiership top try scorer for quite a few years. We’re all allowed opinions and he is extremely slow compared to other wingers and usually runs into contact or kicks the leather off the ball. If you look at NZ or SA back line they have real speed there and score a lot of tries through their wingers. When your 32 years old you ain’t getting any quicker and btw unlike most of the armchair keyboard warriors out there, I’ve played rugby for nearly 20 years.
@Caballo Blanco: He is extremely slow by comparison to alot of wingers such as Kolbe, Penaud, Jordan, Bielle-Biarrey… but he is not slow. Chris Ashton only ever did one job so England had to sacrifice a bit of dynamism in order to get him in the team (it was probably worth it). Ireland just don’t produce fast wingers due to our heavily structured schools and youths system. Very often we end up hedging our bets on the centres & full backs through the academies and one of them gets converted. Obviously Lowe and Hansen did not come through the Irish system but they very definitely have the characteristics of a hard working Irish winger where speed is a secondary consideration. Not saying it wouldn’t be nice to have a Bielle-B but, unfortunately, guys like that don’t make the cut in Ireland.
@Caballo Blanco: you lose all credibility when you imply Lowe doesn’t score tries…he’s been a prolific scorer for both Ireland and Leinster and is one of the best wingers in the world. Plus his highlights reel is pretty awesome too
@Caballo Blanco: You make out like him making contact is usually the end. He’s a master at breaking at least the first tackle and typically makes good ground or scores as a result when in the right position. Hence his try scoring record is nothing to be sniffed at. He’s a different type of winger than what you want but that doesn’t make him bad
@Paul Ennis: I was unaware of the Irish schools system prioritising centers and full backs so that’s quite interesting Paul. The way the game is going well seem to be relying on what’s worked in the past but ultimately won’t work in the future and especially at World cups. Ashton was a bit of a one trick pony but he could score tries from 60m out and Irelands tries seem to come much more from the forwards than the backs which has been our downfall in the past. If there’s a turnover SA or NZ get the ball to Kolbe, Arendse, Jordan or Talea and it’s usually a try. Interesting points you make though !
@Paul Ennis: Dennis Hickey was probably our last speed merchant on the wing and obviously Stockdale is rapid but quite a few have their reservations about his defensive capabilities. Remember when Toulouse had Cedric Haymans, Vincent Clerc and Clément Poitrenaud what a back three that was.
@PJ Smith: If you weighed 16.5 stone, you’d make good ground too, watch him next time not take his opposite winger on the outside. Hanson I like as he gets involved off the ball and comes off his wing a lot roaming around.
@Caballo Blanco: It not that it is prioritised, it is that that there is very little space for a 60m try in schools rugby. All the schools players a very structured game and the speed merchant gets very few opportunities to shine. By the time the sub-academies are selected, a coach is not going to waste a space on a player with only one of the main skills required for rugby – for example: catch/pass, kick, tackle, awareness of space and whilst you might have speed, you will have had little or no opportunity to demonstrate the other skills when you have only played on the wing.
@Paul Ennis: it sounds like someone was listening to Irish Times podcast this week where the topic was exactly that ‘why doesn’t Ireland produce pace wingers’. They made exactly the point you’re making about schools preferring ball players to out and out finishers.
@Caballo Blanco: Robert Balacoune has serious pace but on top of being injured a lot, is not a Farrell type of winger (busy, messy, turning up everywhere). I agree though that our current wingers will not score from far out but Lowe is very good at finding the try line from close in. Very powerful in contact + very quick reaction and reading of the game.
@Michael Corkery: it’s just with our small numbers freaky speed doesn’t come along very often? Maybe it’s best to prioritise other qualities that can be coached?
@Michael Corkery: Yes… I did listen to that but I have been making the same point for a long time. John O’Sullivan and Gordon D’Arcy are just far more articulate and knowledgable than me!!
@Caballo Blanco: Everything you have said in response actually does nothing to address the points being out to you in my comment. There is more than one type of winger and way to play the game. You seem to struggle with the fact that your preference in winger is just that, a personal preference and it doesn’t negate his effectiveness which others have made clear and which you’ve bent over backwards to avoid addressing, instead repeating the same narrative. We get it, he’s not fast enough for you. Tough.
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Barrett now looks like an inspired signing. People were wondering who would be dropped but Cullen knows only too well at this stage that International rugby does the dropping for him.
@Tom Reilly: Plucking an unknown and taking chance would be inspiring, jumping at chance to sign one of the best players in the world is just common sense.
@Fionn Bohane: Yeah Leo’s biggest weakness has also been his refusal to give young lads a chance…
@PJ Smith: good one
@Tom Reilly: There is nothing inspiring about signing one of the best players in the world…..
@Fionn Bohane: You are looking at my post through a very black and white lense. If you study it more closely you may see it emerge in a more nuanced way. Many people would have criticised Leo for signing Barrett and denying Irish lads a place on the team.; as if he was a needless luxury. Now with all the injuries in the backs an injury free Barrett could be the key to Leinster winning a trophy this season. If that were to happen then indeed it would look like an inspired signing.
@Dara Gannon: Well listening to all the Leinster players saying how much Barrett inspires them then I would say that there is a lot of inspiration floating around and I haven’t even started on Snyman.
@Tom Reilly: I know what you’re saying it’s more convenient than inspired though and ye could easily have done without him and continued to be a fabulous team. Who wouldn’t want him in all fairness.
That’s a good line up. Nice consistency with last week and good go see Turner starting, with young Osborne in the 23.
No doubt there will be some mixing it up again during the game, especially if one of the centres needs replacing. Effectively, Leinster have 4 centres starting.
@Con Cussed: What way would you manage the subs. Last week RB came on at 12 but if the game is out of sight with 20 mins left, he probably comes on for Sam. Osborne will be coming on for a winger. Which one? Or will there be more shuffling to move Barrett to 12, JOB to 15? Is Fintan Gunne on the bench a sign that Luke is falling down the pecking order or just a bit of rotation?
@Paul Ennis: I thought Byrne went to 10 and SP went to 15.
@Oran Burns: I’m not sure. I thought SP was still 1st receiver for most of the time RB was on the field
Deegan has quietly been excelling for Leinster at 6 this season. On form, he’s ahead of Baird I’d say (who is playing AIL this weekend, oddly)
@Brian Corcoran: why oddly?
@Brian Corcoran: Think it’s an inspired option to have Baird playing AIL. I’d like to see more of it… The poor fella has had insanely bad luck this season. I think his two sub appearances this season have resulted in going off twice within 60s of coming on with head knocks. Get 60 or 80 mins into his legs, let him come through unscathed then he is a live option come the interpros.
@Brian Corcoran: deagan has been excellent, Baird had no form as he’s not been playing.
@Carmine Lorenzo: yeah, good point – get him minutes, build hid confidence
This is now VDFs 6th start in a big game in a row, cannot be good for him. Where is Baird, Milne and Larmour? All 3 could have been in the 23. Glad Gunne is getting another run, McGrath is not up to scratch and Foley’s hasn’t hit form this season
@Andrew Slazenger: Bairds playing for trinity. Rough start to the season so must be getting some easy minutes in. Ross came on for larmour last week so must be injured. Milne doesnt seem trusted and it looks like theyre leaning towards Boyle
@Andrew Slazenger: Baird is injured still
Great to see Clarkson getting exposure. Though disappointed to not see Boyle or Milne not involved. Healy and Slimani are probably the oldest prop duo! Also quite disappointed not to see Ryan Baird involved. Would prefer Andrew Osborne to start over Turner.
@Andrew: Ryan Baird is still injured
@Peter McElwee: Poor lad seems to be allways injured
@Shanie: such a shame, world class…..on his day.
@Peter McElwee: Baird is playing off the bench for Trinity this weekend, presumably because he is making his way back from injury and isn’t ready for champions cup level yet.
@brian o’leary: Very true
Why are comments closed on the Connacht team selection?
@Brian McElhinney: Open now so I suppose there is no ned to get you tin foil hat out… sometimes it is delayed (maybe to stop trolls going direct to the comments). There is also a Correction/Tip button which allows you to request them to open it. They are really good at replying.
Strong 23, I wonder if that’s the plan for the 2nd rows for the big games
@bee bop: that was the rumour on Snyman signing, that if was conditional on him being a bench option, and it seems to be playing out that way
Interesting selection as it is not far off full strength even though there are suggestions that Clermont are travelling under strength. Snyman on the bench certainly suggests that Nienebar sees his role as an early impact sub. I suppose this allows Joe to empty himself in the first half. Strange that Larmour is out of the squad completely and no word of an injury. It’s not like he has too many minutes this season. Finally, Max “trippy” Deegan is probably lucky to keep the 6 jersey ahead of Conan. His lineout work is pretty good so he now has a chance to impress POC ahead of the 6N. I don’t think this will be a classic Leinster-Clermont clash.
Where is Ryan Baird!?
@Andrew: Extended return to play protocol after several concussions ?
@Noel Roe: He’s playing AIL this weekend though…
@Andrew Slazenger: So def not anything to do with the concussion. Maybe he and/or the coaches feel he needs a game to get back to match fitness.
According to some experts here it’s New Zealand rugby that are controlling where he plays……..
@anthony davoren: Imagine it only took 1 week to disprove!!
Is lowe Injured ?
@Darren O SULLIVAN: Yes and Keenan and now Frawley too
@Darren O SULLIVAN. Slowe is the Slowest winger in World Rugby. Watch him cut back inside or drop it onto the left boot and not much else. Rugby’s changing and the Jordan’s, Kolbe’s, Arendse’s and Penaud’s of this world are better to watch and score tries. Ireland probably has the Slowest wingers in test rugby hence their poor strike rate.
@Caballo Blanco: James Lowe has an impressive strike rate as an international winger so your argument is a bit shakey there. “slowest winger in world rugby’….. a little over the top there too.
@Caballo Blanco: he’s on the current world rugby XV for the year so your opinion shows your lack of knowledge of the game
@John Ludgate: Chris Ashton once called him overweight and Slow, he knows a thing or two about scoring tries as was the Premiership top try scorer for quite a few years. We’re all allowed opinions and he is extremely slow compared to other wingers and usually runs into contact or kicks the leather off the ball. If you look at NZ or SA back line they have real speed there and score a lot of tries through their wingers. When your 32 years old you ain’t getting any quicker and btw unlike most of the armchair keyboard warriors out there, I’ve played rugby for nearly 20 years.
@adizlack93:Who picks the list ?, Pieter Steph Du Toit won World player of the Year again but Doris was on shortlist.
@Caballo Blanco: He is extremely slow by comparison to alot of wingers such as Kolbe, Penaud, Jordan, Bielle-Biarrey… but he is not slow. Chris Ashton only ever did one job so England had to sacrifice a bit of dynamism in order to get him in the team (it was probably worth it). Ireland just don’t produce fast wingers due to our heavily structured schools and youths system. Very often we end up hedging our bets on the centres & full backs through the academies and one of them gets converted. Obviously Lowe and Hansen did not come through the Irish system but they very definitely have the characteristics of a hard working Irish winger where speed is a secondary consideration. Not saying it wouldn’t be nice to have a Bielle-B but, unfortunately, guys like that don’t make the cut in Ireland.
@Caballo Blanco: you lose all credibility when you imply Lowe doesn’t score tries…he’s been a prolific scorer for both Ireland and Leinster and is one of the best wingers in the world. Plus his highlights reel is pretty awesome too
@Caballo Blanco: You make out like him making contact is usually the end. He’s a master at breaking at least the first tackle and typically makes good ground or scores as a result when in the right position. Hence his try scoring record is nothing to be sniffed at. He’s a different type of winger than what you want but that doesn’t make him bad
@Paul Ennis: I was unaware of the Irish schools system prioritising centers and full backs so that’s quite interesting Paul. The way the game is going well seem to be relying on what’s worked in the past but ultimately won’t work in the future and especially at World cups. Ashton was a bit of a one trick pony but he could score tries from 60m out and Irelands tries seem to come much more from the forwards than the backs which has been our downfall in the past. If there’s a turnover SA or NZ get the ball to Kolbe, Arendse, Jordan or Talea and it’s usually a try. Interesting points you make though !
@Paul Ennis: Dennis Hickey was probably our last speed merchant on the wing and obviously Stockdale is rapid but quite a few have their reservations about his defensive capabilities. Remember when Toulouse had Cedric Haymans, Vincent Clerc and Clément Poitrenaud what a back three that was.
@PJ Smith: If you weighed 16.5 stone, you’d make good ground too, watch him next time not take his opposite winger on the outside. Hanson I like as he gets involved off the ball and comes off his wing a lot roaming around.
@Caballo Blanco: It not that it is prioritised, it is that that there is very little space for a 60m try in schools rugby. All the schools players a very structured game and the speed merchant gets very few opportunities to shine. By the time the sub-academies are selected, a coach is not going to waste a space on a player with only one of the main skills required for rugby – for example: catch/pass, kick, tackle, awareness of space and whilst you might have speed, you will have had little or no opportunity to demonstrate the other skills when you have only played on the wing.
@Paul Ennis: it sounds like someone was listening to Irish Times podcast this week where the topic was exactly that ‘why doesn’t Ireland produce pace wingers’. They made exactly the point you’re making about schools preferring ball players to out and out finishers.
@Caballo Blanco: Robert Balacoune has serious pace but on top of being injured a lot, is not a Farrell type of winger (busy, messy, turning up everywhere). I agree though that our current wingers will not score from far out but Lowe is very good at finding the try line from close in. Very powerful in contact + very quick reaction and reading of the game.
@Michael Corkery: it’s just with our small numbers freaky speed doesn’t come along very often? Maybe it’s best to prioritise other qualities that can be coached?
@Michael Corkery: Yes… I did listen to that but I have been making the same point for a long time. John O’Sullivan and Gordon D’Arcy are just far more articulate and knowledgable than me!!
@Caballo Blanco: Everything you have said in response actually does nothing to address the points being out to you in my comment. There is more than one type of winger and way to play the game. You seem to struggle with the fact that your preference in winger is just that, a personal preference and it doesn’t negate his effectiveness which others have made clear and which you’ve bent over backwards to avoid addressing, instead repeating the same narrative. We get it, he’s not fast enough for you. Tough.
@Paul Ennis: don’t be putting yourself down, more articulate than most on here! Wouldn’t be hard, says you