Leinster's recent victory over Munster highlights the team's evolving style under Jacques Nienaber's leadership. The team's focus on defensive pressure, penalty generation, and clinical finishing showcases a shift away from the traditional phase-play attack.
As Leinster unveiled a new prop experiment and delivered another massive defensive performance at Thomond Park on Friday night, Jacques Nienaber’s ever-growing influence on the province was clear. The relentlessness of Leinster’s effort without the ball and even some of their attacking plays – such as launching a garryowen into the Munster 22 for Robbie Henshaw to contest off a lineout attack – were Springboks-esque.
There’s no doubt the team’s DNA has changed under the guidance of Nienaber, who is head coach in all but name. His predecessor, Stuart Lancaster, put a huge focus on Leinster’s phase-play attack shape but Leinster are now more interested in pressuring their opponents into conceding penalties, kicking into the 22, and striking clinically from close range. While many Leinster fans still seem to be waiting for the old phase-play attack to ‘click,’ it seems evident that their team are spending less time focusing on that. Leinster’s own sense is that their current style can get them over the line in cup rugby later this season. Not that they enjoyed Munster defence coach Denis Leamy labelling them as “brilliantly boring” in the build-up to Friday night’s bonus-point win at Thomond Park. Leamy insisted it was a compliment but Leinster boss Leo Cullen wasn’t so sure. “I don’t know about that,” said Cullen after his side’s 28-7 victory. “I think Leams knew what he was saying there. That was just the old stirring the pot there. You know it as well. He knows it, you know it. I know exactly what he was doing.” Despite the signs on the pitch, Cullen insisted that Leinster’s style hasn’t changed over the last two seasons since Nienaber arrived. “No,” said Cullen. “We want to develop all parts of our game so that is set-pieces, attack, defence, all of it, the transition game. You can see there was some good opportunities out there that we didn’t quite nail. That’s the bit we need to keep working on.” Joe McCarthy makes a big carry for Leinste
LEINSTER MUNSTER JAQUES NIENABER RUGBY STYLE DEFENSIVE PRESSURE
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