The Molecast

You can support the Molecast at https://ko-fi.com/dementedmoleWe take a look at how Ireland's actual touring party to New Zealand compares with what was predicted before surveying the landscape of winners and losers in the recent weeks of cup match rugby: Leinster's defeat to the Bulls, Leicester's shit-on-a-stick win over Saracens and Castres' ability to squeeze out the rugby royalty of Toulouse.

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Support the Molecast at https://ko-fi.com/dementedmoleThe One Where Leinster Lose The Final: How it happened? what is its significance? Where next?

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Support the Molecast at https://ko-fi.com/dementedmoleTwo Leinster matches to consider 1) the rotated squad turning over Munster in the URC dead rubber that still has profound implications2) the front-liners out to put some ghosts to bed against La RochelleMAH GAWD THAT'S WILL SKELTON'S MUSIC

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Support the Molecast at https://ko-fi.com/dementedmoleThe Moles chow down on the semis, the final, Leinster, La Rochelle, playing principles, 130kg props, departing coaches and replacements, Alex Soroka's hair and 10 minutes on why you should name your awards something cool.

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A big snotty post-QF roundtable:1) Munster v Toulouse: a clash of styles for the ages2) Leicester v Leinster: Tigers back at the big table but no longer the alpha predator in Europe3) Are Toulouse's monster pack Leinster Kryptonite or sick of getting on planes and running around the pitch?4) La ROGelle vs Racing: côte du bœuf vs croissants5) Bizarre listing of French clubs we like and one of us really can't stand Montpellier

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First up, it's the big NZ squad selection chat. Are there really such things as bolters?Secondly we talk about Ulster's slide after so much recent progress.Lastly we chat AIL Final briefly as Terenure look to shock Clontarf and round off an incredible year for the Lakelands outfit.

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Three Tributes:1) Dan Leavy — what a goddamn player2) A consummate Leinster performance, their best of the season, obliterates their opponents on Saturday night3) Pints at the game and alickadoos farting

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Support the Molecast at https://www.ko-fi.com/dementedmole/After smashing the English at Fortress HQ with a bonus point and by a record margin not even achieve in the annus mirabilis of 2018, much of commentary focused on Ireland's flaws and celebrated England's moral victory — when did the script get so flipped?Wales vs France was a grizzled test match that our purists adored. A Wales low on talent but high on guts vs a French team high on talent but low on "ambition". We ask simply, how good are France?Also shouts out to our new favourite human missile Aitzol King and Ireland's general standing in world rugby.

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With no BIG MATCH to talk about, we get into the weeds talking about DEPTH and whether it really makes that much of a difference, or is it just a desire for change for changes sake to get your province's man into the jersey? Carbery, Coombes, Baloucoune and bulky meaty fleshlumpeaters are all discussed.

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Is Joey Carbery not just the successor but a real competitor to Johnny Sexton after a lauded performance in Paris, or is the Emperor standing 10 yards behind the gainline, putting up weak garryowens and not sticking to the gameplan?The eternal match situation debate: go to the corner and maul satisfyingly over the pack who've disrupted your lineout and out-physicalled you all day, or take yer bloody points? Honourable mentions to xP, The I Am An All Black Fallacy and the Mole's own epitaph.Elsewhere, the U20 Grand Slam dream is alive and Luigi Garbisi appears, so maybe the big brother should be called Mario now?

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