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The Leinster Listen

The Leinster Listen

By: Mick Linnane
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A weekly dive into all things Leinster Rugby. There'll be previews, reviews, and the odd rant when required. Two episodes a week covering the boys in blue, with a sharp eye on the URC, Europe, and whatever the Irish setup is up to. It’s straight talking, a bit of a laugh, and absolutely no pretending we don’t care as much as we do. If you follow Leinster, if you love the game, or if you just enjoy someone else doing the overthinking for you, you’re in the right place.

Find our socials with the username: @the_leinster_listen

Mick Linnane 2025
Politics & Government Rugby
Episodes
  • #59: Andy Farrell's Four Fly Halfs - Ireland Summer Series Preview
    Jun 29 2026

    Episode 59, and the club season is done — back-to-back URC champions, Leo Cullen's departure announced, and now the focus shifts to Andy Farrell's Ireland squad heading south for the inaugural Nations Championship. Jack Crowley is ruled out, which leaves four fly-halves in the squad: Sam Prendergast, Harry Byrne, Ciarán Frawley, and Nathan Doak — the Ulster scrum-half who can also play 10. Here is what I'm hitting on this week's episode:

    🎙️ Discussion Point; Andy Farrell's Four Fly Halfs — Crowley ruled out, Prendergast's Grand Final form, Byrne's Champions Cup credentials, Frawley's South Africa tour experience, Doak's versatility at 9 and 10, and who starts in Sydney, Newcastle, and Auckland.

    🏉 Next game; Ireland's Nations Championship Southern Series — Australia (4 July, Sydney), Japan (11 July, Newcastle), and New Zealand (18 July, Eden Park).

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    25 mins
  • #58: Leinster (H) vs Vodacom Bulls - URC Grand Final Review
    Jun 22 2026

    Episode 58, and Leinster are back-to-back BKT United Rugby Championship champions after a stunning 36-7 hammering of the Vodacom Bulls at Croke Park on Friday night. Déjà vu from last year's final — five tries, 22-0 at half-time, and Sam Prendergast running the show on the night we saved our best rugby for the biggest stage. James Lowe, Rieko Ioane, Luke McGrath, and Jerry Cahir bow out as winners. And then Monday brought the news: Leo Cullen will leave as head coach when his contract ends at the end of next season. One more year, one more shot at adding to the legacy. Here is what I'm hitting on this week's episode:

    🏆 BKT United Rugby Championship match results; The Grand Final at Croke Park — Leinster 36-7 Vodacom Bulls, 39,184 in the ground, and a repeat of last year's decider.

    🔥 Overall opinion of the game; Why this felt like the performance we'd been waiting for all season — Bulls indiscipline, Doris off early, Conan stepping up, and Prendergast at his absolute best. 📋 Analysis of the game events; Moodie and le Roux yellows, O'Brien's opening try, Ioane and Conan, Prendergast's snipe, Lowe's farewell yellow, Moodie's consolation, the disallowed Bulls tries, and Byrne sealing it.

    🗺️ BKT United Rugby Championship positioning after this weekend; Back-to-back titles, a record 10th league crown, the Bulls' fourth final defeat in five years — and the domestic season is done.

    🎙️ Discussion Point; Leo Cullen to leave Leinster at the end of 2026/27 — his accomplishments as a player (221 caps, three European Cups as captain, Ireland skipper) and as head coach (seven trophies in 11 years, 2018 Champions Cup, back-to-back URC titles, and the recruitment search already underway).

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    26 mins
  • #57: Leinster (H) vs Vodacom Bulls - URC Grand Final Preview
    Jun 17 2026

    Episode 57, and we're back at Croke Park for the BKT United Rugby Championship Grand Final, an exact repeat of last year's decider as Leinster defend their title against the Vodacom Bulls on Friday night. Leo Cullen has named a side with Tadhg Furlong returning, Caelan Doris passed fit, and James Lowe starting in his final game for the province, while Johan Ackermann's Bulls arrive at full strength off the back of that remarkable 22-21 semi-final comeback in Edinburgh. Here is what I'm hitting on this week's episode:

    🏟️ Details of our game; Kick-off, weather, why Croke Park and a Friday night, where to watch, and Andrea Piardi in the middle for his fourth consecutive URC decider.

    📋 Team lineups; Full run-through of both confirmed matchday 23s. Furlong and Lowe in for Leinster, eleven Springboks in the Bulls XV, Porter out, and the 5-3 vs 6-2 bench splits.

    🎯 Score and MOTM Prediction; The bookies' 2/5 and -6 handicap, semi-final form from both sides, my scoreline call, and who I've gone for as man of the match.

    🏉 Discussion Point; Club Rugby in mid June — why the season shouldn't run this late, Croke Park vs the Aviva, Metallica, ticket prices, empty seats, and whether anyone can afford to show up in Dublin.

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    26 mins
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