Welcome Home, Felipe!

[ronk]

It's hard to know exatly his influence at this point, but it seems to be positive.

[Peg Leg]

Points for: 457
Points Diff: 247
TBP: 9

Nearest conference points diff: 17 (Scarlets pf: 318)
Nearest Pro 14 Points diff: 153 (Munster pf: 396)

Number of try scorers would be an interesting stat/comparison.

Those numbers look good to me.

[leinster23]

It's hard to know exatly his influence at this point, but it seems to be positive.

Well at 10/12, the likes of Ross Byrne, Frawley and Conor O'Brien and even Noel Reid (O'Loughlin to has been good there when called on) have all improved this season, it's hard to know how much of that is down to him but it does speak well of him. And our Pro14 points difference at this stage is ridiculous, which as backs coach he definitely deserves credit for.

[mildlyinterested]

I dunno, I don't think the attack/backs have really fired on all cylinders this season, especially in some of the bigger games.

wait and see.

[Oldschool]

I dunno, I don't think the attack/backs have really fired on all cylinders this season, especially in some of the bigger games.

wait and see.

It's also noticeable that the number of intercept passes against us has gone up (don't ask me to prove it, I won't, it's just an impression).
This is indicative of a higher risk strategy which is what you would expect from Felipe.
Swings and roundabouts but with a net gain overall.
However it might not be worth it against the better teams and will encourage teams to look for the intercept more.

[backrower8]

I dunno, I don't think the attack/backs have really fired on all cylinders this season, especially in some of the bigger games.

wait and see.

Agree with wait and see - but the injury Robbie and the loss of his supposed replacement, Tomane (who was only bedding in himself), has resulted in a lot of chopping and changing at 12, which in turn has not helped with our shape and flow in the back line generally.

[Xanthippe]

Points for: 457
Points Diff: 247
TBP: 9

Nearest conference points diff: 17 (Scarlets pf: 318)
Nearest Pro 14 Points diff: 153 (Munster pf: 396)

Number of try scorers would be an interesting stat/comparison.

Those numbers look good to me.

Sorry Peggy, I don't have time at the moment to look into all the stats but the numbers of players scoring for the top five try scoring teams in the Pro 14 are as follows:

Leinster- 64 tries from 27 players (plus Penaud Traille x 3)
Munster - 53 tries from 27 players (that french guy scored for them too)
Glasgow - 48 tries from 23 players
Scarlets - 40 tries from 21 players
Connacht - 37 tries from just 18 players (and 2 from the frenchie)

[sunshiner1]

by Xanthippe

Leinster- 64 tries from 27 players (plus Penaud Traille x 3)
Munster - 53 tries from 27 players (that french guy scored for them too)
Glasgow - 48 tries from 23 players
Scarlets - 40 tries from 21 players
Connacht - 37 tries from just 18 players (and 2 from the frenchie)

That 3 of those teams are Irish is incredably encouraging and shows what strength the Irish system has.

[Peg Leg]

Points for: 457
Points Diff: 247
TBP: 9

Nearest conference points diff: 17 (Scarlets pf: 318)
Nearest Pro 14 Points diff: 153 (Munster pf: 396)

Number of try scorers would be an interesting stat/comparison.

Those numbers look good to me.

Sorry Peggy, I don't have time at the moment to look into all the stats but the numbers of players scoring for the top five try scoring teams in the Pro 14 are as follows:

Leinster- 64 tries from 27 players (plus Penaud Traille x 3)
Munster - 53 tries from 27 players (that french guy scored for them too)
Glasgow - 48 tries from 23 players
Scarlets - 40 tries from 21 players
Connacht - 37 tries from just 18 players (and 2 from the frenchie)

That's always the risk when you drop a comment Re: stats I am too lazy to devote the time to researching. Thanks xan, I didn't expect you to look that up. Always appreciated.

[Xanthippe]

That's always the risk when you drop a comment Re: stats I am too lazy to devote the time to researching. Thanks xan, I didn't expect you to look that up. Always appreciated.

Ah it’s no problem - I love stats so it’s never a hardship to do some research

[mildlyinterested]

https://www.balls.ie/rugby/garry-ringro ... omi-404185

Ringrose says that a particular area where Contepomi's influence has been beneficial is with the team's lines of running.

"Him, as a 10 and also playing centre as well, would have a great understanding and appreciation for how you can impact an attack with your lines and how the person with the ball - how they're running with the ball - what’s the best you can do as a result of what they’re doing, if that makes sense.

"From the outset that was something we had to pick up and are still trying to learn at the moment because we still don’t get it right every time. I think you have to get it wrong in training sessions or in matches to learn from it.

"Each training session, individually for me anyway and it’ll be the same for most guys, he’d be picking up individuals on the little elements that they can improve so it’s great to be able to work with him."

[mildlyinterested]

Now, as a 22-year-old, Contepomi’s influence has grown much stronger on O'Brien.

“Felipe was reminding me at the start of the year saying, ‘look, you can work on your weaknesses, but people kind of neglect their strengths then as well.’

“That kind of clicked with me because I was focusing so much on developing my passing and kicking and things like that. Whereas my ball-carrying and getting a good defence going (are my strengths), I’m always working with himself and Hugh Hogan on D, trying to tidy up things and get rid of bad habits.”

Felipe would say, ‘you’ll make mistakes, just forget about them and learn from there,’” says the centre.
“As long as the decision or the reason why you did it was right, the execution will get better with time. That’s definitely something that himself and myself were working on recently.”

[neiliog93]

I've noticed Ross Byrne has looked much more comfortable taking the ball to the line himself, sometimes necessary against fast-up defences.

[Ruckedtobits]

I've noticed Ross Byrne has looked much more comfortable taking the ball to the line himself, sometimes necessary against fast-up defences.

IMO, he starts games like that and, so long as he's concentrating 100%, he does it fairly effectively. However, when we get through about 6/7 phases, or the tempo really picks up, he reverts to standard. It does not appear to come naturally to him, 6 months into this season, with Felipe alongside. Maybe this is an example of exactly what experience brings.

[ronk]

The doc was always distinctive in the way he'd cut way back inside a rush defence looking for space / soft shoulder. Sometimes he overdid it and sometimes he got lined up.

This season a few players seem to run that line more (effectively), Ringrose and Larmour especially.

[mildlyinterested]

https://www.rugbyworld.com/news/felipe- ... ion-110943

If we are taking stock, then, how has he evolved as a coach since guiding the Jaguares and then rejoining Leinster in 2018?

“I’d like to think that I’ve improved a lot,” Contepomi replies. “I’ve always been grateful to them to giving me the opportunity to come back to Leinster. With my philosophy in terms of rugby, it’s easier for me in Leinster because it’s the philosophy I believe in and the way I love rugby to be played.

“Having said that, I’ve been very lucky having coaches like Leo (Cullen) as a head coach, Stuart Lancaster as a senior coach and now Robin McBryde as forwards coach. I’ve been surrounded by a lot of very good and knowledgeable coaches, and for me that’s easier to learn from. And also there’s a great bunch of players!

“For the last two years here, especially besides Stuart, I’ve seen how important the defensive systems are and how understanding and clarity on what you want to do – in attack, but more so in defence – is the best way to transmit that. It sounds obvious but sometimes you might not sit down and (seek) clarity and ask all the time ‘What if? What if?'”

Leadership and learning how best to empower players has been a strong focus for Contepomi. He did a diploma at UCD on leadership and management. But if we look at purely on-pitch evolutions, it would be good to know where he thinks innovations can come in.

“I would always say in attack, you have to be creative. Why? Because defences become better and better and refuse to stay static. So you need to be creative, but you don’t have to change for the sake of changing or change everything, every year. You just have to make small changes that can bring differences. Sometimes simplicity is the key.

“If you have defences coming hard, sometimes instead of playing behind the back when now everyone is starting to read your play, you can start playing ‘circle balls’ (when a support player runs an arc from an inside position to take a pass on the outside shoulder) for example. They used to be played a few years ago but it comes and goes and maybe it’s not that you have to be innovative in bringing something completely different in. Or you can look at if you want to go through the defence and not around them now, for example.

“With a circle, say you have two forwards and you throw it to the second forward, it’s not about just giving the ball out the back. You will attack the same space, but they won’t see you coming because you’re coming late. You don’t have to change the whole of how you attack.”

When the Guinness Pro14 and European Champions Cup get back underway, knock-out specialists Leinster will bare their ambitions again. Amidst the action though, using subtle changes, renewing attitudes and creating fun could prove a difference-maker. That would be worth applauding.