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The Leinster Listen

The Leinster Listen

Written 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
Rugby
Episodes
  • #55: Leinster (H) vs DHL Stormers - URC Semi Final Review
    Jun 8 2026

    We did it! I'm back for Episode 55, and Leinster are through to the BKT United Rugby Championship Grand Final after a hard-fought 20-11 win over the DHL Stormers at the Aviva Stadium. It wasn't pretty at times — but when the stakes were highest, the boys in blue found a way. Here is what I'm hitting on this week's episode:

    🏆 BKT United Rugby Championship match results; My run-through of both semi-finals this weekend — Glasgow Warriors vs the Bulls in Edinburgh, and our tense Dublin showdown with the Stormers.

    🔥 Overall opinion of the game; Why this felt like the story of our season in microcosm — strong start, Stormers fightback, indiscipline deciding it, and Jamison Gibson-Park delivering when it mattered most.

    📋 Analysis of the game events; Rieko Ioane's early try, Sam Prendergast's boot, Adré Smith's Stormers response, Ruan Ackermann's red card, Salmaan Moerat's yellow, and Gibson-Park's late seal-the-deal score.

    🗺️ BKT United Rugby Championship positioning after this weekend; Leinster vs the Bulls at Croke Park on Friday 19 June — a repeat of last year's final and a shot at back-to-back titles on home soil.

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    27 mins
  • #54: Leinster (H) vs DHL Stormers - URC Semi Final Preview
    Jun 4 2026

    I'm back for Episode 54, and this week it's all systems go as we preview the massive BKT United Rugby Championship semi-final against the DHL Stormers at the Aviva Stadium. After that statement 59-10 quarter-final win over the Lions, Leo Cullen has named a seriously strong XV — but the Cape Town side arrive in Dublin with serious pedigree, a head-to-head edge in the competition, and a 35-0 memory we'd rather forget.

    Here is what I'm hitting on this week's episode:

    🏆 BKT United Rugby Championship game predictions; My picks for both semi-finals this weekend — Glasgow Warriors vs the Bulls in Edinburgh, and our clash with the Stormers in Dublin.

    🏟️ Details of our game; Kick-off, weather, where to watch, and why Hollie Davidson in the middle is a fascinating storyline given her perfect record with Leinster so far.

    📋 Team lineups; A full run-through of Cullen's confirmed matchday 23 — Kelleher, van der Flier and Gibson-Park in, Sheehan out — plus why the Stormers sheet wasn't released and who to keep an eye on from their injury-hit squad.

    🎯 Score and MOTM Prediction; The bookies' 1/10 and -14 handicap, our recent form, their missing stars, my scoreline call, and who I've gone for as man of the match.

    🇮🇪 Discussion Point; URC Semi-Final: Can Leinster banish the Cape Town ghost? — digging into that opening-night shutout, the Aviva revenge, and the stakes of a winner-takes-all semi-final.

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    14 mins
  • #53: Leinster (H) vs Fidelity SecureDrive Lions - URC Quarter Final Review
    Jun 1 2026

    What a response! I’m back behind the mic for Episode 53, and the healing process from Bilbao has officially begun. We absolute clicked at the Aviva Stadium, bouncing back in spectacular style to put a staggering 59 points past a dangerous Fidelity SecureDrive Lions side to march right into the final four.

    Here is what I'm hitting on this week's episode:

    • 🏆 URC Quarter-Final Match Results; My run-through of a high-scoring knockout weekend across the league as the big hitters laid down their markers.
    • 🔥 Overall opinion of the game; Why this was the flawless, clinical tonic we desperately needed to shake off the European hangover and prove our domestic intent.
    • 📋 Analysis of the game events; I break down Sam Prendergast steering the ship, our relentless defensive line-speed, and how we clinically blew the floodgates wide open.
    • 🗺️ URC Semi-Final fixtures after this weekend; Mapping out the road to the trophy as we prepare to welcome our old rivals, the DHL Stormers, back to Dublin next Saturday.
    • 🇮🇪 Discussion Point; Lowe and Behold; Paying ultimate homage to James Lowe on his milestone 100th appearance as he bags a brilliant brace to officially become Leinster’s all-time top try-scorer.
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    24 mins
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