542 : Lions, Wallabies & Corn rows

And of course, Leinster got their season underway at the weekend.

Unfortunately, finished in a defeat to the Lions down in Johannesburg.

There were still a lot of positives from it, especially at the very end there.

What did you make of it,

Hugo? Listen, as far as losses go, and especially when we remember last year's trip to South Africa, I thought it was a very positive experience.

Everything from the entire team, flying out there just to get a bit of bruises up on the body, train at altitude.

I think Gunn is showing that he wants responsibility.

Some of the three tries, obviously, is nothing to be sneezed at, but it was the other stuff that he was doing that was quite, quite good as well.

And I know we've seen it in bits and pieces over the last couple of years, but I think now this season will be a chance for him to kind of knock on the door for some big games.

I think Kasper Gabriel, they see something there.

A couple of kicks didn't go the way we wanted, but I thought he played well.

I thought he worked the game well.

He's playing with confidence.

He's a big boy.

Some good, good hits in there.

Great to see Ryan Baird back.

A bit of shuffling around in the front row, which isn't a bad thing.

I think Ustinov with his judo background and everything, I think he's going to be a force.

And the Max Deegan All-Stars nearly, nearly pulled another one out of the bag.

But, you know, a losing bonus point, as you say, Jeff, showing up at the end, not stopping the scrap and getting that point at the end, the try at the end, I think is a really great sign.

Following on from when you guys were doing the – as it was happening friendly in the Leia a couple of weeks ago, you guys were all quite positive with how the game was moving, what they were doing, even forgetting about the opponents on that day.

And it seems that that's continued.

So, you know, good to have lost.

But, you know, as far as trips go to South Africa, it wasn't a bad one.

No, not at all.

And of course, Leinster got their season underway at the weekend.

Unfortunately, finished in a defeat to the Lions down in Johannesburg.

There were still a lot of positives from it, especially at the very end there.

What did you make of it,

Hugo? Listen, as far as losses go, and especially when we remember last year's trip to South Africa, I thought it was a very positive experience.

Everything from the entire team, flying out there just to get a bit of bruises up on the body, train at altitude.

I think Gunn is showing that he wants responsibility.

Some of the three tries, obviously, is nothing to be sneezed at, but it was the other stuff that he was doing that was quite, quite good as well.

And I know we've seen it in bits and pieces over the last couple of years, but I think now this season will be a chance for him to kind of knock on the door for some big games.

I think Kasper Gabriel, they see something there.

A couple of kicks didn't go the way we wanted, but I thought he played well.

I thought he worked the game well.

He's playing with confidence.

He's a big boy.

Some good, good hits in there.

Great to see Ryan Baird back.

A bit of shuffling around in the front row, which isn't a bad thing.

I think Ustinov with his judo background and everything, I think he's going to be a force.

And the Max Deegan All-Stars nearly, nearly pulled another one out of the bag.

But, you know, a losing bonus point, as you say, Jeff, showing up at the end, not stopping the scrap and getting that point at the end, the try at the end, I think is a really great sign.

Following on from when you guys were doing the – as it was happening friendly in the Leia a couple of weeks ago, you guys were all quite positive with how the game was moving, what they were doing, even forgetting about the opponents on that day.

And it seems that that's continued.

So, you know, good to have lost.

But, you know, as far as trips go to South Africa, it wasn't a bad one.

No, not at all.