Rumour Mill

[simonokeeffe]

Mitchell played very well for tahs today
strong in tackle, great power/leg drive, goes looking for work

he goes to Toulon though Pallisson, Rooney, Smith, Habana hes by no means guaranteed 1st XV if he plays well

[johng]

It's also interesting to note that with VDM leaving and with Roux signing a 2 year deal, and assuming Nacewa is leaving to be replaced by a NIQ, that would leave us with 1 project player (ROUX) and two NIQ's (Goodman and Nacewa / replacement) ... what's the threshold again, 4 or 5?

That would mean even with someone like AAC signed, we could bring in at least another 2 NIQ names -I would hope we would be really ambitious with those signings - I know you don't have to use them just because you have them, but we've been losing a lot of strength and depth gradually over the last couple of years, it would be nice to bring in some fresh, top class, long term (2 - 3 years) NIQs to bring us back up a level or two.

It's 4 + 1 for next year subject to IRFU approval on each player obviously.

They are supposed to be going to 3 + 0 for the following year though.

[blockhead]

It's also interesting to note that with VDM leaving and with Roux signing a 2 year deal, and assuming Nacewa is leaving to be replaced by a NIQ, that would leave us with 1 project player (ROUX) and two NIQ's (Goodman and Nacewa / replacement) ... what's the threshold again, 4 or 5?

That would mean even with someone like AAC signed, we could bring in at least another 2 NIQ names -I would hope we would be really ambitious with those signings - I know you don't have to use them just because you have them, but we've been losing a lot of strength and depth gradually over the last couple of years, it would be nice to bring in some fresh, top class, long term (2 - 3 years) NIQs to bring us back up a level or two.

It's 4 + 1 for next year subject to IRFU approval on each player obviously.

They are supposed to be going to 3 + 0 for the following year though.

They may have to exempt Munster from the 4+1 rule soon enough. Connacht could be within 8pts of them come Sat evening.

[simonokeeffe]

Munster will have to raid Connacht and Leinster

[gfo]

Joe should game the system and sign a NIQ OH just so Munster can't. Enjoy another vintage year of O'Gara, country cousins.

[mikey]

Joe should game the system and sign a NIQ OH just so Munster can't. Enjoy another vintage year of O'Gara, country cousins.

Poetic justice !!

[gfo]

It's also interesting to note that with VDM leaving and with Roux signing a 2 year deal, and assuming Nacewa is leaving to be replaced by a NIQ, that would leave us with 1 project player (ROUX) and two NIQ's (Goodman and Nacewa / replacement) ... what's the threshold again, 4 or 5?

That would mean even with someone like AAC signed, we could bring in at least another 2 NIQ names -I would hope we would be really ambitious with those signings - I know you don't have to use them just because you have them, but we've been losing a lot of strength and depth gradually over the last couple of years, it would be nice to bring in some fresh, top class, long term (2 - 3 years) NIQs to bring us back up a level or two.

It's 4 + 1 for next year subject to IRFU approval on each player obviously.

They are supposed to be going to 3 + 0 for the following year though.

Watching Leinster, Ulster and Munster getting smashed to pieces by French/English teams full of mercenaries will obviously really convince young Irish kids to take up rugby

[[Jackass]]

Any chance Leinster are looking at Kahn Fotuali'i? Ospreys scrum-half, former Crusaders, can also cover 10 as back up to Madigan, available during international windowm when Madigan is inevitably called up, he would be our first choice 9 imo, I don't think Boss or Reddan have had the best season, more so Reddan.

Fotuali'i is supposedly looking for a club after Ospreys will not be keeping him in more budget cuts, probably the best 9 in the league, would be an amazing signing imo...a real alround 9 and would bridge the gap between Cooney & McGrath coming through - Reddan and Boss will both be 33 next season...

[Dave Cahill]

Any chance Leinster are looking at Kahn Fotuali'i? Ospreys scrum-half, former Crusaders, can also cover 10 as back up to Madigan, available during international windowm when Madigan is inevitably called up, he would be our first choice 9 imo, I don't think Boss or Reddan have had the best season, more so Reddan.

Fotuali'i is supposedly looking for a club after Ospreys will not be keeping him in more budget cuts, probably the best 9 in the league, would be an amazing signing imo...a real alround 9 and would bridge the gap between Cooney & McGrath coming through - Reddan and Boss will both be 33 next season...

Signed for Saints quite some time ago

[[Jackass]]

Oh

[Keith]

We should really try to bring Hanrahan to Leinster. He is being completely wasted at Munster imo ;he couldn't even make the bench tonight. He would be a great man to have at 12 and would be really pushing Mads for the 10 shirt.

[goreyguy]

Hanrahan is signed up until 2015.

[naraic]

Any chance Leinster are looking at Kahn Fotuali'i? Ospreys scrum-half, former Crusaders, can also cover 10 as back up to Madigan, available during international windowm when Madigan is inevitably called up, he would be our first choice 9 imo, I don't think Boss or Reddan have had the best season, more so Reddan.

Fotuali'i is supposedly looking for a club after Ospreys will not be keeping him in more budget cuts, probably the best 9 in the league, would be an amazing signing imo...a real alround 9 and would bridge the gap between Cooney & McGrath coming through - Reddan and Boss will both be 33 next season...

To be honest I would actually have Cooney ahead of Reddan. Reddan hasn't been playing well this season, average at best and Cooney is in ways a similar type of player.

Cooney deserves more gametime than he has got this season.

[sid]

Hanrahan is signed up until 2015.

Remind me when Conway is signed up to again?

[Keith]

Hanrahan is signed up until 2015.

that didn't stop Conway from leaving. If he wants it then it can happen. I know he probably wouldn't want to leave Munster but it just annoys me that he hasn't broke through with Munster yet.

[Grumpy Old Man]

Reddan hasn't been playing well this season, average at best and Cooney is in ways a similar type of player.

Hmm...

[AdamK]

Oh

Yeh I remember when I heard he was looking for a club I was hoping our agents were all over him like a rash. Maybe they were. But it makes so much sense to move to Leinster for him. He'd be guaranteed so much game time, albeit not always at 9. I think Schmidt would get great value out of him.

I think he'll be wasted at the Saints, especially as he's being signed primarily as a 10.

[AdamK]

Any chance Leinster are looking at Kahn Fotuali'i? Ospreys scrum-half, former Crusaders, can also cover 10 as back up to Madigan, available during international windowm when Madigan is inevitably called up, he would be our first choice 9 imo, I don't think Boss or Reddan have had the best season, more so Reddan.

Fotuali'i is supposedly looking for a club after Ospreys will not be keeping him in more budget cuts, probably the best 9 in the league, would be an amazing signing imo...a real alround 9 and would bridge the gap between Cooney & McGrath coming through - Reddan and Boss will both be 33 next season...

To be honest I would actually have Cooney ahead of Reddan. Reddan hasn't been playing well this season, average at best and Cooney is in ways a similar type of player.

Cooney deserves more gametime than he has got this season.

Really? I see Cooney more as a Boss type of character. More rounded too. A lot of noise around McGrath, but I think Cooney will be the primary SH when Boss/Reddan go.

[naraic]

Really? I see Cooney more as a Boss type of character. More rounded too. A lot of noise around McGrath, but I think Cooney will be the primary SH when Boss/Reddan go.

You are right that he is a bit more rounded. I think he has a better pass than boss and a better break than Reddan.

A lot of noise about McGrath and its obvious that he has potential but Cooney is further down the line at the moment and I'm not sure that McGrath will get the experience with leinster in the near future.

Reddan/Boss are the main SHs at the moment and Cooney needs all the experience he can get as third choice.

When Reddan/Boss go I'm sure that Cooney will do an excellant job but I don't think that will be enough and that we will need an NIQ 9 to rotate with Cooney leaving McGrath as thid choice.

[fourthirtythree]

Really? I see Cooney more as a Boss type of character. More rounded too. A lot of noise around McGrath, but I think Cooney will be the primary SH when Boss/Reddan go.

That surprises me. I see Boss as the guy to deal with bad ball, the guy to boss the pack around, and an invaluable player who can cover anywhere in an emergency. I see Cooney as more of a specialist, more like Reddan in that he will get things moving sharply but less good when the pack isn't protecting. Sort of more a home 9. His break is better partially because Reddan has mostly stopped doing that. I can't comment on whether it's better than Reddan at his best. It is sharp though and he and Madigan on the front foot would be an extraordinary threat. Just not sure it's a secure pairing away in the wet in the first third of the season.