Replacing Leinster's older generation over next 12 to 24 months

[FLIP]

Assuming we can get Tadgh onto a longer term contract once finance normalise again, I think it's a no-brainer for Leinster and Ireland to want to move Porter over to LH.

However, it's also a no-brainer for Porter to want to stay at TH, given the almost double salary he could command on that side of the scrum. Instead of forcing him over, could we be forcing him out?

Yes that's the big challenge. Obviously Porter has to be happy that he's benefitting.

I think the idea of him being starting LH in green and blue for the next decade if things go well is a nice opportunity to put in front of him.

And a player who could pretty much walk into most other club teams and national sides as their number 1 TH would think risking his reputation and earnings would be a good idea because some talking heads on the net think it would be a nice opportunity for him? Doubtful.

[ronk]

If loosehead was really easier then tightheads would be able to move across easily. I found it a lot easier than I expected to move across, but I don't think that always holds.

Loosehead gives you more opportunities to attack, either through brute strength (go high) or better technique (go low).

Most of the time it's fairly obvious when someone is a specialist.

A Lion's tighthead is too valuable to mess about putting at loosehead. Ireland would manage more easily at loosehead than they would without a full panel of tightheads.

[Degz]

like the way bookies are invariably right, I can't see how you can look past the average salaries of the position, to rank their specialised skills? Economics always wins.

I doubt very much that it's just the internet's finest bluffers looking at this, I mean Gatland was on record as the reason he was picked was because he played both sides. It has to have influenced the signing of Alaalatoa

[Degz]

Speaking of which, is he in town yet?

[cormac]

Speaking of which, is he in town yet?

He played for Samoa on July 17th in a RWC qualifier against Tonga. He didn't feature for Manawatu in their opening NPC game on Friday so not sure if he's contracted to play for them this season. Hopefully it means he's coming straight here for the start of our season. If so, would expect him in Dublin in a couple of weeks.

[wixfjord]

And a player who could pretty much walk into most other club teams and national sides as their number 1 TH would think risking his reputation and earnings would be a good idea because some talking heads on the net think it would be a nice opportunity for him? Doubtful.

It's not that at all though.

Both Farrell & our coaches have spoken publicly about it.

Like we haven't just magiced up this fantasy on LF.com!

[Oldschoolsocks]

And a player who could pretty much walk into most other club teams and national sides as their number 1 TH would think risking his reputation and earnings would be a good idea because some talking heads on the net think it would be a nice opportunity for him? Doubtful.

It's not that at all though.

Both Farrell & our coaches have spoken publicly about it.

Like we haven't just magiced up this fantasy on LF.com!

I’d have zero faith in Farell’s opinion of any position on the field

[Oldschool]

Lads, lads, lads calm down.
Take a step back and chill.
Just ask yourselves a triplet of simple questions.
Who would replace (meaning very adequately) Furlong at TH for Leinster if he got injured or to come off the bench?
Who would replace (meaning very adequately) Furlong at TH for Ireland if he got injured or to come off the bench?
Who had Gatland in mind to replace (meaning very adequately) Furlong at TH for the Lions if he got injured or to come off the bench?
Answer to all three questions - PORTER
If it ain't broke don't fix it as in leave well enough alone.
At the moment Dooley looks like a very adequate replacement for Healy with Byrne as adequate backup.
The fact that the Ireland coaches don't see it that way is there problem.
The fact that the Ireland coaches will want us to play Byrne ahead of Dooley is Leinster's problem.

In fact any problems we have with the scrum are likely to have are mostly related to the SR.

[ronk]

Dooley was coming back from injury when Kilcoyne got injured and Byrne got called up. He'll be okay if he's needed.

[cormac]

Another Leinster player lost to the GAA

https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2021/0811/ ... -kickhams/

[Oldschoolsocks]

Another Leinster player lost to the GAA

https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2021/0811/ ... -kickhams/

Could have been a contender