OneLungDavy wrote: ↑January 9th, 2021, 6:55 pm
Sam Illo(U20/Wesley/Old Wesley)
Ben Griffin(U20/Castleknock/DUFC)
Shane Connolly(U20/Roscrea/UCD)
Ben Popplewell(U19/Wexford RFC/Lansdowne)
Rory McGuire(U19/Blackrock)
George Hadden(U18/Gorey RFC)
You think Illo or Griffin will start for the Ireland u20s this year? Any wonder-kids here?
Added Connolly to list.. I think they could start a game, if games happen, but doubt any will be clear 1st choice out the gate.. battle for bench TH between those 3.
McGuire/Hadden are both very good prospects, both are still in school so will be awhile before they push through.
Good list and an impressive conveyor belt. I’m still p1ssed off at the loss of both Aungier and Salanoa at the same time.
A THP playing pro1X rugby at 20 is impressive so I’m really excited about Clarksons potential.
Vakh has been really unlucky with injuries, I really hope he gets back to full fitness and manages a run of games.
I really wish this idea of multi skilling Porter would die. He's coming into his own as a destructive and powerful tighthead, worth his weight in gold, who on form could be picked for the Lions and maybe even a test starter. For him to reach this height it's taken him getting an opportunity to be the number one TH for Leinster and Ireland while Furlong was out injured. The experience and game time gained has elevated him to this level. If he has to divide this between LH and TH it will diminish him at both.
Having a multi position prop isn't something that is needed anymore unless they go back to 7 man benches. If we want him as a LH, have him exclusively so.
The big losers would be Dooley (who could easily be an international, imo) and Milne if Porter was shifted back across. I suppose Leinster don't have much option if Ireland want it.
Is this necessary? We have - excluding Bent - Porter, Furlong, Clarkson, Abdaladze, plus McGrath
Is switching Porter to loosehead either necessary or a good idea? We have - excluding Healy - Byrne, Dooley, Milne and Hannon, and one of the reasons he switched to tighthead was because he wasn't actually all that good at loosehead - both Byrne and Dooley were superior and I can't imagine that spending 4 years playing A DIFFERENT POSITION will have improved him much
Cui Bono?
If we have a foreign player slot available and a budget for one, then why aren't we signing a utility back? Far more necessary.
This risks turning the current Andrew Porter into the next Jamie Hagan.
Bent may finish up.
Porter may move to LH.
Furlong will barely play for us.
Vakh may not return.
Clarkson is 21.
McGrath probably doesn't have a future at this level.
It's also probably an attempt to get some islander power into the side.
Dave Cahill wrote: ↑February 23rd, 2021, 10:21 am
Is this necessary? We have - excluding Bent - Porter, Furlong, Clarkson, Abdaladze, plus McGrath
Is switching Porter to loosehead either necessary or a good idea? We have - excluding Healy - Byrne, Dooley, Milne and Hannon, and one of the reasons he switched to tighthead was because he wasn't actually all that good at loosehead - both Byrne and Dooley were superior and I can't imagine that spending 4 years playing A DIFFERENT POSITION will have improved him much
Cui Bono?
If we have a foreign player slot available and a budget for one, then why aren't we signing a utility back? Far more necessary.
This risks turning the current Andrew Porter into the next Jamie Hagan.
I really can't see how you have come to the conclusion the Porter isn't all that good at loosehead? He switched over because Fogarty & Cullen believed they were well stocked at LH with Healy, McGrath, Dooley & Byrne in the squad. Neither Dooley or Byrne have progressed to the degree Leinster have wanted which makes the idea of moving Porter back very attractive. Porter already has 34 Irish caps which shows he miles ahead of wherever Hagan was.
What I question is are they signing an NIQ TH so that he's around all the time? If not then why not target Oli Jager who is the same age and is IQ?
Dave Cahill wrote: ↑February 23rd, 2021, 10:21 am
Is this necessary? We have - excluding Bent - Porter, Furlong, Clarkson, Abdaladze, plus McGrath
Is switching Porter to loosehead either necessary or a good idea? We have - excluding Healy - Byrne, Dooley, Milne and Hannon, and one of the reasons he switched to tighthead was because he wasn't actually all that good at loosehead - both Byrne and Dooley were superior and I can't imagine that spending 4 years playing A DIFFERENT POSITION will have improved him much
Cui Bono?
If we have a foreign player slot available and a budget for one, then why aren't we signing a utility back? Far more necessary.
This risks turning the current Andrew Porter into the next Jamie Hagan.
I really can't see how you have come to the conclusion the Porter isn't all that good at loosehead? He switched over because Fogarty & Cullen believed they were well stocked at LH with Healy, McGrath, Dooley & Byrne in the squad. Neither Dooley or Byrne have progressed to the degree Leinster have wanted which makes the idea of moving Porter back very attractive. Porter already has 34 Irish caps which shows he miles ahead of wherever Hagan was.
What I question is are they signing an NIQ TH so that he's around all the time? If not then why not target Oli Jager who is the same age and is IQ?
Jager has turned down offers to return before and signed a new contract with the crusaders recently.
erskinechilders wrote: ↑February 23rd, 2021, 11:26 am
I really can't see how you have come to the conclusion the Porter isn't all that good at loosehead?
By watching him play at loosehead. Where he wasn't as good as Dooley or Byrne. And by his own admission wasn't enjoying his rugby.
I don't think it's accurate to say that Byrne and Dooley haven't progressed. Dooley has over 80 caps, and Ed Byrne, despite missing over two years with his knee injuries has over 60 and is an international - and thats despite them being in a pool with Cian Healy (Irelands greatest ever prop IMO), Jack McGrath, each other and, in terms of the national team, Kilcoyne.
And, as you say, he's miles ahead of where Hagan was, so why mess with it. Theres a definite whiff of Summer Bay about all this.
erskinechilders wrote: ↑February 23rd, 2021, 11:26 am
I really can't see how you have come to the conclusion the Porter isn't all that good at loosehead?
By watching him play at loosehead. Where he wasn't as good as Dooley or Byrne. And by his own admission wasn't enjoying his rugby.
I don't think it's accurate to say that Byrne and Dooley haven't progressed. Dooley has over 80 caps, and Ed Byrne, despite missing over two years with his knee injuries has over 60 and is an international - and thats despite them being in a pool with Cian Healy (Irelands greatest ever prop IMO), Jack McGrath, each other and, in terms of the national team, Kilcoyne.
And, as you say, he's miles ahead of where Hagan was, so why mess with it. Theres a definite whiff of Summer Bay about all this.
ROC floating fiction?
I do admit i'd be surprised to see leinster signing someone from abroad given the tightening budget.
Signing NIQ players doesn’t always mean we’re splashing out — I’ve no idea what Fardy would earn but I’d imagine that there’s more of an element of risk signing this lad versus a well established full international player, and the salary would likely reflect that.
Money saved from a comparative point of view and we’re also likely losing a couple more players who will not be replaced.
Serb wrote: ↑February 23rd, 2021, 12:55 pm
Signing NIQ players doesn’t always mean we’re splashing out — I’ve no idea what Fardy would earn but I’d imagine that there’s more of an element of risk signing this lad versus a well established full international player, and the salary would likely reflect that.
Money saved from a comparative point of view and we’re also likely losing a couple more players who will not be replaced.
