Irish Provinces - state of play.

First topic message reminder :

So Leinster and Ulster are out of the HEC for another year and Munster go through - where now does this leave Irish rugby and the provinces?

I personally think in a good place. Off the back of winning the 6N, including some brutal and heroic defensive efforts, it was always going to be difficult for the Irish teams with the limited playing pool and some aging players to find the performances they needed so soon.

Before the games I did feel Munster were the team best placed to progress, given the relative freshness of their side and upward trajectory of their form.

Leinster were always going to find it tough down in Toulon and although they'll disappointed given their high standards they gave a good account of themselves
and could well have won against the odds.

Ulster were favourites but for me Saracens were a team well able to get the away win and far and away the strongest English side. As it panned out a 14 man Ulster put in by far their best performance of the season and can count themselves very unlucky to be out.

Moving forward Munster have a very tough SF ahead but are a hungry team with momentum and probably the quickest backline in the competition. The experience they gained last season will stand them in good stead so for me have every chance of lifting the trophy. I'm going to predict a Munster v Saracens final and Munster to win.

Ulster and Leinster have a period of rebuilding now with great players like Drico, Muller, Cullen, Afoa, Court leaving but have shown again they aren't far off. A home win against Saints for Leinster and a different colour of card for Payne and things could have been very different for both.

Ulster have their new facailities in place, Stevie Ferris back, some decent recruits coming and quite a few players like Gilroy, Olding who've been dogged with injuries to bolster the side next year.  

All 3 are in pro 12 contention so there is a huge amount to be positive about despite the disappointments of last weekend.

The era of the Anglo-French super club is here but Irish rugby is doing a phenomenal job with the structures and there will be plenty of success ahead for the Irish teams going forward I believe.  

Great video but from a Munster perspective it shows that a lot of work will need to be done to hang on to the coat tails of Leinster in the future.

There are still parts of the province where rugby has virtually zero presence such as my own county Clare.

I can think of 5 clubs in Clare and the highest level they play at is Div 2 of the Munster Senior League.

And this from a county that has produced Keith Woods, Anthony Foley, Marcus Horan and Damien Varley none of whom might have come through if it weren't for the fact that they are from South East Clare on the doorstep of Limerick City where they went to school.

A lot of work has been done I know but I can't help but think we only beginning to scratch the surface.

Just reading a Sunday Times article and MOC is now complaining that he can't compete with French multi-national squads because of IRFU foreign signing restrictions. Maybe he should have stayed in England, because the provinces have been competing fine long before he arrived.

Surely O'Connor knew the set up before he signed his contract. Haven't read the article but he won't last long with that attitude.

Maybe given the NIE restrictions he shouldn't waste the spots on average players.

rodders wrote:Surely O'Connor knew the set up before he signed his contract. Haven't read the article but he won't last long with that attitude.

Maybe given the NIE restrictions he shouldn't waste the spots on average players.

In fairness, he only made one signing himself (Tuqiri) but yes, I agree if that's his attitude he won't last long.

Some decent signings being rumoured for next season though.

Like who....dum dum dum...?

rodders wrote:Like who....dum dum dum...?

I heard Tommy Bowe was spotted apartment shopping in Ranelagh yesterday.

Lloyd and Pryce are opening up a couple of shops around Dublin next year too...

O'Connor knew what he was getting himself into but that doesn't mean he should rattle his cage every so often to keep the suits in the IRFU on their toes.

I didn't like the response from the suits when it was asked about Henshaw being in Connacht. I also don't like that Joe has been quiet on that one. Would prefer him to set it out that Connacht is a viable place for players to develop and our objective should be to get Connacht into the top competition and not reap (spelling?) their fruits every couple of years.

Mickado wrote:

rodders wrote:Like who....dum dum dum...?

I heard Tommy Bowe was spotted apartment shopping in Ranelagh yesterday.

Wow you serious Mick?? Maybe he was just helping pick one out for Jared?....

rodders wrote:

Mickado wrote:

rodders wrote:Like who....dum dum dum...?

I heard Tommy Bowe was spotted apartment shopping in Ranelagh yesterday.

Wow you serious Mick?? Maybe he was just helping pick one out for Jared?....

There arent too many apartments in Ranelagh are there, mostly houses? I saw a guy walking down the road in Ranelagh with a crockodile under his arm. celtic tiger is back?

GunsGerms wrote:

rodders wrote:

Mickado wrote:

rodders wrote:Like who....dum dum dum...?

I heard Tommy Bowe was spotted apartment shopping in Ranelagh yesterday.

Wow you serious Mick?? Maybe he was just helping pick one out for Jared?....

There arent too many apartments in Ranelagh are there, mostly houses? I saw a guy walking down the road in Ranelagh with a crockodile under his arm. celtic tiger is back?

Was he an auzzie?

Dont know. Didnt stop to ask. Nearly fell off my bike.

Mickado wrote:

rodders wrote:Surely O'Connor knew the set up before he signed his contract. Haven't read the article but he won't last long with that attitude.

Maybe given the NIE restrictions he shouldn't waste the spots on average players.

In fairness, he only made one signing himself (Tuqiri) but yes, I agree if that's his attitude he won't last long.

Some decent signings being rumoured for next season though.

Ah yes, MOC's great signing Tuqiri - apparently best known for scoring more off the pitch than on for Leinster  !!

Mickado wrote:

rodders wrote:Surely O'Connor knew the set up before he signed his contract. Haven't read the article but he won't last long with that attitude.

Maybe given the NIE restrictions he shouldn't waste the spots on average players.

In fairness, he only made one signing himself (Tuqiri) but yes, I agree if that's his attitude he won't last long.

Some decent signings being rumoured for next season though.

Ah yes, MOC's great signing Tuqiri - apparently best known for scoring more off the pitch than on for Leinster  !!

Mickado wrote:

rodders wrote:Surely O'Connor knew the set up before he signed his contract. Haven't read the article but he won't last long with that attitude.

Maybe given the NIE restrictions he shouldn't waste the spots on average players.

In fairness, he only made one signing himself (Tuqiri) but yes, I agree if that's his attitude he won't last long.

Some decent signings being rumoured for next season though.

Ah yes, MOC's great signing Tuqiri - apparently best known for scoring more off the pitch than on for Leinster  !!

It was a very poor signing IMO, good thing it was short term.