Irish Provinces NEWS & GOSSIP thread 2015-16-17

[Sin é]

First topic message reminder :

What it says in the title - a place to put all bits of news not worth starting a thread for the Four Proud Provinces of Ireland such as new signings, interviews that maybe of interest to others etc.

I've just added on 17 as its not a huge thread.

[rodders]

So, according to Indo today Earls contract is worth 300k

Unbelievable work by his agent, there's better players out there in the AIL playing for a free tracksuit and bus fare.

[thebandwagonsociety]

So, according to Indo today Earls contract is worth 300k

Unbelievable work by his agent, there's better players out there in the AIL playing for a free tracksuit and bus fare.

Tad harsh there rodders. He's a class player, true elite when fit. The important bit though is 'when fit' and 300k is a lot of money to put injured list for significant portions of a season. It's a high risk contract at that price.

[The Great Aukster]

Lions players don't come cheap.

[Guest]

London Irish must be paying Tom Court a fortune

[Sin é]

Zeebs has signed a 2 year extension with Munster.

Munster must be doing something right if they are able to retain all their top players even though they are in demand elsewhere. #youcantbeatloyalty

Recently recontracted: CJ Stander, Tommy O'Donnell, James Cronin, Mike Sherry, Conor Murray & Keith Earls.

[rodders]

they are in demand elsewhere.

Of course they are

[marty2086]

Zeebs has signed a 2 year extension with Munster.

Munster must be doing something right if they are able to retain all their top players even though they are allegedly in demand elsewhere. #youcantbeatloyalty

Recently recontracted: CJ Stander, Tommy O'Donnell, James Cronin, Mike Sherry, Conor Murray & Keith Earls.

Fixed that for you Sin

[Sin é]

Zeebs has signed a 2 year extension with Munster.

Munster must be doing something right if they are able to retain all their top players even though they are allegedly in demand elsewhere. #youcantbeatloyalty

Recently recontracted: CJ Stander, Tommy O'Donnell, James Cronin, Mike Sherry, Conor Murray & Keith Earls.

Fixed that for you Sin

gavin mortimer @gavinmortimer7
Just called my source to thank them for Picamoles tip & guess what, they fed me another! Seems Simon Zebo could be on his way to Toulouse...
2:46 PM - 2 Nov 2015 · Île-de-France, France, France

[marty2086]

Zeebs has signed a 2 year extension with Munster.

Munster must be doing something right if they are able to retain all their top players even though they are allegedly in demand elsewhere. #youcantbeatloyalty

Recently recontracted: CJ Stander, Tommy O'Donnell, James Cronin, Mike Sherry, Conor Murray & Keith Earls.

Fixed that for you Sin

gavin mortimer @gavinmortimer7
Just called my source to thank them for Picamoles tip & guess what, they fed me another! Seems Simon Zebo could be on his way to Toulouse...
2:46 PM - 2 Nov 2015 · Île-de-France, France, France

If his source happens to be Zebos agent then you may have problems with credibility

[rodders]

I heard young Munster were after Zebo.

[Sin é]

Zeebs has signed a 2 year extension with Munster.

Munster must be doing something right if they are able to retain all their top players even though they are allegedly in demand elsewhere. #youcantbeatloyalty

Recently recontracted: CJ Stander, Tommy O'Donnell, James Cronin, Mike Sherry, Conor Murray & Keith Earls.

Fixed that for you Sin

gavin mortimer @gavinmortimer7
Just called my source to thank them for Picamoles tip & guess what, they fed me another! Seems Simon Zebo could be on his way to Toulouse...
2:46 PM - 2 Nov 2015 · Île-de-France, France, France

If his source happens to be Zebos agent then you may have problems with credibility

Picamoles and Zebo don't have the same agent. Mortimer wouldn't have any connection to Munster or Zebo either.

[marty2086]

Zeebs has signed a 2 year extension with Munster.

Munster must be doing something right if they are able to retain all their top players even though they are allegedly in demand elsewhere. #youcantbeatloyalty

Recently recontracted: CJ Stander, Tommy O'Donnell, James Cronin, Mike Sherry, Conor Murray & Keith Earls.

Fixed that for you Sin

gavin mortimer @gavinmortimer7
Just called my source to thank them for Picamoles tip & guess what, they fed me another! Seems Simon Zebo could be on his way to Toulouse...
2:46 PM - 2 Nov 2015 · Île-de-France, France, France

If his source happens to be Zebos agent then you may have problems with credibility

Picamoles and Zebo don't have the same agent. Mortimer wouldn't have any connection to Munster or Zebo either.

Why would they have to have the same agent? or would he need to know Zebo or anyone at Munster?

It could have been as much as Zebos agent trying to sell his client to Toulouse and hearing someone mention Picamoles was going to Saints

[Sin é]

Zeebs has signed a 2 year extension with Munster.

Munster must be doing something right if they are able to retain all their top players even though they are allegedly in demand elsewhere. #youcantbeatloyalty

Recently recontracted: CJ Stander, Tommy O'Donnell, James Cronin, Mike Sherry, Conor Murray & Keith Earls.

Fixed that for you Sin

gavin mortimer @gavinmortimer7
Just called my source to thank them for Picamoles tip & guess what, they fed me another! Seems Simon Zebo could be on his way to Toulouse...
2:46 PM - 2 Nov 2015 · Île-de-France, France, France

If his source happens to be Zebos agent then you may have problems with credibility

Picamoles and Zebo don't have the same agent. Mortimer wouldn't have any connection to Munster or Zebo either.

Why would they have to have the same agent? or would he need to know Zebo or anyone at Munster?

It could have been as much as Zebos agent trying to sell his client to Toulouse and hearing someone mention Picamoles was going to Saints

In fairness to Top Marque Sports (Zebo & Murray's agent), they don't seem to do business through the media. Last contract it emerged after Zebo had extended his contract with Munster that Toulouse wanted him. We have no idea who was interested in Murray who said a while back he intended staying with Munster.

Interesting from Mortimer's twitter:

@gavinmortimer7

Big piece in Midi about Ronan O'Gara's and the great work he's doing as Racing's defence coach. pic.twitter.com/IqQYwNGpg7

[LeinsterFan4life]

Philip Browne on newstalk said "The Pro 12 provinces are always going to struggle over the next number of years". Thanks Phil, nice to see you have no intend on investing in the provinces so long as Ireland are winning.

[eirebilly]

Munster seem to be closing in on a very good 10 to replace Keatley

http://www.balls.ie/rugby/munster-have-lined-up-johan-goosen/323506

[Rory_Gallagher]

Now, THAT would be some signing. The only concern would be that he is rather injury prone.

[eirebilly]

The Munster water would toughen him up

I hope it comes true because Goosen could be a star for Munster.

[Sin é]

I'd say it's instead of Tyler Bleyendaal who has had no luck injury wise. Id imagine ROG would have steered MUnster away from him if there were problems injury wise.

[PhilBB]

Philip Browne on newstalk said "The Pro 12 provinces are always going to struggle over the next number of years". Thanks Phil, nice to see you have no intend on investing in the provinces so long as Ireland are winning.

Are Ireland winning?

[eirebilly]

I'd say it's instead of Tyler Bleyendaal who has had no luck injury wise. Id imagine ROG would have steered MUnster away from him if there were problems injury wise.

ROG rates him very highly. If Munster sign him, they will go on leaps and bounds but it does also close the door to JJ returning any time soon.

[Rory_Gallagher]

Philip Browne on newstalk said "The Pro 12 provinces are always going to struggle over the next number of years". Thanks Phil, nice to see you have no intend on investing in the provinces so long as Ireland are winning.

Are Ireland winning?

Despite a disappointing World Cup, we are back-to-back 6 Nations champions and we had a very successful tour in 2014 to the SH. So yes, I would suggest that we are winning the vast majority of our games.

[Rory_Gallagher]

If Johann Goosen does sign for Munster, what will the likely back line be next season? I think Munster are most unsettled at 9/10 and with their centre combination.

[GunsGerms]

Shame Munster doesn't have an academy that could produce their own Johan Goosen.

[eirebilly]

[Marshes]

Shame Munster doesn't have an academy that could produce their own Johan Goosen.

Well Jimmy Gopperth wasn't exactly from Terenure either Guns.

[GunsGerms]

Correct but luckily the Leinster academy does produce better players like Madigan, Keatley and Sexton. Zing!!

[Marshes]

Correct but luckily the Leinster academy does produce better players like Madigan, Keatley and Sexton. Zing!!

Are you saying Double Agent Keatley is fulfilling his mission? Sure didn't Munster produce ROG and Hanrahan as well!

[eirebilly]

Correct but luckily the Leinster academy does produce better players like Madigan, Keatley and Sexton. Zing!!

Are you saying Double Agent Keatley is fulfilling his mission? Sure didn't Munster produce ROG and Hanrahan as well!

Marshes, you should know better than to say such things, obviously ruining a good anti Munster WUM.

[profitius]

Good win for Connacht again last night. Top of the table in feb is some achievement. A top 4 finish is now a possibility.


A few of the big boys starting to sweat now I'd say with regard to Champions cup qualification. It makes Munsters game against Ospreys a must win even at this stage. Ulster are flying and Leinster will finish the season strongly.

[GunsGerms]

Correct but luckily the Leinster academy does produce better players like Madigan, Keatley and Sexton. Zing!!

Are you saying Double Agent Keatley is fulfilling his mission? Sure didn't Munster produce ROG and Hanrahan as well!

Marshes, you should know better than to say such things, obviously ruining a good anti Munster WUM.

JJ couldn't make the grade. Radge is Ireland's most over rated player of all time (I can back that claim up).

[geoff999rugby]

Good win for Connacht again last night. Top of the table in feb is some achievement. A top 4 finish is now a possibility.


A few of the big boys starting to sweat now I'd say with regard to Champions cup qualification. It makes Munsters game against Ospreys a must win even at this stage. Ulster are flying and Leinster will finish the season strongly.

Agree I would say at least one of Munster, Ospreys and Warriors wont make the Championship cup.

If both Munster and Ulster get home wins this weekend Ospreys and Glasgow are in deep trouble

[Notch]

A few of the big boys starting to sweat now I'd say with regard to Champions cup qualification. It makes Munsters game against Ospreys a must win even at this stage. Ulster are flying and Leinster will finish the season strongly.

Didn't feel like Ulster were flying when we needed a 78th minute penalty to sneak past the Dragons at home last week! I'm optimistic we can contend for the title this year, but I think our injury list and rotation is starting to tell on our form a bit. Hopefully we start getting key players back for the run-in. Geoff was saying that Henderson and Bowe could be back in April that would be huge for us- or 'Yuuuuugeeee' as they say in New York. Important thing is to keep winning and tonights game is a pivotal match.

[Marshes]

Henshaw leaving Connacht: http://www.connachtrugby.ie/robbie-henshaw-to-leave-connacht-rugby/#ConnachtNews

Disappointing news, if not entirely unexpected. Especially a shame when Connacht have shown this season they are capable of mixing it with the upper tier and are joint top of the table. Best of luck to Robbie though, such a class player and yet to even have the opportunity to show what he can do at 13 for Ireland where he has really lit up. He very much deserves to continue developing, and staying at Connacht he would be helping the club grow as much as continuing his progression, which would be a massive commitment and big responsibility. I wish him well in whichever area of Dublin he chooses to live.

If the decision was down to Robbie basically telling Connacht he was leaving, then fair enough, nothing the IRFU can do to keep a player where they don't want to be. And not beneficial to Connacht to field someone who may want to elsewhere. I hope the IRFU would have given every opportunity to assure the player that financially he would be as catered for in the West as much as he would at any other province.

But I question the motivation of the IRFU on this occasion to make a decision in the long term interest of Irish Rugby that would be against the expectations or wants of Leinster (because that is where he will be going lets be honest), particularly when it is a fairly well trodden path. I think there is a sense he would be preferred by the powers that be to be playing his rugby from the RDS alongside international team mates (as if that is paying dividends right now). Let's see how the IRFU can soften the blow and show they support the continued development of all provinces.

I might be being unfair, might just be in this case that Connacht's current growth is not solidified enough to secure the internationals we have, but I hope when it comes to renewal next year or the following for Buckley, Bealham, Dillane, Healy etc, we can show that Champions Cup rugby is a real possibility and you can get into the national team from the Sportsground. Henshaw has been a big step in the early part of what I hope is a longer journey to four very competitive provinces in this regard. For now we just have to wish him well.

[Guest]

Not unexpected news, but still disappointed for Connacht. They are a team I admire much, and had hoped that Henshaw might just stay.

I don't know if this was the doing of Nucifora/IRFU, but if it was I do question how committed they are to Connachts progress, relative to that of Leinster, or even Ulster. That might not be the case though, and maybe it is Henshaw himself that wants to move on. Lam did mention that Connachts negotiations failed, so it might well be that Henshaw isn't being forced to move, although I do wonder if certain others haven't encouraged him to do so.

[Sin é]

No, it was Henshaw who wanted the move. He wants to play alongside Sexton (presumably to cement himself as Ireland's No. 12). He won't be moving to 13.

McCloskey & Jackson won't be getting a look in with Ireland with Schmidt as coach.

[Rory_Gallagher]

This is a big mistake on his part. He will be shown to be weaker than his opposite number at 12 in Ireland alone but I also think Sin e is right, Henshaw will probably be retained at 12 for Ireland and this move will cement his place.

Obviously this is just speculation at this point but I think it is likely. If he is at Leinster I sincerely doubt he will be played at 15 at any stage.

[Guest]

I do think Jackson will get game time this 6Ns, but my wholehearted support of Schmidt is beginning to waver, and because of his selection policy.

[Sin é]

This is a big mistake on his part. He will be shown to be weaker than his opposite number at 12 in Ireland alone but I also think Sin e is right, Henshaw will probably be retained at 12 for Ireland and this move will cement his place.

Obviously this is just speculation at this point but I think it is likely. If he is at Leinster I sincerely doubt he will be played at 15 at any stage.

No, he won't. The plan will be to turn Ringrose and Henshaw into the next Ireland BOD & D'Arcy who will be undroppable for the next 10 years. Jackson needs to move to Leinster to get a look in. He will only be involved in this 6Ns if Sexton is injured.

[Guest]

This is a big mistake on his part. He will be shown to be weaker than his opposite number at 12 in Ireland alone but I also think Sin e is right, Henshaw will probably be retained at 12 for Ireland and this move will cement his place.

Obviously this is just speculation at this point but I think it is likely. If he is at Leinster I sincerely doubt he will be played at 15 at any stage.

No, he won't. The plan will be to turn Ringrose and Henshaw into the next Ireland BOD & D'Arcy who will be undroppable for the next 10 years. Jackson needs to move to Leinster to get a look in. He will only be involved in this 6Ns if Sexton is injured.

I don't believe that for a minute, but if it turns out to be true then I will have lost all faith in Schmidt.

[Notch]

Sexton is 30. Jackson is 24.

That says everything you need to know about that argument. When Jackson is at his peak at 28, Sexton will be 34. Do they want to be relying on an old, shuffling Sexton and not giving Jackson any experience until he's 28?

No. They're going to want to manage the transition. Even if you do believe they are biased, you shouldn't believe they are stupid.

[Marshes]

I agree it is misguided if he is moving to be a 12, McCloskey should be ahead of him. He is the best 13 IQ at the moment, but if he wants to play there now at Leinster he will be splitting time with Ringrose I assume.

If he is moving to play alongside Sexton, that is also ridiculous, because I unfortunately do not see Sexton continuing on for that much longer.

[Sin é]

Sexton is 30. Jackson is 24.

That says everything you need to know about that argument. When Jackson is at his peak at 28, Sexton will be 34. Do they want to be relying on an old, shuffling Sexton and not giving Jackson any experience until he's 28?

No. They're going to want to manage the transition. Even if you do believe they are biased, you shouldn't believe they are stupid.

Sexton has 4 year central contract. Unless he is injured, I just don't see Jackson getting a look in as Schmidt just doesn't seem to rate or trust him. All his trust is in Sexton. I also think that if Sexton wants Henshaw as his inside centre, that is who he will get. Lets not forget that BOD, in his last season, insisted on D'Arcy as his partner.

[Sin é]

Regardless of where Henshaw goes, it is really disappointing that he could not give another year or two to Connacht (he is only 22 and more than likely will be playing Champions Cup next season).

[SecretFly]

I think Sexton will be looking for one or two bodyguards as his partner the way things are going for him. He needs an armed guard - so Henshaw better get practicing on the shooting range.

[marty2086]

I agree it is misguided if he is moving to be a 12, McCloskey should be ahead of him. He is the best 13 IQ at the moment, but if he wants to play there now at Leinster he will be splitting time with Ringrose I assume.

If he is moving to play alongside Sexton, that is also ridiculous, because I unfortunately do not see Sexton continuing on for that much longer.

How many games has Henshaw played at 13 recently? Was he not playing 15 for Connacht this season?

[Marshes]

I agree it is misguided if he is moving to be a 12, McCloskey should be ahead of him. He is the best 13 IQ at the moment, but if he wants to play there now at Leinster he will be splitting time with Ringrose I assume.

If he is moving to play alongside Sexton, that is also ridiculous, because I unfortunately do not see Sexton continuing on for that much longer.

How many games has Henshaw played at 13 recently? Was he not playing 15 for Connacht this season?

Well this season between injury, the world cup and now six nations he has not played that much, only three times, once at 13 (home to scarlets recently), and twice at 15 (more to do with the injury crisis when Healy TOH and poolman were taking turns on the treatment table). Last year all turnouts were at 13.

[marty2086]

So with one game at 13 in 10 months you say he's the best IQ 13 at the minute?

Ringrose, Olding and Marshall have played more at 13 recently and played better than Henshaws one outing

[Marshes]

So with one game at 13 in 10 months you say he's the best IQ 13 at the minute?

Ringrose, Olding and Marshall have played more at 13 recently and played better than Henshaws one outing

Hardly. Ringrose is still I'm swaddling clothes and needs game time at Leinster, Olding has a handful of appearances across various positions after a year (?) out and Marshall, who I've been very impressed with, is way less experienced at 13 than Henshaw. If it wasn't for the national duty and injury where we could barely field 23, he would have had more starts in his best position.

Dunno if you watched the Scarlets game Henshaw played 13 but himself and Aki were fairly dominant.

[profitius]

Henshaw to Leinster is now official. http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/36936.php#.VsM9NfmLSM8

[Hazel Sapling]

As an outsider, is Madigan a guarantee to get the 1 spot for a player outside of Ireland? If Moore plays well at tighthead for Wasps, wouldn't it be more important to secure the tighthead position and put Jackson as the 2nd fly half? Does the IRFU really want to set an example that if there is a player of equal ability playing in Ireland, he will get the nod?

As for Henshaw I hope they support Connacht and sign 1 or 2 marquee players for them. They deserve the chance to keep competing for the top 4 rather than being sold for parts. Henshaw is taking a small risk though. If Payne is going to continue being the 13 for Ireland, McCloskey and Jackson are alongside him. If (or when depending on how pessimistic you happen to be) Sexton gets hurt, the Ulster backline could offer a compelling alternative to playing a French based Madigan, Henshaw, and a not yet ready Ringrose.

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