Will the last one out please close the door?

[RoboProp]

First Mad Dog. Then big Eminem (never got a chance to debut that nickname)

We're out of Europe too early. Not only that we were effectively the Italian team, lowest in a group that two teams qualified from.

Will we continue to haemorrhage young players at the expense of keeping older guys on central contracts? Are the central contracts in themselves flawed? Are we reverting to the EOS era of the Untouchable?

I do think that the central contracts can be tweaked slightly. The onus is on management both Leinster and Ireland to pick the centrally contracted players on big match day regardless of form. Would a better option not be have players tied to provincial contract and then if they cut the mustard the Irfu supplement their salary. It could even promote competition, first choice for a game gets a starting bonus etc so players would fight for their spot provincially and nationally.

Apologies for the hyperbole

[goreyguy]

Provinces are going to continue to weaken while money imbalance so heavily in favour of English and French clubs.. until that changes more and more lads will leave and the depth will robbed from the squads.

[simonokeeffe]

we've lost 2 players out of how many?

like with Glasgow we're victims of our own success, we have or are producing the the best player or even players for Ireland in several positions so naturally some of these guys are going to want to start more/in their favoured positions/push for more caps/work with Dai Young

[curates_egg]

3 if you count Te'o. Different type of loss though: we were never going to keep him.

[Oldschool]

Players are temporary, fans however are forever.

[wixfjord]

3 if you count Te'o. Different type of loss though: we were never going to keep him.

If we offered him what Piutau or Saili are getting we might have. He'll be a big loss to that backline, particularly if Henshaw falls through.

[simonokeeffe]

3 if you count Te'o. Different type of loss though: we were never going to keep him.

he's only a blow in and his passing is so bad/non existent any English England coach would definitely pick him

plus there's Ringrose

[Blue not red blood]

I am not leaving
Leinster for life

[neiliog93]

On the plus side given we have some gaps in our NIQ and overall salary budget, can afford to bring in a quality player or two.

[RoboProp]

I am not leaving
Leinster for life

Same as. I suppose what I was getting at is, are we are in danger of mirroring Scottish pro football? In that we did well in Europe, and then big money became involved, and in the end we compete in a five team league

[ribs]

Does it work for Ireland team to have more iqs playing at high level even if in other leagues?

[simonokeeffe]

Does it work for Ireland team to have more iqs playing at high level even if in other leagues?

Not if they dont have full release
Also argument of provinces driving Ireland

At least we know DK will definitely stay with most of his Irish competition going

[neiliog93]

Does it work for Ireland team to have more iqs playing at high level even if in other leagues?

It works from the point of view of forcing the provinces to expose young players to high-level gamtime which they wouldn't have gotten if the departed Irish international had stayed. It's bad for player release for international camps, obviously, and bad for injuries and fatigue.

[deco]

Does it work for Ireland team to have more iqs playing at high level even if in other leagues?

It works from the point of view of forcing the provinces to expose young players to high-level gamtime which they wouldn't have gotten if the departed Irish international had stayed. It's bad for player release for international camps, obviously, and bad for injuries and fatigue.

Where are they going to get high level game time? Not in the pro12 and certainly not by being hammered in the pool stages of the European Cup.

[simonokeeffe]

Does it work for Ireland team to have more iqs playing at high level even if in other leagues?

It works from the point of view of forcing the provinces to expose young players to high-level gamtime which they wouldn't have gotten if the departed Irish international had stayed. It's bad for player release for international camps, obviously, and bad for injuries and fatigue.

Where are they going to get high level game time? Not in the pro12 and certainly not by being hammered in the pool stages of the European Cup.

we are going to see a totally different beast of a pro12 next year in a non world cup year

[kermischocolate]

we are going to see a totally different beast of a pro12 next year in a non world cup year

Here's hoping!

[simonokeeffe]

we are going to see a totally different beast of a pro12 next year in a non world cup year

Here's hoping!

Glasgow were second and foremost in my mind there

[erskinechilders]

Ehh Fourie du Preez anyone? His contract with Sungoliath in Japan is up, and he's 2 years younger than Boss & Reddan. http://www.planetrugby.com/news/bok-leg ... -of-rugby/ That would sharpen our younger lads up a bit!

[Ruckedtobits]

Now he would cost a pretty penny and would know the value of each one

[neiliog93]

He would cost, but we don't have to pay Marty or Madigan's contracts anymore, and Te'o is also gone. He'd be worth it. One of the best 9s of the professional era.