Leinster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread II

thomond2006

Mentioned it before but Toulon have been looking for a hooker for a while now, plus Bruno is retiring in the summer. Would Cronin be at a level where he could start for a top French side?

wicklowwonder

thomond2006 wrote: »

Mentioned it before but Toulon have been looking for a hooker for a while now, plus Bruno is retiring in the summer. Would Cronin be at a level where he could start for a top French side?

Finish his Irish career though... Kidney most definitely wont pick him when he is away, it would be a great excuse to pick either of the Munster fellas. Depends who follows Kidney, but out of sight, out of mind.

Tox56

thomond2006 wrote: »

Mentioned it before but Toulon have been looking for a hooker for a while now, plus Bruno is retiring in the summer. Would Cronin be at a level where he could start for a top French side?

Same as always with Cronin, great in the loose but dodgy in the lineout. He was really really good in the last game v Zebre, I mistook him for a centre at several points during the game, as dynamic as ever. His darts are better than they were but not particularly reliable. It would be great if he could start for Toulon but I would be surprised if they went for him.

Hagz

I wouldn't mind seeing Ross leave (shock horror). Not saying I don't appreciate him, but Leinster's 5th choice tight-head is probably good enough to bench for Munster at the moment. With Botha leaving, Munster are either going to have to move in for an Irish prop, or replace him with another NIQ. For the sake of Ireland it would be better if they went with the former. Out of Hagan/Bent/Ross, Ross is the only one who's contract is up at the end of the season. I would still say it's unlikely, but I wouldn't mind if it were to happen.

tolosenc

Luke and Darce going IMO. Boss and Cronin too maybe?

Incoming are Gilroy, Richie Gray, Money Bill, and Julian Savea.

Meyo

Darcy has a contract til 2014.

Hagz

Presuming the rumour is true (is this guy usually reliable?) I'd go with.

Luke Fitzgerald (Lion - Contract issues)
Brian O'Driscoll (Lion - retiring)
Sean Cronin (Contract expires/Irish international - not happy being second choice)
Leo Cullen (Contract expires/Irish international - retiring)

.ak

I can't believe bails has got you all...

CIARAN_BOYLE

Hagz wrote: »

Presuming the rumour is true (is this guy usually reliable?) I'd go with.

Luke Fitzgerald (Lion - Contract issues)
Brian O'Driscoll (Lion - retiring)
Sean Cronin (Contract expires/Irish international - not happy being second choice)
Leo Cullen (Contract expires/Irish international - retiring)

not a reliable poster kinda a funny troll that is usually ignored

.ak

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

not a reliable poster kinda a funny troll that is usually ignored

Same fella who told everyone Brad Thorn wasn't coming over because he would have to attend some neighbourhood ceremony in japan.

Meyo

Interesting to see Leinster have posted a job position for an Elite Player Development Officer: Forwards Specialist.

yimrsg

thomond2006 wrote: »

Mentioned it before but Toulon have been looking for a hooker for a while now, plus Bruno is retiring in the summer. Would Cronin be at a level where he could start for a top French side?

Toulon were linked with Fourie recently but a move hasn't happened yet. Maybe they're thinking Orioli could step up.

Podge_irl

Did anyone else get an e-mail from Ticketmaster a couple of days ago informing them about the Leinster STH draw for 6N tickets (i.e. getting the e-mail 7 days after the applications were closed and 4 days after the bloody draw had been made!)

durkadurka

Something in the sports news today about Ross's negotiations with the Irfu stalling. They really have it in for him.

wicklowwonder

durkadurka wrote: »

Something in the sports news today about Ross's negotiations with the Irfu stalling. They really have it in for him.

Just heard it on Newstalk, they quoted the Mirror I think.

Higher

durkadurka wrote: »

Something in the sports news today about Ross's negotiations with the Irfu stalling. They really have it in for him.

I'm not paranoid but does anyone think it is more than a coincidence that recently journalists such as Gerry Thornley have started to criticize Ross?

durkadurka

No coincidence at all I'd say.


My issue with thornley on this is that he couldn't point to any actual evidence about Ross. He just repeated that there was obviously some issue or other with Ross if they played him against Fiji.

tolosenc

Higher wrote: »

I'm not paranoid but does anyone think it is more than a coincidence that recently journalists such as Gerry Thornley have started to criticize Ross?

Because he won't sign?

wicklowwonder

tolosenc wrote: »

Because he won't sign?

I wonder do the union want to move him to Munster.

Be interesting to know who actually unearthed Bent? I imagine it was someone in the Leinster set up considering he moved there and not Munster as would have happened if the IRFU found him, so basically Leinster do the IRFU a huge favour finding this Irish qualified no. 3 and then the IRFU turn around and slap them in the face with Ross, on top of Luke Fitzgerald last year while a crippled Denis Leamy gets a contract no questions asked.

ssaye

wicklowwonder wrote: »

I wonder do the union want to move him to Munster.

Be interesting to know who actually unearthed Bent? I imagine it was someone in the Leinster set up considering he moved there and not Munster as would have happened if the IRFU found him, so basically Leinster do the IRFU a huge favour finding this Irish qualified no. 3 and then the IRFU turn around and slap them in the face with Ross, on top of Luke Fitzgerald last year while a crippled Denis Leamy gets a contract no questions asked.

Feek found Bent afaik
Ross to Munster seems to be getting steam, their is always an ounce of truth is these rumours.

molloyjh

ssaye wrote: »

Feek found Bent afaik
Ross to Munster seems to be getting steam, their is always an ounce of truth is these rumours.

It's not the first time we've heard those rumours though. It was floated last year too. It would explain why contract talks would be stalling though. I'd imagine Ross has no interest in going back to Munster. Why would he? He's starting for Leinster, has won 2 HECs with us and doesn't look like falling down the pecking order at all. It'd make no sense from his perspective to move. I also think it would be incredibly unfair for the IRFU to force him to move if that's what is going on. Whatever about a player who isn't first choice, where it gives them the option to become first choice, moving a first string player is a slap to their face and to Leinsters.

There's been some talk recently of how Leinster should be feeding other provinces because so many Irish internationals are there. Am I the only one who thinks that's counter productive. Rather than reward a province who is producing players you end up punishing them. Why would they then focus on developing so much talent if its going to work against them in the long term? And what incentives are there for the other provinces to improve their output?

ssaye

molloyjh wrote: »

It's not the first time we've heard those rumours though. It was floated last year too. It would explain why contract talks would be stalling though. I'd imagine Ross has no interest in going back to Munster. Why would he? He's starting for Leinster, has won 2 HECs with us and doesn't look like falling down the pecking order at all. It'd make no sense from his perspective to move. I also think it would be incredibly unfair for the IRFU to force him to move if that's what is going on. Whatever about a player who isn't first choice, where it gives them the option to become first choice, moving a first string player is a slap to their face and to Leinsters.

There's been some talk recently of how Leinster should be feeding other provinces because so many Irish internationals are there. Am I the only one who thinks that's counter productive. Rather than reward a province who is producing players you end up punishing them. Why would they then focus on developing so much talent if its going to work against them in the long term? And what incentives are there for the other provinces to improve their output?

Send him a tweet and ask? :pac:

irishbucsfan

There is absolutely no evidence to suggest that Ross is being forced to move anywhere in fairness. There is also absolutely nothing yet to suggest he wouldn't be open to the move if he was offered it. I think people are getting a bit ahead of themselves.

ssaye

irishbucsfan wrote: »

There is absolutely no evidence to suggest that Ross is being forced to move anywhere in fairness. There is also absolutely nothing yet to suggest he wouldn't be open to the move if he was offered it. I think people are getting a bit ahead of themselves.

Exactly just pure rumours which this thread is called.

Higher

molloyjh wrote: »

It's not the first time we've heard those rumours though. It was floated last year too. It would explain why contract talks would be stalling though. I'd imagine Ross has no interest in going back to Munster. Why would he? He's starting for Leinster, has won 2 HECs with us and doesn't look like falling down the pecking order at all. It'd make no sense from his perspective to move. I also think it would be incredibly unfair for the IRFU to force him to move if that's what is going on. Whatever about a player who isn't first choice, where it gives them the option to become first choice, moving a first string player is a slap to their face and to Leinsters.

There's been some talk recently of how Leinster should be feeding other provinces because so many Irish internationals are there. Am I the only one who thinks that's counter productive. Rather than reward a province who is producing players you end up punishing them. Why would they then focus on developing so much talent if its going to work against them in the long term? And what incentives are there for the other provinces to improve their output?

I'd agree, forcing players to leave on the basis that the province is producing too much talent is ridiculous.

Surely it should be up to the province and players themselves? Ross was produced by Munster but the province decided to let him go and hes obviously happy in Leinster. He's clearly well integrated into the team, has one of the best scrum coaches in the world at his beacon and is first choice in possibly the greatest team in European club rugby history. That's not even mentioning the fact that he might be well settled in Dublin and not exactly enthusiastic about moving again.

Higher

irishbucsfan wrote: »

There is absolutely no evidence to suggest that Ross is being forced to move anywhere in fairness. There is also absolutely nothing yet to suggest he wouldn't be open to the move if he was offered it. I think people are getting a bit ahead of themselves.

Criticized out of nowhere by Thornley, Botha's contract due to expire, consistent rumors of the IRFU wanting him to go to Munster, suddenly contract negotiations stall.

Coincidence?

irishbucsfan

Higher wrote: »

Criticized out of nowhere by Thornley, Botha's contract due to expire, consistent rumors of the IRFU wanting him to go to Munster, suddenly contract negotiations stall.

Coincidence?

So Thornley (who is a Munster diehard and who is on an IRFU leash) is going to help convince Mike Ross to make the move to Munster by criticising him repeatedly? And this Munster man is going to criticise a potential incoming Munster player? For what? I don't see the logic there.


There's nothing to suggest the stalling has anything to do with the actual logistics of the move to Munster. It could be that the IRFU and him have agreed where he'll be playing and he's holding out for more money. If he's needed by the IRFU to make a big move to protect the Irish rugby watching public from the horrors of repeated Archer-collapshing then he is in a very strong bargaining position, doesn't mean he's not happy to finish his playing days at home or that he's being forced to move anywhere. It's up to him at the end of the day and noone will force him to play anywhere he doesn't want to.

bamboozle

Higher wrote: »

Criticized out of nowhere by Thornley, Botha's contract due to expire, consistent rumors of the IRFU wanting him to go to Munster, suddenly contract negotiations stall.

Coincidence?

very interesting take, add in fact that Munster's prop conveyor belt is shuddering and you'd expect them to cut their losses at end of this season with some of their development props.

At the same time with McGrath and Moore ready to step up to at least Rabo level and O'Connell and Furlong also coming along nicely Leinster are probabaly in a good enough position to let some senior props leave. Though i do like the idea of keeping HVDM if only to reduce the carnage Healy will put his body through given the summer ahead.

If BOD makes Lions tour i can see that being his swansong. I wouldnt give Cullen a deal for next season or maybe just keep him around for squad backup and experience.

Conrad Smith would be a perfect addition, along with Caldwell and a SH 2nd row that doesnt break.

What happens with Munster's academy hookers next season will be interesting, Scannell and Rael are serious players in making.

Higher

irishbucsfan wrote: »

So Thornley (who is a Munster diehard and who is on an IRFU leash) is going to help convince Mike Ross to make the move to Munster by criticising him repeatedly? And this Munster man is going to criticise a potential incoming Munster player? For what? I don't see the logic there.

To reduce Ross' bargaining position I would imagine. The public outcry to Luke Fitzgerald's contract negotiations undoubtedly had an affect on his negotiations. By all accounts the IRFU were willing to give him a 'take it or leave it' deal before. Thornley is essentially planting seeds of doubt about the importance of Ross in the minds of the Leinster supporters, the Leinster branch and maybe even the agent of Ross.

There's nothing to suggest the stalling has anything to do with the actual logistics of the move to Munster. It could be that the IRFU and him have agreed where he'll be playing and he's holding out for more money. If he's needed by the IRFU to make a big move to protect the Irish rugby watching public from the horrors of repeated Archer-collapshing then he is in a very strong bargaining position, doesn't mean he's not happy to finish his playing days at home or that he's being forced to move anywhere. It's up to him at the end of the day and noone will force him to play anywhere he doesn't want to.

It could be. However, its more than likely that Ross is not in favor of the move. I'm not trying to be harsh on Munster but lets call a spade a spade, its a step down for him.

ssaye

Is it tomorrow this is to be updated
http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/matchcentre/leinster_rugby.php?section=2

No Bent/Goodman yet