Ireland Team Talk/Gossip/Rumour Thread VIII - MOD NOTE POST #4781

Buer · 23-09-2017 09:19AM

Being nominated for the IRB award was the worst thing possible for JJH. The expectation on him went through the roof when there was already significant hype around him largely due to the fact that he was a unicorn i.e. a Munster developed creative back with talent from a non traditional area.

He wasn't even first choice outhalf for the U20 team and suddenly some people called on him to be first choice for Munster. He would have been far better served by quietly developing without the pressure. It seemed to have fed into his own conscience too given his departure to England.

Unfortunately, his career has taken a massive setback at this point. I always compared him to Madigan but, at this point, if he achieves as much Madigan, he'll be doing well.

jm08 · 23-09-2017 09:28AM

Buer wrote: »

Being nominated for the IRB award was the worst thing possible for JJH. The expectation on him went through the roof when there was already significant hype around him largely due to the fact that he was a unicorn i.e. a Munster developed creative back with talent from a non traditional area.

He wasn't even first choice outhalf for the U20 team and suddenly some people called on him to be first choice for Munster. He would have been far better served by quietly developing without the pressure. It seemed to have fed into his own conscience too given his departure to England.

Unfortunately, his career has taken a massive setback at this point. I always compared him to Madigan but, at this point, if he achieves as much Madigan, he'll be doing well.

In fairness, he deserved that nomination - I think he was in too much of a hurry and should have listened to his coaches in Munster who were giving him time to develop. He was offered huge money to go to Northampton and I think he was a bit unlucky with injury, but they are the breaks.

By the way, Currow has produced some greats - Mick Doyle, Moss Keane, Mick Galwey, so JJ playing rugby wouldn't be that unusual in that part of Kerry.

CatFromHue · 23-09-2017 01:26PM

He was behind Keatley and then they signed Tyler so if he'd stayed who knows if he'd have gotten any more game time than if he went to Saints.

swiwi_ · 26-09-2017 05:04PM

http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/former-ireland-rugby-star-neville-furlong-who-scored-famous-try-against-the-all-blacks-has-died-aged-49-36169846.html

Sorry for the loss. I was at the game in Carisbrook in '92 but too young to remember Neville Furlong.

molloyjh · 02-10-2017 02:46PM

Back to 3rd in the rankings I see. Hopefully we'll cement that next month.

Wegians89 · 02-10-2017 04:30PM

With scarlets announcing that Bernie won't be signing a new deal with them and instead will head bsck to Ireland (Munster it seems). Would he be available to be picked for November series this season?

aloooof · 02-10-2017 04:41PM

Wegians89 wrote: »

With scarlets announcing that Bernie won't be signing a new deal with them and instead will head bsck to Ireland (Munster it seems). Would he be available to be picked for November series this season?

Fair questions, I can't think of us having such a scenario before? I'd be in favour of getting him into the setup anyways, can't think of any downsides.

Wegians89 · 02-10-2017 04:44PM

aloooof wrote: »

Fair questions, I can't think of us having such a scenario before? I'd be in favour of getting him into the setup anyways, can't think of any downsides.

Chris Farrell mentioned he was talking to Schmidt a fair bit before he arrived back, but think the need for a top class second row is more then at centre this time last year

Former Former · 02-10-2017 04:45PM

Wegians89 wrote: »

With scarlets announcing that Bernie won't be signing a new deal with them and instead will head bsck to Ireland (Munster it seems). Would he be available to be picked for November series this season?

They didn't announce that. But no, he still wouldn't be available for training camps outside the test windows so I don't think he'd be included.

Wegians89 · 02-10-2017 04:47PM

Former Former wrote: »

They didn't announce that. But no, he still wouldn't be available for training camps outside the test windows so I don't think he'd be included.[/quote
Irish lock Beirne turns down 'very good' contract offer from Scarlets to return home
http://the42.ie/3625969

arsebiscuits1 · 02-10-2017 04:57PM

Wegians89 wrote: »

With scarlets announcing that Bernie won't be signing a new deal with them and instead will head bsck to Ireland (Munster it seems). Would he be available to be picked for November series this season?

Definitely not the November series as he has never been in an Irish camp before

Joe likes to call the 6 nations camp pretty early and Scarlets are under no obligation to release him early so I can't see him being included there either.

Summer tour is fair game however. Would be encouraging to see him parachuted straight in.

Only an injury crisis of Dream Team levels would see Beirne called up at the moment I'd say.

Your pecking order is something along the lines of:

1) Toner
2) Hendy
3) Dillane
4) Ryan
5) Treadwell
6) Roux
7) Holland
8-12) Others including Browne, O'Connor, Molony, Ruddock etc.

(P.S. That depth chart is for illustrative purpose only. I am not going to get into a who is better and deserves to be higher or lower or who is past is it or Joe is so biased to Leinster or it's all Nuciforas fault

)

Former Former · 02-10-2017 04:59PM

Wegians89 wrote: »

Irish lock Beirne turns down 'very good' contract offer from Scarlets to return home
http://the42.ie/3625969

Well shut my mouth! The only one I'd seen was last week's comment on they'd find it hard to keep him, etc.

Still, November 2017 is going to come too soon I would say.

irishbucsfan · 02-10-2017 05:07PM

Not sure the IRFU will finalise a contract in October for next season when they're the only destination in the running. So yes, I'd agree that November is probably too soon. And probably 6 Nations as well. But the summer tour I'd say is a runner, if he isn't run into the ground by then.

Sangre · 02-10-2017 05:08PM

Former Former wrote: »

Well shut my mouth! The only one I'd seen was last week's comment on they'd find it hard to keep him, etc.

Still, November 2017 is going to come too soon I would say.

Credit to the Irish setup for getting him back. He has a lot of fans in Wales who would have loved to have seen him stay put for good.

02-10-2017 05:10PM

This is the same discussion we've had a million times. There is a significant lead time to playing for Ireland as it stands.

bilston · 02-10-2017 05:42PM

Was Beirne the fella who partnered Henderson at U20s level (the team with Furlong, Marmion, McGrath and JJ amongst others)?

If so I remember being impressed by him at the time.

The Lost Sheep · 02-10-2017 10:14PM

bilston wrote: »

Was Beirne the fella who partnered Henderson at U20s level (the team with Furlong, Marmion, McGrath and JJ amongst others)?

If so I remember being impressed by him at the time.

Yeah. Would have been main second row beside Henderson for games.

P.Walnuts · 03-10-2017 12:38PM

Conan and Coughlan were in that pack too I think, a serious unit.

CIARAN_BOYLE · 03-10-2017 01:20PM

Wegians89 wrote: »

With scarlets announcing that Bernie won't be signing a new deal with them and instead will head bsck to Ireland (Munster it seems). Would he be available to be picked for November series this season?

I wouldn't be surprised to see him getting a squad call and maybe a bench appearance against Fiji but I can't see him playing any significant games and as he would have to be released on the Wednesday or Thursday if not picked he wont learn a huge amount about the setup.

thomond2006 · 03-10-2017 01:36PM

Availability for camps etc. aside, Beirne should be as eligible as any player in Ireland now that he has signed.

Buer · 03-10-2017 02:01PM

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

I wouldn't be surprised to see him getting a squad call and maybe a bench appearance against Fiji but I can't see him playing any significant games and as he would have to be released on the Wednesday or Thursday if not picked he wont learn a huge amount about the setup.

It won't happen. The first time he'll be considered for a cap will be next summer when we tour Australia and even that's a push. We don't cap players who play abroad with one exception in recent years and he had exemptions in his contract which allowed him attend training camps.

We don't have a shortage of second rows at this moment in time with Toner, Henderson, Dillane, Treadwell, Ryan, Holland and Roux all picking up caps within the past year. If there was a lack of options, perhaps Beirne would be looked at as quickly as possible but there isn't at all. I expect they'll wait for him to come home and perform here before calling him up.