pickarooney wrote: » Maybe it's just me but this is completely incoherent. What does selecting a XV, half of whom are not available, many of whom are debatable (a couple of months ago, J McGrath was unanimously first choice, it's further back still since Heaslip picked up a ball, you can't have your cake and eat it too. Who really knows our first choice Hooker? Maybe Lowe is the best winger on Leinster's books. How will we ever find out? Is Nacewa still even a winger?) illustrate about selection policy or player management?
irishbucsfan wrote: » This is like the 4th time I’ve said this, but the complaints are absolutely not about selection policy or player management.
pickarooney wrote: » Complaints about match scheduling implicitly involves both of the above. Otherwise you're just complaining about having matches around Christmas in front of packed houses.
irishbucsfan wrote: » The selection is dictated by the schedule. The Thomond game did not used to be played in December. Now that it is, it’s less meaningful. That’s the complaint. Everyone talks about ticket sales as if they’re the absolute barometer!
pickarooney wrote: » Hardly everyone. Has it been mentioned on this thread before? I reckon it'll be a cracking match.
Former Former wrote: » The fundamental thing here is a belief that Munster v Leinster is more important than other interpros. I don't think IRFU would be well served by perpetuating that idea.
irishbucsfan wrote: » As I explained before, no it is not
Former Former wrote: » Is your complaint not that this fixture moved from its previous position before European QFs?
irishbucsfan wrote: » Yes, but nowhere did I say any interpro shouldn't be treated as an equally serious fixture
Former Former wrote: » You didn't say it but it's the logical conclusion of what you are saying. Leinster v Munster already gets the prime slot before the first round of Europe. The return traditionally had the other desirable slot of right before the QFs. That's an explicit statement from IRFU that this tie was the big one and the other interpros, meh. So now that's no longer the case but now we're saying that THIS game shouldn't be on Stephen's Day and we shouldn't be fielding a weakened team for THIS game. We all know there can only be interpros on Stephen's Day and we all know players have to rotate. We would just rather have Connacht thanks. Of course people are saying it's more important. They just haven't realised they're saying it.
irishbucsfan wrote: » None of this is the conclusion of what I said. You're putting far too much faith in your own ability to assume what people are saying without reading it. I already posted the conclusion but you've ignored it.
Former Former wrote: » Your conclusion is that the fixture is devalued? I agree. I just think that's a good thing, you don't. So what would you change?
irishbucsfan wrote: » All we need is 6 weeks for interpro fixtures. We already have 3 clear ones, which is the week before European pool games. Then there's the final week of the season which is usually an interpro already. So we just need to find 2 weeks, which is really not difficult. We could put a 2nd interpro in September/October and put the other spare interpro in April, or keep the Leinster/Ulster new years' fixture if they'd prefer (I've no problem with keeping that one devalued, given its traditional). Playing it on Stephens' day is not the answer.
Former Former wrote: » Play NO game on Stephens Day (or the 27th)?? Tell me I've got that wrong.
molloyjh wrote: » Leinsters current first choice XV: Healy Cronin Furlong Fardy Toner Ruddock Heaslip SOB McGrath Sexton Henshaw Ringrose Nacewa Kearney WhoTheFudgeKnows Of that team only 2 are starting on Tuesday. Therefore it is a second string side. That others aren’t available or are being rested doesn’t really matter, it’s still a less than full strength Leinster side. It is a good Leinster side nonetheless and should be more competitive than last year. I don’t expect a win, but a LBP would do just fine.
irishbucsfan wrote: » Yes, 3 fixtures on that day in the league this year, we can easily survive moving it.
Former Former wrote: » There are 3 fixtures on the 26th because the remainder were on the 23rd. Moving Munster v Leinster to the 23rd or the 27th wouldn't have solved anything. The same problems are still there.
irishbucsfan wrote: » Right. But at absolutely no point did I suggest doing that. You're acting as if its impossible to avoid Munster/Leinster being played at Christmas when this is an entirely new thing.
Don Kiddick wrote: » If that was truly a 2nd choice Leinster side, Fardy would be playing... Joe could quite easily pick that entire pack for the 6n....could be a bad day at the office for POM and Stander ...could end up wishing for the south of France yet.
Former Former wrote: » You love this "but I'm not saying that" line. Would you be willing to tell me what you would like to do? I'm clearly not getting it. Keeping in mind there has to be a game around Christmas and it has to be an interpro, you would do...
stephen_n wrote: » Fardy is most definitely first choice for Leinster. Ryan may well be the future but Fardy is the present.
irishbucsfan wrote: » The game before christmas does not need to be an interpro, and never used to be. It used to go Europe -> League game -> Interpro -> Interpro -> Europe. This year it's Europe -> Interpro -> Interpro -> Interpro -> Europe. As a start we can get back to where we were. And after we've gotten back to where we were, we should sort out the calendar to put as many interpros into uncontended slots as possible given they're generally our best domestic games, which may not involve keeping two interpros in the christmas stretch.
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