Leinster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread XII (The Byrne Supremacy)

Yea, i’d say they were pretty much always guys leinster didnt want.

My assumption was that the IRFU strongly discourages actual poaching and its relatively rare.

For ulster, munster, connacht to get guys leinster actually might want to keep that are in their sub academy, they would really have to offer more than just an academy deal (as its a pittance) but i really doubt that the irfu would let that happen wholesale.

There are very few examples. And Leinster don't get it wrong too often.

The last miss one could consider they had was Tadgh Beirne. And I could see why they made the decision at the time. He spent the majority of his academy years injured and Ross Molony was rated in the academy and we had some grizzled if a bit limited second rows on the books at the time (Triggs, McCarthy etc) He also had Matt "what's an academy?" O'Connor as a coach for his final 2 academy years.

Some players just need to go elsewhere to thrive for a whole bunch of reasons much as some Leinster fans don't like it. But I think Beirnes immediate impact at Scarlets did make Leinster sit back and wonder how the hell they let a player of that calibre go

You could throw out a few more names: Andrew Conway, Felix Jones , Jeremy Loughman, oli Jager, potentially Karl Martin?

It's impossible for Leinster to Retain every player that comes through the sub academy or academy.. but you have to say they are doing an excellent job of retaining the vast majority of them currently..

I actually thought Karl Martins route is a potentially a very smart one. Go to France young, spend 3 years in the Academy and get Jiff qualified. Opens up prospects to come back to Ireland, go to England or play in France then later..

Ah these lists of ones that got away always assume the player would have got to the levels they are at if they stayed at Leinster, sometimes a player needs a different environment to shine. Beirne for instance would never have got the game time he got in Wales if he stayed so whilst it’s possible he might have reached those heights I think it’s likely he wouldn’t have.

it’s real hindsight stuff but doesn’t take the journey into account.

McGrath has more international caps than Cooney.

But that's big bad Johhny Sexton's fault, the bully.

"You turned her against me!" vibes, admittedly.

Cooney had started to get decent gametime in Schmidt's last season, I'm not going to trawl through match reports or anything but he played plenty in the league and then was in the squad for the knockout games in all the Challenge Cup knockouts. Then the MOCalypse happened, his minutes fell off a cliff, he got fed up and left. He's clearly an excellent player so I don't really see how he wouldn't have fit in.

Loughman was in the academy with Oisin Heffernan, who also was released. Even if Loughman was seen as a loose head the road to match time was limited. The move to Munster worked out for him.

Some decent looking academy prospects on show last night. It will be interesting to watch the 20's as it progresses. Very excited to see who stcjs their paw up.

Connacht had a serious TH problem and do not have the money to recruit in the regular market - it's runt of the litter stuff in terms of IRFU funding. They took a risk on Illo, but it seems to be paying off. He's third in the pecking order behind Finlay and Jack Aungier, has had a start and four other appearances. I'd argue that is a decent amount of exposure for a prop who is effectively in the second year of the Academy. IMO it's only now that we're starting to see him ready to emerge in the senior environment, and he'll get more minutes before the season is out. He has just extended his contract for another two years, so it would appear all parties are happy with the arrangement.

I'm not saying that there should be a broad license to pillage players from other provinces, but I don't see anything wrong with some competition at Academy level. Connacht have never filled their academy with local players, it is de facto a landing field for the exiles program, and has always recruited also from Leinster because there is such an abundance of riches.

Is this a big problem for Leinster? Hardly, - both starting U20 THs since Illo have also been Leinster players (Rory Maguire 2022, Paddy McCarthy this year). Illo's peer on that U20 front row, Temi Lasisi, has a grand total of 1 minute under his belt for Leinster, he's mostly playing AIL (nothing wrong with that, Illo has been playing with Buccaneers), and and now has to fight for game time with Jack Boyle...

I certainly agree that Ala'Alatoa should be extended. Bear in mind that Clarkson is still only 22, so don't write him off yet, but Leinster have that gap, which you referred to, deriving from the departure of Aungier/Salanoa simultaneously. Aungier left with clean hands as Leinster thought they were keeping RS - think you can blame that whisperer Eddie O'Sullivan for his departure to Munster. Aungier played his best game of the year against the Lions, worth a look, gives us hope that he may still kick on significantly.

Very true, but they are recognised early on for potential. Sure most irish men don't hit physical maturity until mid 20s.