what did they say?
Which 9 did we have exactly? Or did you just make that up?
I can't understand how some people can't understand that.
it’s not that I don’t understand your point, I just don’t agree with it.
The imbalance in CC allocation is the result of the disparity in player development, not the cause of it.
I'm not debating the cause of it. I'm debating what ramifications it now may have going forward.
Not sure about your stats on this one but Leinster currently have 9 of the 12 CCs or 75%, by your own admission Munster never had more than about 50% of them and not without Leinster getting a fine share of them as well
Leinster currently have 8 of 13 central contracts, or 61%. Next year they may have 10 of 13, however there is talk of the provences paying towards the salaries of the centrally contracted players. This is a fair idea and is an effort to make the situation in the provances "less unequal". Crisis averted.
I'm not a fan of that idea to be honest. Central contracts come with rules (rightly so) and already indirectly cost the provinces as they are the ones that coach them.
The question often gets asked who would we take off a CC. I'd ask why do we have so few of them?
I think if there were more being handed out, the disparity between leinster and the other provences would be even greater.
Those were all relatively recent developments from Munster, which I've repeatedly said has improved.
The point is Munster underinvested during and coming out of their glory years, they naval gazed and felt the good times will keep on coming, and that directly led to their barren years of academy production and why the central contracts are currently so one sided and there is feeling of inequity.
The improvement in the Munster academy output since they got their act together, with some of the actions you mention, is clear evidence that they were a significant cause of the problem.
Interesting to see if there is a mood change from doom and gloom with the great performance down in SA today from Munster and the wins across the board for the non-Leinster provinces - with the added bonus of Leinster getting spanked.
IRFU has a province in 1st, 3rd, and the other two are joint on points with a team in the playoffs, a single point behind the team in 6th.
In no time we'll be back to rage when the Leinster 'will never be caught' players 'undeservedly' make the Irish squad.
could we get Jordie Barrett to play for Ireland?
Saw there Finn Smith making his 50th premiership appearance in total for Northampton
Add in the European Cup as well
Sam Prendergast has 5 for Leinster
They are the same age
Can anyone answer why is the setup the IRFU have
Oh, you don't even want to know how many games the French 20s have under their belts.
Prendergast has 14 appearances for Leinster and is almost a full year younger than Smith.
Every player develops differently. I think you have understated the appearances Prendergast has to date, plus he still looks very slight so Leinster may be working on conditioning.
He will likely have a dozen years of players much larger than him from the back row or inside centre running down his channel so the strength & conditioning team need to get his physique to a level where he can cope with that.
I'm disappointed that he hasnt seemed to put on weight.
It is tougher to do during the season and last summer was impacted by him being away at the under 20s WC.
Hoping they have a good program for him this summer. He doesn't need to get huge but he looks too slim right now. The family genetics suggest he should have it in him to bulk out.
Him getting too much game time at pro level, especially some mad suggestions of lower levels in France, is not what he needs right now.
Hard to argue that one system is better than the other in relation to age introduction of players. Would Sexton have made it to the level/age he did if he had that many games so young? One doubts it. That said, I do think we err on the Conservative side of things a lot of the time, but I think that's a better balance than the alternative.
Also, Finn Smith looks a significantly better player than Marcus Smith, not even a close call. Inexplicably, the English media seem to adore Marcus..
Fin Smith looks a significantly better player than Sam Prendergast at this stage too it has to be said.
In fairness to Marcus Smith if the English team played like Quins do he'd be far better, I don't know if Finn would fit in any better at international level when that team can't settle on a 10,12,13 axis with the past few years
Ireland has 4 provinces, England had 12 and now 10 in the Premiership
So a young 10 has more options.
Also Northampton, due to financial constraints, took the plunge and let a lot of senior players go and replaced with young kids a few seasons ago
Just a few reasons but maybe he just progressed quicker than Predergast
Smith is nearly 1 year older, 9 months anyway
Predergast has 12 appearances so far this season, wiki is not always up to date
Smith is already on his second club after his first went bankrupt by the way
Have you ever heard of Danny Cipriani 🤣
Interesting Scotland made all sort of promises to try to get Smith to play for them. The ginger scot was getting dumped very quickly if Smith said he would move
I kinda wonder, is Irish rugby in the midst of a crisis of failing to develop elite props? I think it’ll be a major barrier to our provincial sides being able to compete and win trophies in the coming years
I don't think it is but what can you do to change or improve how props are developed? And if its such an issue that it could affect ability to win I'm coming years what needs to change even at age grade for an improvement?
I’m not sure, I’m just so confused at how Munster and Connacht have failed to develop elite level props from the last 8 years worth of crop of front row players.
What do you define as elite as well.
And what's confused you. Are you confused by leinsters struggles for periods at producing some positions or ulster?
Ginger Scot? Finn is not a ginger, is he?
Jesus help my eyes.
I presume the reference is to Ben Healy.
Ahhh.
