The URC started at the end of October. If it starts as late next season (which I assume it won't) then an EI tour in Sep/Oct won't impact it anyway…
Ahh right you are apologies
Presumably that's down to the RWC tho, so I'd assume like yourself it'll start back in September again next season tho.
I assume, though I actually have no idea. Aren't the summer tours permanently moving later?
They need a break and then they need preseason. Cutting their preseason short is not going to be viable - it's not just about the games. Preseason is when they put on mass etc, which is something most development players desperately need.
The Ireland A matches were never that late and I can't recall too many players or supporters complaining.
Are you actually ok with EI Tours happening in September especially if the URC kicks off in September too
I have repeatedly said I'm not happy with it. But if the tour happens after the Summer Tests they will miss those matches anyway.
The only scenario they are able to go as a full squad with dedicated coaching and not miss meaningful matches is to do it during the pre-season match window. Which, to be clear, they might be doing. I'm incredibly unclear on when the URC starts this year.
Is there any discussion known to man where Kleyn will not get dragged into?
I've no difficulty with that timing, obviously I'd prefer they play the preseason matches with their provinces but the timeline I outlined is because a few posters thought we had no choice but to go with September as the coaches are tired up with the tour to SA.
God help some people here when central contracts go back closer to equilibrium and they have to rest a sizeable portion of their starting team throughout the year, in addition to losing them for camps and guys on the likes of the EI tour.
For those saying the EI tour wasn't of significant benefit to Crowley, you should have a chat with his team mate Shane Daly
“Aw, look, he’s been unreal this year,” Daly said. “That Emerging Ireland trip was just unbelievable for him, just the way he was able to step up. He kind of put himself in a leadership role out there as well and he’s brought that back into Munster as well.
https://www.the42.ie/jack-crowley-2-5960254-Jan2023/
If you don't think…
…are legitimate causes for complaint and discussion on a rugby forum, then I don't know what to tell ya….
We’ve literally discussed this to death at this juncture but I completely cannot see how the two things you cite are comparable.
If Munster/Ulster/Connacht fans are upset about the distribution of central contracts then the primary entity to be disappointed with is their own provinces for their failures in player development.
Players on central contracts are frequently unavailable outside of test windows to be fair.
Tbh, I agree and am I'm gonna leave it, FTD. (Tho I do see some irony in a poster bemoaning Kleyn being brought up now bring up central contracts into the discussion but there you go….)
They are, but not to the same scale at the same time, no? (but I obviously agree; that wasn't the point I was making)
As are players that are not on CC but who play for Ireland
Look, the CC issue was brought up in this discussion to try wind posters up.
It wasn't brought up to wind up posters. It was brought up to highlight that the inevitable outcome of more representation in Irish squads (which the EI tour will hopefully accelerate) is fewer minutes for the province. Leinster, so far as I can see from a quick check, don't have a single player on over 1,000 minutes this season. Munster have some core parts of the squad like Beirne, Ahern, Casey, Crowley and Coombes all well over that. Beirne is obviously an outlier there, but not being on a CC is a core part of why they have more availability.
I suppose the point is just that the disruption is something you have to get used to. I have my issues with the EI tour, but if viewed as a progression to the Ireland squad (which it can be) it is essentially just another example of the IRFU prioritising the Irish team over URC matches. I don't agree with the philosophy completely, but it's not new.
Is Beirne not a CC player
I never said there shouldn't be cause of complaint or discussion.
I am simply laughing that those who are doing the most complaining about this EI tour being the same ones who are far less impacted by losing other players outside of test windows.
Given managing of minutes of central contracted players being 'the most lopsided they've ever been by a significant margin', in a rational world I'd expect the fans of the province that loses those front line players by such a lopsided amount to be the ones most annoyed by this announcement, as they'll now be missing even more players during the season.
We clearly dont live in a rational world.
We've already had moaning about that in regard to one province with a singular CC. imagine the show when there's multiple players being rested.
Is there not a difference between managing minutes across a season versus missing 9 players all at the same time for 3 games? Is it not obvious which gives you far more leeway and forward planning?
I think the underlying thing that annoys people is the perception that an EI tour during the season is required because the ireland coaching team finds it hard to just look at a guy playing at a non leinster province and just seeing their potential playing for their province, unless they are absolutely and obviously elite.
Every province in ireland would swap situations. Leinster can spend all that central contract savings on keeping a very talented deep squad behind them. I mean everyone would probably just choose to get st michaels and blackrock, the two schools responsible for 50% of your playing stock.
Sure one of the few posters involved in complaining about the EI Tour today was last week calling for that singular CC player to be rested this summer for the SA tour because they played a lot of minutes.
Seems to be very little understanding or care for what other provinces have faced doing their best to prop up the Irish national team.
Looking at a guy playing for his province ??
Will the game be stopped regularly so the Irfu coach can run on and ask the player to do something slightly differently ?
Being in a training camp and playing for your usual team are light years apart. These players are invited to national camps BECAUSE the Irfu coachs have already seen them play for their province.
Do they stop leinster games and do that?
What a weird response. You either want to get better, and take what comes with that, or you don't? I guess misery loves company.
I think that perception is deeply flawed. I am sure Jack Crowley would have become a top level 10 for Munster regardless, but he wasn't that when he was selected for the EI tour. He started against Aus with a relatively tiny amount of experience - less playing time than Sam Prendergast currently has.
It gives the Irish coaches an opportunity to see players who are not in the provinces' first 23 in a squad setting and see how well they respond to coaching and the day to day. It is a window to their potential that can not be seen just by going to the odd URC match. It also lets the coaches see how well they can play the game Ireland want as opposed to the province they play for.
There is huge utility to it - I just hate when it takes place.
The point is that 'getting as good as leinster' is basically the same as sitting on top of two schools that constantly pump out world class talent. When its literally 50% of your players, its them not you. Its not really possible to copy without way more effort and money.
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