After all this, I still think the EI tour shouldn't be during the URC, but it's just not some massively unfair imposition on certain teams.
This is big alright. La rochelle have flamed out after two years of it. Theres lots of storys in ither sports also. Mins accumulate particularly for guys like furlong and porter
EDIT: Y'know what? Never mind….
To be fair, I've never said it's a massively unfair imposition; the issue I had was with some posters suggesting it made no difference.
It clearly did.
I think we largely agree in the main, tbh.
I’d say that’s very interesting but a completely different argument
There is zero evidence for those numbers for the first half of that season, even ignoring EI players getting extra opportunities for exposure because of first team injuries.
That was pure imagination, so zero surprise you've ninja edited.
Your claim that managing EI tour absences is more difficult than Leinster having to deal with central contract rest has completely fallen apart.
Maybe the grass on the other side of the hill isn't quite as green as you thought.
The problem is that there isn't a good answer for it.
No matter when you do it, someone wont be happy.
That wasn’t my claim. It literally wasn’t.
213 new messages in the Ireland threat… what delights await if I navigate back to review?
I think during pre-season games is the best, though it is still a massive imposition. But I think the cost-benefit makes the most sense there.
Think we should do a poll to consider changing the thread's name to "The Ireland Thread (or 'Testing Alooof's Patience')"
I wouldn't, if I was you, it started out reasonably interesting then took a nose dive
Are you not aware that we can see your posts from this afternoon?
Is there not a difference between managing minutes across a season versus missing 9 players all at the same time for 3 games?
Strong disagree; managing them across the season allows far more forward planning, looking at the fixture list etc.Whereas we now have no idea who the provinces will be playing during the EI tour, but we know there will be 7,8,9 players missing.
Strong disagree; managing them across the season allows far more forward planning, looking at the fixture list etc.
Whereas we now have no idea who the provinces will be playing during the EI tour, but we know there will be 7,8,9 players missing.
You were crystal clear regarding your opinion, don't try to move the goal posts now.
I get where you're coming from with that option but then the lads are only ramping up their fitness involved and you lose some of the value.
It becomes more of a preseason conditioning tour than trying to assess the players in an Irish camp/tour type capacity.
From a province perspective you're basically left with NIQs, journey men, and academy lads for preseason.
And when that was pointed out to me, I've held my hands up on that specific point.
But with regards he EI tour specifically, the point I made was the following; I still stand by it and think it is objectively true:
The other provinces will likely all be missing guys who are more important to them than the Leinster equivalents. Like I said last time, Cian Prendergast is more important to Connacht than Deegan is to Leinster. I'd go as far as saying Prendergast is more important to Connacht than Doris is to Leinster.
It's the exact argument I made last time, and was repeatedly told it'd make no difference.
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When Ireland regularly played A Internationals I don't remember too many fans having an issue with so many players being away from the provinces. It seems to me the EI Tours are just a timing issue.
Of course it is a timing problem. I'd be much happier if the A games were still a thing, though it is worth mentioning that it doesn't solve the problem with the national coaching staff having access.
Until now you didn't withdraw you overall point.
To what you're clinging to, Leinster will likely also be missing some or all of their central contracted players during that period.
Whatever pain the other provinces will be feeling, Leinster will be hit harder.
Isn't it obvious? The brand new coaching staff had no intention of playing any of those guys and then Nucifora watched the raw practice tapes, called Rowntree up and said 'bro, maybe you should play some of these guys, don't be close minded'.
That's probably how it happened.
Is it really necessary to be this flippant?
The core point of the EI tour was that there were players they saw potential in but wanted to see them closer and in a tour environment. Some of them came back from that tour, and the experience with the national coaches, invigorated and helped by the experience.
What were their teamsheets during the last EI tour? Wasn't that the argument?
brand new coaching staff
the what now?
Rowntree had been there for three years at that point.
I don't know if you read his recent interview but he put a LOT of credit on the EI tour for Munster winning the URC. So, i'm being flippant but with a little kernel of truth in there.
If Rowntree was selecting the team under JvG, i'm with you.
I don't think he was, so how he selected for two games when he knew 9/10 guys would be away for weeks is not super relevant. Especially, when it is Prendergast's offense and he is brand new.
According to his team mate Crowley's improvement was put down, at least in part, to his time on the EI tour.
No matter how folks from a certain group want to push back on it, at least one person a hell of a lot closer to the Munster set-up felt the tour was of very beneficial for a player who was key to Munster winning the URC.
Daly said Rowntree wasn't planning to select Crowley and then the EI tour changed his mind? That is what is implied in the interview.
So while JvG was picking the team, Rowntree could not possibly have formed any opinions on who the better OH was, despite three years of being part of the coaching team? OK.
And when he became head coach, then all of his opinions (not that he had any, of course) became completely moot because it was now "Prendergast's offense".
It is exceedingly clear that the Ireland coaches saw Crowley as the better OH before Munster did. I'm confused as to why this is so contentious.
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