No, the frontline internationals in a non-RWC year typically didn't return before Weeks 6-7, whereas now the impacted weeks are weeks 2-4 of the URC season here, so that's definitely a little earlier than usual.
I posted this potential squad back when news first broke about it, and while there are some concentrations in certain positions that might be unlikely, this is the sort of calibre of player likely to go IMO:
I think based on that Ulster are probably worst affected (losing guys potentially like Wilson, Izuchukwu, Sheridan, McCann, etc), but will be interesting to see how it turns out as Ulster are in SA at broadly the same time as the EI tour. Happy to hear arguments for who else might be in the mix, but it doesn't look like it'll overly weaken Leinster or Munster IMO.
Yes but we restricted players game time like you said. Don't see an issue with an EI tour, the players will be missing for a few weeks, and not all of them will be 1st team players.
Of course it's disrespectful to the league, this seems pretty obvious.
The IRFU would never, ever do this if a European game was scheduled, but they're more than happy to pull players away from league games.
It can be true that this tour benefits Ireland, and it can also be true that this tour is another sign that the IRFU care little for the league. Imagine the RFU or FRU tried to pull players out of GP / T14 games to go play Mickey Mouse games in SA. There would be uproar because they take their leagues very seriously.
Well there was no EI tour this year for one. But that also doesn't really change anything.
Players who are squad or just out of the academy
Players who in reality like the last time would at best maybe have a slot on a bench
You don't like the tour, I get that, but making up it is insulting the league is nonsense.
The frontline internationals would normally be back around this time anyway, so I wouldn't consider it early. I imagine the timing is done pretty much for that specific reason. Though I would wager the LvM game would normally be their first one back, they might be in a round early I guess.
Ultimately though, for me it doesn't depend on the results. I don't like that they are doing it. I'm aware it is an essentially emotional viewpoint, but it is essentially dragging a large chunk of players out of the provinces because the IRFU just don't think the games are that important. And I think that attitude stinks.
And yet we've 2 teams in the Semi finals this weekend. We aren't disrespecting anything.
It'll depend entirely on the results. If, like last time, we make front line internationals (who in other scenarios likely wouldn't have played these fixtures) available for them, then to me it's very hard to argue we're "disrespecting" anything.
How is it undermining the league or disrepecting it?
They are pulling dozens of players out of the squads in the middle of the season to play mickey mouse games in South Africa. This is on top of severely restricting the top tier of players gametime in general. The answer is rather obvious.
The provinces can rightly be pointed at by other countries and suggest they have more investment from the IRFU, which allows them to have bigger squad
Which is exactly why a tournament like this gives the provinces the chance to play more of that squad.
If the IRFU pulled funding like Wales, sent all their senior players to England/France to save money while using the league as ana academy then I would agree with disrespecting
But that's not what is happening.
Well, I think it was a product of general frustration at them not taking the league seriously and undermining the whole project.
I don't disagree on the point that the Irish have carried the league, but this is 100% disrespecting an improved league. Now you can argue it's worth it and I think there is a valid argument there even if I don't agree, but I don't think you can argue that it is not disrespecting it.
I find that bizarre - if they want to hinder their own provinces then that's on them (they've done this in recent times too).
The notion that we're disrespecting the league is a stretch, because the league has been utterly carried by the Irish provinces and the crowds we bring and the buzz we generate since Day 1.
The players who go will likely be replaced by academy lads in the senior 23
The more quality rugby we can expose these guys to is important
I don't think we'd care too much, but people absolutely used to complain about Wales' fourth AI test removing players from the ProX and there was no shortage of schadenfreude when their fourth test against Aus results in them dropping to 9th in the rankings for the World Cup draw. Course we have followed them on that by having a fourth AI ourselves now.
I think the timing is about the only place you could conceivably put it. Realistically you need to have the frontline players back before you can gut the provincial squads like this.
I'm not close-minded to the benefits of it, but it just fundamentally rubs me up the wrong way.
If this was Wales playing an international outside the international window this place would go into meltdown
This is objective nonsense. Why would "this place" give a shite what Wales do?
I don't think the timing is ideal either; would prefer it around 3 weeks sooner, but it is what it is. I still think the benefits of the tour to Ireland outweigh the negatives.
I've said this already but the timing is absolutely crazy, just as the URC kicks off we take out a tier of Irish players to head on a tour to SA.
If this was Wales playing an international outside the international window this place would go into meltdown but now that Ireland have started to do it, it's becoming acceptable.
I follow a Cheetah's fan on Twitter and he's not too happy about the timing of the tour either.
I wonder will we see a SA tour to Ireland to play an EI team, this will be out second tour to SA
Just not a big fan of this when it's outside the Test window and impacts some inter-pro's, at a time when we finally have a quality domestic league…
Anyways, lets see who's picked and at least this time round, the Provinces have a lot more notice, so have more time to plan around it.
MOD: Munster twitter accounts is not the topic of the thread
Largest Twitter accounts 😂
Definitely looking for something to be outraged by
Too busy posting daily about Munster being URC champs. Relishing the prospect of softening their cough
Its more a curiosity that the 3 or 4 largest twitter accounts parrot non-stop negativity, wasn't having a go at anyone here.
Fair play make this provincial. It's not only Munster fans not in favour of the timing but if you look for something to be outraged at, you'll find it. Once you find it then you can take it elsewhere to show your outrage
ah youre better off not even giving those idiots any views at all, everything they say is doom laden when it comes to the IRFU. They are not ireland rugby fans at all, only parochial one eyed.
Ooof the Munster talking heads on twitter really don't like this tour, do they enjoy anything about Irish Rugby at this point?
Ah ok, that's fine then.
I'm still not conceptually a fan of these tours but it is what it is. Will be curious to see the squad.
Yeah thats correct, he just misses the 6 nations
Farrell's sabbatical only starts after the AI's I believe.
Looking forward to that EI tour, they're decent opposition at least. Three matches in eight days means we'll need a large enough squad which may generate some discussion here…
Is Easterby not coaching Ireland for the AIs? He'll be missing the Leinster vs Munster interpro during this tour. Not the end of the world, but still…
western force??
interesting they are bring an Aussie super rugby team over to SA to play an Ireland A side??
also a possibility to tap up Ruan Pienaar to return to our green shores as coach….
The Emerging Ireland tour to South Africa has been confirmed. The last one was a great success so I'm interested in seeing who we bring this time round.
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