It is neither petty nor disloyal for him to take the money on offer and go, just like it was neither petty nor disloyal when Johnny Sexton did it a decade ago.
Indeed I don't remember too many of the posters insinuating it would be a slight on his character to leave doing the same to Sexton, indeed I remember an awful lot of digs and whinging about Ireland and the IRFU back then.
As you say, utterly bizarre and predictable.
These soft types who take their ball home when they don't get their way and dont display any resilience are definitely not the type of players we need playing for Ireland.
Thankfully, its only the fans who display these qualities
Mod Edit
Warnng issued.
Warning issued.
Genuine question here;
If Crowley leaving is "a sign that he rates himself higher than the treatment he's gotten", what will it mean if he stays?
will that be a sign that he doesn't actually rate himself that highly? It must be, right?
The funniest thing about all this is that people who think they're in Crowley's corner are actually making him out to be some petty child with zero loyalty to either province or country and zero faith in his own ability. All to get a few digs in at Ireland and IRFU.
Utterly bizarre and utterly predictable.
My bet is that relations between Crowley and Ireland are absolutely fine, he'll sign his contract, and precisely zero people here will admit they got it wrong.
Its only munster players allowed to leave so who knows
Is it only Munster players that **** the bed when they leave Ireland to play elsewhere or does it apply to all players from Ireland
If Crowley decided to leave Munster and Ireland because he had to come off the bench in this year's 6 nations it would be a sign of a massive lack of mental fortitude and immaturity.
Or, it’s a sign that he rates himself higher than the treatment he’s gotten would suggest he is.
It will be very interesting. It should be at 12. Osborne needs some consistency in selection now.
14. was an odd selection. It may (& did!) have transpired differently.
On the whole I think the selection last week was ok.
This week, after the loss, I was hoping to see Osborne be given the opportunity at 12. Boyle & Clarkson given a start. Prendergast or Deegan at 6. I'm surprised that Crowley is starting. Just like I'm surprised Furlong is coming back for Italy.
3 wins out of 4 and a triple crown is a disaster now?
Its from views like this that the perception of arrogant irish rugby fans is growing
he's probably going to play half at ten and then the other half in the back row with the way coaches are going.
If Crowley decided to leave Munster and Ireland because he had to come off the bench in this year's 6 nations it would be a sign of a massive lack of mental fortitude and immaturity. I could understand if he left purely for the money though.
However I dont believe for a second he is going to leave. It's called playing the game when it's contract renewal time.
Just because Ben Healy **** the bed doesn't mean Crowley would do the same.
Under half it according to Ruadhrai o Connor today.
Playing him against Italy now after the horse has bolted (the tournament) smacks of a day late and a dollar short. After being slapped in the face repeatedly having not put a foot wrong in last years win, I'd imagine he'll see it for what it is - a sop to him and to Munster people after what's gone on. Too little too late I think in the case of the fans anyway.
It also makes no sense in SPs development to drop him right now. Just dent his confidence more, - but then isn't that what they do best.
They really made a bed of nettles for themselves didn't they...
IRFU & Irish management team have handled this situation really poorly and in full glare, it wouldn’t even be an issue if the mismanagement of Crowley hadn’t been so apparent, Leicester being very opportunistic. I’m a huge fan of Andy Farrell and he gets most things right, but this has been a low point and unfair to put everything on Easterby
I am sure the IRFU will and have offered Crowley a reasonable amount compared to his current deal. I would sincerely hope that they haven't lowballed him.
At the end of they day, if the money Leicester are offering is anywhere near true then he needs to strongly consider that offer in a career/profession racked with uncertainty.
I don't think the IRFU can compete with that.
It was me who used the term “preordained”, but what I meant was that it’s not all this talk about Crowley’s contract that has spurred the change as was suggested and I don’t think it’s a reaction to anyone’s performance against France. I don’t think it’s any harm to freshen the team especially after a loss. The only guys (apparently) coming in are those who are very close to the first XV anyway; Ryan, Conan, Crowley, Ringrose. There’s no left field selection that shows we’re cleaning house after last week. I think McCarthy definitely deserves a day on the naughty step for his stupidity but POM and Aki didn’t do anything last week to deserve to be dropped.
I am glad we’re picking Boyle though, hopefully he gets a decent run.
I feel the presence of Barrett and sentiment will keep Osborne consigned to the bench at best this season, unfortunately
I don't think so, no.
Lowry maybe had the chance to establish himself as a counterattacking threat unlike any other fullback we had. But he seems to have plateaued in recent seasons.
Where has it been suggested he's leaving because of the pressure for his Ireland spot?
Lowry? Haley? Shane Daly? None of them worth a shot?
Not Sure Aki has 80 minutes in the tank anymore. Only done it once this seasom for ireland and that was the first game of the season.
Id prefer to see Osborne 23 or even 12 with henshaw 23.
Will be interesting to see where Osborne plays v harlequins if everyone is fit and Barrett is back too.
I agree with you on Osborne's strengths as a centre. He's also an excellent offloader which imo is a rare thing in Irish born players.
I think Farrell and his staff have seen the lack of options at fullback and are pointing Osborne's development in that direction for the moment. Keenan aside there's no other established 15 in the country that we can rely upon. Makes sense that Osborne is given a crack. Can still use his footballing skills, but we also then get the chance to use his kicking game. He has a bigger boot than Lowe.
There's zero chance there was a preordained plan to start a player at 10 for the opening four games and then rotate him out for the grand slam decider with a trophy to collect. Could you imagine?
The defeat has clearly caused a change of thought in the selection if Thornley's team is accurate.
Think he's much better in the centers. Has a lovely gliding style of running and a great ability to get the ball away in the tackle.
Osborne is a player we really should be trying to get as many minutes into as possible. He has the ability to be an excellent 12 or 15.
Ireland management seems to want him at fullback, but he has the size and footballing ability to be a brilliant inside centre.
I don't mind Crowley starting. I also don't buy for one second that he's thinking of leaving. If he is because the pressure is on for his spot in the Ireland team then good riddance. However, there's nothing in his character that tells me he would give up so easily.
Osborne at 12 is the one I want to see.
im not even in the political boundaries of my sillly little country, silly little man.
And that was my point…we don’t gain anything from Crowley selection. Sticking with Prendergast is just logical at this stage.
Would like to see Osborne start at 12. Think he offers us another dimension with his offloading game in midfield. Wouldn’t have Healy or POM in the 23.
