Shame he couldn’t have got it sorted 2 and a half years ago at the World Cup where it cost us massively
Yeah, theres a number of posters saying "I gave him grief when the LO was bad, and I now have to say well done."
On this forum. After the game.
I really fail to see what the issue is here. POC came in with a small amount of coaching experience and a spell at State that was a wash. He's been in the job 5 years. Line out has deteriorated during his period in the job so people asked wtf is going on with the line out, what is POC doing? Answer was we don't know but Farrell is sticking with him. He seems to have turned it around justifying Farrells confidence, fair play to him. It doesn't mean people were wrong for thinking he's learning on the job and costing us over the last few years. It's pro sport, all about results. He wasn't delivering which drew a lot of criticism. C'est la vie. No different with Johnny and the kicking problems our tens have had. Again, learning in the biggest job so criticism is going to be sharp as a lot of people feel that coaches should learn the gig before getting the best jobs in the Irish game. Farrell has proved with POC that thats not necessarily true.
I'm making the same point. Now it has started to come good, people are acknowledging that, is all i was saying. Our LO has absolutely cost us in the last few years.
I disagree with your last point. Maybe someone without the profile of POC but more experience would have had the LO purring years ago, and we'd be in a better place.
fair enough. Apprenticing at test level means that you get very little on field work relative to what club coaches are doing. Weeks rather than months each year compounds.
New central deals for Sheehan, JGP, Aki and VDF.
Good news, although a central contract for Bundee is interesting. McCloskey might want to have a word with his agent.
I'll just say I don't understand the Aki one and leave it at that.
Great to get the others signed up.
Aki is a one year deal, I doubt he would have gotten it if we were further out from RWC.
The others make sense
Will that extension for Aki cover the RWC or does he need to sign a short extension to cover it? Assuming he is selected of course.
Id say it runs until the RWC final date
There are probably other factors. Like keeping Aki at Connacht, fan engagement, ticket sales etc.
I know Central contracts are nominally all about the Ireland first team, but there's always more to it than that. Presumably without the 40% wage from the IRFU, Aki would have left for more money elsewhere.
Based on all the factors, they gave Aki a central contract. I don’t hate the idea
Good to get Josh, JGP and Sheehan tied down. If Aki is getting one you’d imagine McCloskey should also be getting one.
Presumably Crowley and Baloucoune will also be getting bumped up to a CC soon.
I wouldn’t jump the gun on Baloucoune yet. Hansen not on one and has contributed more over the last few years so presumably he’d be in line for one first. Would be hasty to give RB based on one, albeit very impressive, Six Nations campaign.
Yea, but would it be more hasty than giving a clearly past it Aki one?
McCloskey turns 34 in the summer; I doubt any player has ever got a first central contract at his age.
Baloucoune won't be getting one any time soon, he needs to back this 6N up in the summer at least and show that's he actually first choice, not just first choice when there's a load of injuries.
I wouldn't have given Aki a CC extension but I presume it's at a greatly reduced salary so not going to lose any sleep over it.
Most definitely not. Given his age RB would surely be getting a multi-year CC compared to Aki who is only getting one year so far less of a long term risk. No doubt about it Aki’s form has dipped but he was a test Lion less than a year ago. Not saying it is totally deserved but I can see the logic in giving him a one year deal with the RWC next year.
Edit. Meant to say it wasn’t more hasty!
As the player who did more than any other for Ireland team and supporters in the 2023 WC. AND - As a player who is still well capable of doing a job, who doesn't get injured a lot, and who's test career hasn't been ridiculously long like for example Ringrose, not only should he be given this single year extension to get to 2027, but he should be nailed on in the 40 or however many are taken to Australia.
I would sincerely hope we wouldn't be starting him, unless in early pool games, but he should be there.
Eaten bread is soon forgotten by some around here.
@Packrat - sums up the entire problem. He's done now, will get worse, shouldn't have been given a central contract extension, and the idea of him being nailed on in the squad this far out is absurd. The fact part of your justification is he played well at the last World Cup says it all really.
Sorry I worded my post incorrectly. Meant to say it wasn’t more hasty than giving RB a central contract. Why his form has dipped, I definitely wouldn’t begrudge him the new deal.
Tbh, I think giving Aki a national contract is a bit of a waste and giving JGP a two year extension is risky but I assume his bargaining power is stronger than Aki's and we need JGP for the RWC.
The rest are fully deserved
ringrose made his ireland debut a year before aki did, how does GR have a ridiculously long test career and aki doesnt?
aki was absolutely brilliant for ireland at the last rwc but that shouldnt count for much when it comes to the next one. if hes in great form when the time comes then he should be picked, but i wouldnt have him as a certain pick right now
Not giving JGP a two year extension is about a million times riskier.
I wouldn't as be vociferous as inbloom, but the idea that someone wants a CC for a player and also "would sincerely hope we wouldn't be starting him" tells me I have a very different take on CCs to others on here.
It was always the case but the last six months have proved that having a CC does not guarantee selection so who cares?
Whether Aki renews his central deal or moves to a provincial contract is an accounting exercise with zero on-pitch impact.
Hence why I say his bargaining power is higher but I think his last season of the new contract will see a decline in his ability to play his current game.
I know 2 years can seem like a long time in sport but there is zero evidence of age being in any way detrimental to his performance to date. Quite the contrary in fact but who knows
How did he play when he came on last weekend?
Mack is on a central contract through until the end of the 26/27 season.
people are making too much of the central contract tag. it's been clear for some time that they don't have the significance that was once attributed to them.
Does anyone know if there is a specific percentage the IRFU pays for PONIs or is it case specific?
