Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

No, I said this didn’t need special funding from CCs, it’s the sort of thing you’d expect competent management to identify and implement a long time ago, and my argument was money isn’t a solution that seems more cultural than anything else.

My point was - Munster have consistently pushed for the short term fixes of NIQ or IQ signings to solve short term problems rather than actually use some of that funding to address longer term structural issues.

And, in the absence of a Time Machine to go back and implement these “a long time ago”, Munster are doing it now.

Like the old saying goes.

The best time to plant a Centre or Excellence was 20 years ago. The 2nd best time is today.

Some achievement to be taking absolutely the right approach and simultaneously always looking for the easy fix tho.

Schroedingers Rugby club.

Maybe not particularly revolutionary or novel.

But (and this part is important).

Nor are they a “short-term easy fix”.

Yeah it all sounds fair enough. I don't blame anyone in the situation. Cost restraint is really hard and always means making people unhappy. Fans are already unhappy with the cost of tickets and costs go up naturally with inflation.

Conor Murray in todays Times accepts hes a pal of Lowe but thinks its a serious mistake for Ireland to let him go and we may well regret it next year at WC. At least its good to have someone who doesn't sit on the fence.

Well played by the IRFU having AF not being in front of the media until 2 days before the Australia game.

The ultimate hospital pass to Leo and Leinster.

I haven't really read much abut the Lowe move and though he played really well when he finally appeared in the 6N he is not the player he was. Sympathetic to keeping him tough, as we are light on the wings and no-one else has anything like the physicality, distribution or kicking game he has. In my mind I assumed the margin here was more like 500k though, 100k, really? That's absolutely nothing to keep him, surely its more than that?

As per John O’Sullivan in The Irish Times:

Leinster made him an offer he could refuse. The IRFU declined to PONI (player of national interest) up the spondulicks, to supplement a contract that with the union bump from previous deals was reputed to be worth in the ballpark of €350,000 per annum. The revised offer might have been closer to the €200,000 plus change mark.

That’s an absolute insult if he was offered 200k. A second line manager salary in Dublin in many industries ffs.

It’s a real shame for the player, Leinster and Irish rugby and the fans. It leaves a sour taste in my mouth never mind how Lowe and his current club and international teammates must be feeling. I’d be happier if he’d been the one who decided to cancel the contract and take advantage of a huge contract elsewhere rather than the way Irish rugby has disposed of him.

This sort of sentiment really irks me. He’s not been “disposed off”. He was offered a contract on less money than he was on before, and HE chose to reject it. There’s nothing distasteful about the IRFU no longer wanting to subsidise the salary of a 34 year old winger whose performances have been in decline for a prolonged period. Especially after he’s been recently injured, and the players that have replaced him have actually performed BETTER than what he was showing. If Ireland wanted to keep him that badly, they could have found the funds. There’s nothing distasteful about his franchise offering a 34 year old winger a contract worth less than his previous contract. Especially when they only see him for 10 games a season. And there’s nothing distasteful about a player at his age taking up an offer in Japan that benefits him and his family.

James Lowe doesn’t owe Leinster or Ireland anything. And Leinster or Ireland don’t owe anything to James Lowe. Leinster/Ireland gave him the opportunity to play international rugby and set up his family better than if he’d stayed in NZ, and he’s been an amazing player for Leinster and Ireland. Everyone has fulfilled their end of the bargain. But it’s just time to move on. The only reason this whole situation leaves a “sour taste” in the mouths of Irish people, is because we’re so used to players in the country being kept on far, far longer than they should be. And people expect everyone to get the ridiculous f*cking 2 year long farewell world tour that Healy/POM/Murray got. Do people really want a 35 year old James Lowe starting for Ireland at the World Cup next year?