Transfer Rumours?

[Jackass]

castie wrote: »

Cusack looks handy enough.

And I can see felix jones getting the fullback position and Warwick to move to 10.

Why do so many Munster fans see Felix Jones as the Messiah??

Don't forgtet, that this is a guy who's played 95% of his entire career rugby in the Leinster reserves, and lost out on a squad place to the better and younger likes of Conway & Kearney jr.

At the time I was very disapointed to see him leave...as I felt he was a good player just not getting an oppertunity, kind of like Fionn Carr...

But at the end of the day, he's an academy reject, and for all his flare and pace, I seriously doubt, with Leinsters academy track record, that they would let any player of the quality being touted by Munster fans (as first choice 15) be let go without so much as a fight.

He's a good player, and I do think he'll cement the Munster 15 jersey and do well, but I don't think he'll ever be a top class player. It just goes to show the hype (and the headence paid to it) by Munster public in general and the amount it's listended to by the rugby public in general, about young backs coming through at Munster...If Felix Jones was from Limerick he'd have 15 caps for Ireland and a Lions tour under his belt by now.

But that's never going to make him a top class player.

I'll stand open to correction, but from seeing him, I think Munster have got a good silky skilled trickster with no real future in internatoinal rugby. I'd take Kearney Snr or Conway at full back any day of the week. Would take Nacewa ahead of him too (even though not academy).

I think RO'G may be dropped this season though, which will facilitate Jones.

Keatley could be second choice for the world cup if he went to Ulster. Still prefer to see him come home though.

Carr would do well to make a move to Ulster or Munster too. He'd get into both teams and it doesn't seem like he's going to get international regcognition from out west, which is appauling really, as it makes joining Connacht a death sentence for international prospects, which really defeats the purpose of sending young players there...

redroar1942

Nothing like a glass of lemon juice to start the day

CouchSmart

[Jackass] wrote: »

Why do so many Munster fans see Felix Jones as the Messiah??

Don't forgtet, that this is a guy who's played 95% of his entire career rugby in the Leinster reserves, and lost out on a squad place to the better and younger likes of Conway & Kearney jr.

At the time I was very disapointed to see him leave...as I felt he was a good player just not getting an oppertunity, kind of like Fionn Carr...

But at the end of the day, he's an academy reject, and for all his flare and pace, I seriously doubt, with Leinsters academy track record, that they would let any player of the quality being touted by Munster fans (as first choice 15) be let go without so much as a fight.

He's a good player, and I do think he'll cement the Munster 15 jersey and do well, but I don't think he'll ever be a top class player. It just goes to show the hype (and the headence paid to it) by Munster public in general and the amount it's listended to by the rugby public in general, about young backs coming through at Munster...If Felix Jones was from Limerick he'd have 15 caps for Ireland and a Lions tour under his belt by now.

But that's never going to make him a top class player.

I'll stand open to correction, but from seeing him, I think Munster have got a good silky skilled trickster with no real future in internatoinal rugby. I'd take Kearney Snr or Conway at full back any day of the week. Would take Nacewa ahead of him too (even though not academy).

I think RO'G may be dropped this season though, which will facilitate Jones.

Keatley could be second choice for the world cup if he went to Ulster. Still prefer to see him come home though.

Carr would do well to make a move to Ulster or Munster too. He'd get into both teams and it doesn't seem like he's going to get international regcognition from out west, which is appauling really, as it makes joining Connacht a death sentence for international prospects, which really defeats the purpose of sending young players there...

But do you not remember him in the Churchill Cup! Who cares if it was a year ago..... He is Superman

In all seriousness though there's nothing wrong with being surplus to requirments at the Leinster Academy, which he wasn't, Cheika went mad when he heard about him leaving but there's only so many contracts Leinster can afford to give out.

wixfjord

[Jackass] wrote: »

Why do so many Munster fans see Felix Jones as the Messiah??

Don't forgtet, that this is a guy who's played 95% of his entire career rugby in the Leinster reserves, and lost out on a squad place to the better and younger likes of Conway & Kearney jr.

At the time I was very disapointed to see him leave...as I felt he was a good player just not getting an oppertunity, kind of like Fionn Carr...

But at the end of the day, he's an academy reject, and for all his flare and pace, I seriously doubt, with Leinsters academy track record, that they would let any player of the quality being touted by Munster fans (as first choice 15) be let go without so much as a fight.

He's a good player, and I do think he'll cement the Munster 15 jersey and do well, but I don't think he'll ever be a top class player. It just goes to show the hype (and the headence paid to it) by Munster public in general and the amount it's listended to by the rugby public in general, about young backs coming through at Munster...If Felix Jones was from Limerick he'd have 15 caps for Ireland and a Lions tour under his belt by now.

But that's never going to make him a top class player.

I'll stand open to correction, but from seeing him, I think Munster have got a good silky skilled trickster with no real future in internatoinal rugby. I'd take Kearney Snr or Conway at full back any day of the week. Would take Nacewa ahead of him too (even though not academy).

I think RO'G may be dropped this season though, which will facilitate Jones.

Keatley could be second choice for the world cup if he went to Ulster. Still prefer to see him come home though.

Carr would do well to make a move to Ulster or Munster too. He'd get into both teams and it doesn't seem like he's going to get international regcognition from out west, which is appauling really, as it makes joining Connacht a death sentence for international prospects, which really defeats the purpose of sending young players there...

Bit OTT there Jackass. What about the hype surrounding Conway, who lets remember has only played a handful of games for Leinster, is very small for senior rugby, and hasnt shone dramatically from what Ive seen of him in the U 20s (all of the 6N and a few WC games). As for Dave Kearney, I dont think he will make it at all. As for Nacewa ahead of him, whats that got to do with anything?!

bamboozle

bit unfair to Felix there, half the reason he left Leinster was because of the treatment he was receiving from mgt, going on his Churchill cup form and a few AIL appearances i saw him in last season he's a flyer (who needs to bulk up) but i can see him having a good professional career with a lot more opportunity at Munster than he would have received at Leinster.

danthefan

wixfjord wrote: »

Bit OTT there Jackass. What about the hype surrounding Conway, who lets remember has only played a handful of games for Leinster, is very small for senior rugby, and hasnt shone dramatically from what Ive seen of him in the U 20s (all of the 6N and a few WC games). As for Dave Kearney, I dont think he will make it at all. As for Nacewa ahead of him, whats that got to do with anything?!

Agree on Dave Kearney.

And it's tough enough to compare Jones and Conway imo as Jones is a good 3 years older, which is a long long time in the career of a young player in terms of development.

Jones looks like a good player alright, but he has yet to do anything on any real stage and he's been out of the game for nearly a year. Hopefully he comes back strongly.

TheTMO

wixfjord wrote: »

Bit OTT there Jackass. What about the hype surrounding Conway, who lets remember has only played a handful of games for Leinster, is very small for senior rugby, and hasnt shone dramatically from what Ive seen of him in the U 20s (all of the 6N and a few WC games). As for Dave Kearney, I dont think he will make it at all. As for Nacewa ahead of him, whats that got to do with anything?!

He was the top try scorer this season for the U20s.

TheTMO

I do agree with Jackass though. I don't care if I get slated for this but its the truth. For whatever reason Munster fans seem to completely overhype ANY backline youngster with a bit of potential that they produce as the new messiah. I really dont know why this is but at a quess its a desperation to produce their own O'Driscoll. Before anyone starts, I'm sure Leinster fans are desperate to produce their own Keith Wood as well

wixfjord

TheTMO wrote: »

He was the top try scorer this season for the U20s.

Albeit with three in a nothing game, but that doesnt mean he stood out. Do you think he was head and shoulders above the rest of the U 20s? Which he should be if the hype around him is anything to go by. I think Jackass contradicts himself a bit when he goes on about the hype around Jones. Conway has been hailed as the Lord Jesus re incarnate by some, on the back of a run and tackle in the ML. Remember the difference between u20 and Magners even is huge.

Risteard

[Jackass] wrote: »

Why do so many Munster fans see Felix Jones as the Messiah??

Who has said that Felix Jones is the Messiah?

From what I've seen he's a good fullback and a more natural one than Warwick. He scored some great tries particularly against Leicester in the pre-season friendly last year and has real attaking flair. It's not totally unbelieveable that he'll be our starting fullback.

As for Munster supporters over hyping players, if some do it's not exclusive. Over my time here I've seen suggestions that Macken will be the next Ireland 13 without him even playing professional rugby and Conway will be on the wing for Ireland at the WC.

Now I'm not saying they won't make the step up, but overhyping isn't a brush that paints only Munster fans.

wixfjord

TheTMO wrote: »

I do agree with Jackass though. I don't care if I get slated for this but its the truth. For whatever reason Munster fans seem to completely overhype ANY backline youngster with a bit of potential that they produce as the new messiah. I really dont know why this is but at a quess its a desperation to produce their own O'Driscoll. Before anyone starts, I'm sure Leinster fans are desperate to produce their own Keith Wood as well

That's just wrong, and blatant bias. Sure there's hype, but no more so than Leinster with the backrow or Conway, or even Mcfadden and O Malley. Lose the chip mate were the better team now no need to resort to this!

profitius

[Jackass] wrote: »

Why do so many Munster fans see Felix Jones as the Messiah??

Don't forgtet, that this is a guy who's played 95% of his entire career rugby in the Leinster reserves, and lost out on a squad place to the better and younger likes of Conway & Kearney jr.

At the time I was very disapointed to see him leave...as I felt he was a good player just not getting an oppertunity, kind of like Fionn Carr...

But at the end of the day, he's an academy reject, and for all his flare and pace, I seriously doubt, with Leinsters academy track record, that they would let any player of the quality being touted by Munster fans (as first choice 15) be let go without so much as a fight.

The point you miss is players take different length of times to develop. Theres no way of knowing 100% how a young player will develop.

FJ rejected Leinster and not the other way around.

I personally would like to see more of him. He's a good runner and decent catcher so I'd like to see what his kicking and skills are like. He COULD turn out to be a very good player.

profitius

profitius wrote: »

The point you miss is players take different length of times to develop. Theres no way of knowing 100% how a young player will develop.

FJ rejected Leinster and not the other way around.

I personally would like to see more of him. He's a good runner and decent catcher so I'd like to see what his kicking and skills are like. He COULD turn out to be a very good player.

He didnt reject leinster.He didnt get his game because he wasnt deemed good enough and then when he saw his buddies getting pro contracts and he didnt he looked elsewhere.

I have seen him play from schools to club,he is not that good and theres a reason why fitz and.conway got full contracts straight out of school to warrant hype.

profitius

Like I said, I'll have to see more of him to make a judgment. At least he looks a confident player.

I notice a few posts back that people are saying Munster fans hype up their backs. I don't think thats the case. The only schools backs hyped up were Earls and Dairmuid McCarthy. Earls is a Lion and McCarthy would also be playing for Munsters first team now if he had choosen a rugby career.

TheTMO

profitius wrote: »

Like I said, I'll have to see more of him to make a judgment. At least he looks a confident player.

I notice a few posts back that people are saying Munster fans hype up their backs. I don't think thats the case. The only schools backs hyped up were Earls and Dairmuid McCarthy. Earls is a Lion and McCarthy would also be playing for Munsters first team now if he had choosen a rugby career.

Wrong there. Simon Zebo is distinctively average and is talked up a hell of a lot. Burke was the most average outhalf even at AIL level and was talked up as the replacement for O'Gara. Felix Jones is talked as going to be world class. Earls was apparently going to be the greatest player ever. McCarthy after an SCT game was going to be better than O'Driscoll and is average in the AIL currently so doubt hed be starting for munster

wixfjord

TheTMO wrote: »

Wrong there. Simon Zebo is distinctively average and is talked up a hell of a lot. Burke was the most average outhalf even at AIL level and was talked up as the replacement for O'Gara. Felix Jones is talked as going to be world class. Earls was apparently going to be the greatest player ever. McCarthy after an SCT game was going to be better than O'Driscoll and is average in the AIL currently so doubt hed be starting for munster

What about Brendan Macken and Paul O Donoghue? Both hailed as potential Ireland players. Eoin O Malley was going to be better than O Driscoll. Conway has had probably two games at ML level as Ive said and people are calling for him to be in the Summer Int squad and the WC squad! Whats the difference between this and Jones?!

As for Earls your bias is well known here, his scoring record for Ireland is better than Fitz's iirc, hes cemented his Munster place and is probably currently starting for Ireland, in a team of our best backs ever.

As I said hype is part and parcel of every province, tarring Munster with this brush only is bull****, and just provincial bias at its most hilarious tbh!

Only time will tell whether this hype will be warranted. However, Ill speculate that it wont be for Macken, O Donoghue and especially Zebo.

Teej

how to induce a heart attack in neurotic paranoid leinster fan:
hit last page on transfer thread & seeing the names Kearney, Kearney, Conway & Nacewa repeatedly:D

Just to reassure- we aint letting any of them go -right?

TheTMO

wixfjord wrote: »

What about Brendan Macken and Paul O Donoghue? Both hailed as potential Ireland players. Eoin O Malley was going to be better than O Driscoll. Conway has had probably two games at ML level as Ive said and people are calling for him to be in the Summer Int squad and the WC squad! Whats the difference between this and Jones?!

As for Earls your bias is well known here, his scoring record for Ireland is better than Fitz's iirc, hes cemented his Munster place and is probably currently starting for Ireland, in a team of our best backs ever.

As I said hype is part and parcel of every province, tarring Munster with this brush only is bull****, and just provincial bias at its most hilarious tbh!

Only time will tell whether this hype will be warranted. However, Ill speculate that it wont be for Macken, O Donoghue and especially Zebo.

Macken still is probably good enough to one day be future 13 for Ireland but unfortunately it seems his temperment and ego has become a problem. This wasnt apparent when people touted him though. Paul O'Donaghue isnt hyped at all dont know where you got that from! people say he may one day be Leinster's number one and many want him second choice but thats as far as it goes. O'Malley was never said to be as good as O'Driscoll many were actually surprised when he got pro contract and even more were wondering who he even was when he got his first game for Leinster! Conway will without doubt be a future international and Lion, and yes, you can mark my words on that. I've been watching youth players for most of my life and I can spot that. So can Leinster obviously hence him getting a pro contract straight out of school.
Your opinion on Fitzgerald is simplistic to say the least and not merited considering he plays a different game to Earls and played a lot of his games for Ireland at 12 not wing. Of Earls' tries for Ireland only one wasnt a simple run in. No disrespect but Fitzgerald is the better player and I have no doubt if he comes back from injury will get his place back ahead of him, once again, you can mark my words there. Earls has only cemented his place due to Fitzgerald's injury by the way lets not forget that.

wixfjord

TheTMO wrote: »

Macken still is probably good enough to one day be future 13 for Ireland but unfortunately it seems his temperment and ego has become a problem. This wasnt apparent when people touted him though. Paul O'Donaghue isnt hyped at all dont know where you got that from! people say he may one day be Leinster's number one and many want him second choice but thats as far as it goes. O'Malley was never said to be as good as O'Driscoll many were actually surprised when he got pro contract and even more were wondering who he even was when he got his first game for Leinster! Conway will without doubt be a future international and Lion, and yes, you can mark my words on that. I've been watching youth players for most of my life and I can spot that. So can Leinster obviously hence him getting a pro contract straight out of school.
Your opinion on Fitzgerald is simplistic to say the least and not merited considering he plays a different game to Earls and played a lot of his games for Ireland at 12 not wing. Of Earls' tries for Ireland only one wasnt a simple run in. No disrespect but Fitzgerald is the better player and I have no doubt if he comes back from injury will get his place back ahead of him, once again, you can mark my words there. Earls has only cemented his place due to Fitzgerald's injury by the way lets not forget that.

Haha that old Fitz Earls chestnut again! Ive seen you make that argument on numerous occasions and I still dont agree, but lets leave that there.

On Leinsterfans POD is very very highly rated, for little reason tbh. O Malley was indeed touted as the next big thing when he was U 20S. Dave Kearney is another one who is hyped a lot on LF but from what Ive seen of him isnt a patch on his bro (yes I know a diff position).

All Im saying is that what you and Jackass are saying about Munster hyping players more than anyone else is not correct at all. We in Leinster do it a lot too. Its natural.

Also Im not saying Conway wont be Irelands best some day, but until he is its still hype isnt it? Considering how little senior rugby hes played.

wixfjord

Teej wrote: »

how to induce a heart attack in neurotic paranoid leinster fan:
hit last page on transfer thread & seeing the names Kearney, Kearney, Conway & Nacewa repeatedly:D

Just to reassure- we aint letting any of them go -right?

Nope all contracted afaik. Think Nacewa signed a new three year deal. One of the best backs in Ireland imo.

Teej

wixfjord wrote: »

Nope all contracted afaik. Think Nacewa signed a new three year deal. One of the best backs in Ireland imo.

Thanks (sorry eyesight failing can't see proper thanks button)- panic subsided when I went back few pages just initial freakout!

re Nacewa agree-great signing & why I advocate strategic contracting of a few non-6Nation-country players

profitius

TheTMO wrote: »

Wrong there. Simon Zebo is distinctively average and is talked up a hell of a lot. Burke was the most average outhalf even at AIL level and was talked up as the replacement for O'Gara. Felix Jones is talked as going to be world class. Earls was apparently going to be the greatest player ever. McCarthy after an SCT game was going to be better than O'Driscoll and is average in the AIL currently so doubt hed be starting for munster

Nobody was really hyping Burke up. He was being talked about alright as maybe a successor to ROG.

McCarthy might be average but his problem is he couldn't be bothered trying. If he tried he would have been a serious talent.

I do agree about Zebo though. From what I've seen he's really being over hyped by some people.

I think a problem with young Irish players is the skill level. They get found out at the highest level.

Amazotheamazing

Tbf, I did hype Burke up, I still think he's a real natural talent in a body that can't handle professional rugby. Just seemed to be one of those guys who can make things happen.

I don't think it's very fair to include Jones in the list of hyped players, his injury is the sort that a player might never really recover from, but he was very good for Ireland A last summer and was ok in his games for Munster A and Munster.

danthefan

wixfjord wrote: »

Haha that old Fitz Earls chestnut again! Ive seen you make that argument on numerous occasions and I still dont agree, but lets leave that there.

On Leinsterfans POD is very very highly rated, for little reason tbh. O Malley was indeed touted as the next big thing when he was U 20S. Dave Kearney is another one who is hyped a lot on LF but from what Ive seen of him isnt a patch on his bro (yes I know a diff position).

All Im saying is that what you and Jackass are saying about Munster hyping players more than anyone else is not correct at all. We in Leinster do it a lot too. Its natural.

Also Im not saying Conway wont be Irelands best some day, but until he is its still hype isnt it? Considering how little senior rugby hes played.

You're completely making this POD and Dave Kearney hype up, it just isn't there.

wixfjord

danthefan wrote: »

You're completely making this POD and Dave Kearney hype up, it just isn't there.

I am absolutely not dan, and you well know it being a LF contributor. But even leaving this aside, what about Macken and Conway, and O Malley? Solely a Munster affliction? I think not!

Amazotheamazing

wixfjord wrote: »

I am absolutely not dan, and you well know it being a LF contributor. But even leaving this aside, what about Macken and Conway, and O Malley? Solely a Munster affliction? I think not!

You have to remember each province has hardcore fans who post on the individual sites, they might hype a lot of players but they aren't typical of all fans of either team.

I'd say half to three quarters of the people in Thomond Park or the RDS on any given matchday wouldn't really know all that much about either Zebo or Macken or be hyping them. You can't take the opinions of guys on fansites as the prevailing opinion of all fans, imo. If the irish u20's games weren't televised a fair few of us here (myself included) would never have seen either Macken or Zebo play at any decent level.

Now, both Macken or Zebo could make it, but most fans of either team wouldn't know who they are atm, imo.

porterbelly

Eoghan Grace has left Munster to join Exeter Chiefs for a year to get 1st team rugby. Pity he's had to go across the pond, he could have done a decent job at Connacht. The IRFU are probably happier to see him go to Exeter rather than have to pay his wages if he was at Connacht. It would be typical of their harsh attitude towards Connacht, seeing as they have a thread bare squad and can't really attract any decent players because of the shoestring budget provided by the IRFU and the limitation of only being able to offer 1 year contracts.

danthefan

wixfjord wrote: »

I am absolutely not dan, and you well know it being a LF contributor. But even leaving this aside, what about Macken and Conway, and O Malley? Solely a Munster affliction? I think not!

As a regular lf.com contributor I am honestly not aware of any such hype around either player, definitely nothing similar to Jones.

bamboozle

porterbelly wrote: »

Eoghan Grace has left Munster to join Exeter Chiefs for a year to get 1st team rugby. Pity he's had to go across the pond, he could have done a decent job at Connacht. The IRFU are probably happier to see him go to Exeter rather than have to pay his wages if he was at Connacht. It would be typical of their harsh attitude towards Connacht, seeing as they have a thread bare squad and can't really attract any decent players because of the shoestring budget provided by the IRFU and the limitation of only being able to offer 1 year contracts.

Connacht have Jonny O'C and that islander openside who is class so prob dont need another 7, grace is a good player.

outwest

grace wouldnt get on conancht team ahead of joc or ofisa, but he exeter could be a very good move, good luck to him,

porterbelly

Ray Ofisa had big problems with vertigo last season which meant we were left with one fit openside for the tail end of the season. Concrete only came good towards the end of the season, his form had been patchy up to then. Connacht's big problem is the lack of depth to the squad. When a frontline player gets injured the options are limited. By signing players like Grace who appeared to be surplus to requirements at Munster for the forseeable, it would add depth for to the squad and enable us to rotate the squad a bit during the year so everyone is fit and hungry at the business end of the season. Grace would have been an ideal signing for Connacht because he has a point to prove

Tom10

Spent the afternoon reading this entire thread, it has to have the fewest transfer rumours of any transfer rumour thread ever. Its just the same munster/leinster crap as always. So annoying that all these threads break down into "I think Munster player A is better than Leinster player B" - shame really

Ciaran-Irl

Tom10 wrote: »

Spent the afternoon reading this entire thread, it has to have the fewest transfer rumours of any transfer rumour thread ever. Its just the same munster/leinster crap as always. So annoying that all these threads break down into "I think Munster player A is better than Leinster player B" - shame really

And have you any to add?

razorblunt

Tom10 wrote: »

Spent the afternoon reading this entire thread, it has to have the fewest transfer rumours of any transfer rumour thread ever. Its just the same munster/leinster crap as always. So annoying that all these threads break down into "I think Munster player A is better than Leinster player B" - shame really

+1 well said.

thomond2006

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/welsh/8883707.stm

Nathan Brew joins his brother at the Dragons.

Anyone know the date when ML squads have to be confirmed?