Leinster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread X: [****]

irishbucsfan

Suspectman123 wrote: »

He’s staying...from what I heard, not 100% but pretty reliable
Had offers but loves the set up apparently

His wife and baby are here right? Probably helps a lot

Burkie1203

Suspectman123 wrote: »

He’s staying...from what I heard, not 100% but pretty reliable
Had offers but loves the set up apparently

Hearing IRFU are keen on Jack McGrath to follow Jordi

salmocab

Burkie1203 wrote: »

Hearing IRFU are keen on Jack McGrath to follow Jordi

Down the drain?

Dubinusa

Wouldn't be a surprise. Ulster are turning things around and they will be a viable side in the near future.
His experience would be massive for EOS and the young props.
I think Ulster are turning the corner and with the mix of experience and youth, they will be a cracking side.

arsebiscuits1

Burkie1203 wrote: »

Hearing IRFU are keen on Jack McGrath to follow Jordi

I'd say they've been keen on that for years tbh...

But why now I wonder?

They've both been first and second choice for Ireland when fit for the last 5 and a half seasons all the while sharing duties at Leinster too.

The flip side of the coin is Healy is the wrong side of 30, McGrath is almost 30 and while they (especially McGrath) could go for another 4 seasons, you're left with the scenario where their backups would be aging with no meaningful senior game time.

Ed Byrne is 26 this year - and I think he has top European/ International standard potential

Pete Dooley is 25 this year - I think he is probably up to it in Europe/ tier 2 standard

Buer

I mentioned recently that I was somewhat suspicious about McGrath's contract status. A lot of things lining up for him to depart....contract status, age, decreased involvement with Ireland etc.

But McGrath leaving would be hard to stomach, more so than Jordi Murphy. McGrath has been involved with Ireland consistently including starting several tier one tests in 2018. He's a far higher profile player with 3 Lions test caps. If it came to pass, it would be, by a distance, the highest profile move between provinces of the professional era and something of a seminal moment in inter-provincial movement.

I don't see him being eager to make that move, though. Perhaps if it's pushed to him with the RWC in mind and his future along with a nice chunk of change. But if he was going to leave Leinster, I'd have thought a move to England would be the more likely destination for him and I've no doubt he would have some handsome offers on the table too.

jonok28

Dubinusa wrote: »

Wouldn't be a surprise. Ulster are turning things around and they will be a viable side in the near future.
His experience would be massive for EOS and the young props.
I think Ulster are turning the corner and with the mix of experience and youth, they will be a cracking side.

I'm a bit surprised, Eric O'Sullivan looks like a really good loose head who could actually push for an spot in the Ireland squad post World Cup, so shipping Jack up North to take his spot doesn't make alot of sense to me. Also why would Leinster leave themselves thin when its expected that Healy is to field offers from England and France after the World Cup?

awec

jonok28 wrote: »

I'm a bit surprised, Eric O'Sullivan looks like a really good loose head who could actually push for an spot in the Ireland squad post World Cup, so shipping Jack up North to take his spot doesn't make alot of sense to me. Also why would Leinster leave themselves thin when its expected that Healy is to field offers from England and France after the World Cup?

OSullivan is really young for a prop.

But this McGrath move? Can’t see it. Would be by far the most surprising move between provinces ever.

jonok28

awec wrote: »

OSullivan is really young for a prop.

But this McGrath move? Can’t see it. Would be by far the most surprising move between provinces ever.

He is very young but I think the exposure he has gotten for Ulster has really pushed his development forward and would be surprised if they did anything to stunt his growth. I think alot of younger players should be bled in for Ireland right after the world cup to prepare them for 2023 World Cup.

Buer

Even with McGrath there, EOS would get plenty of game time. He has benched for half of his Pro14 appearances this season. EOS wouldn't be the one to miss out on game time. He'd share with McGrath and get to work alongside him every day which would be to his benefit.

It would be the likes of Warwick that would miss out and be bumped down to squad filler.

Squidgy Black

jonok28 wrote: »

I'm a bit surprised, Eric O'Sullivan looks like a really good loose head who could actually push for an spot in the Ireland squad post World Cup, so shipping Jack up North to take his spot doesn't make alot of sense to me. Also why would Leinster leave themselves thin when its expected that Healy is to field offers from England and France after the World Cup?

A move like that would do absolute wonders for a young prop like Eric O'Sullivan, having a mentor with plenty of international and B&I Lions experience. Props share gametime due to the intensity of the position, so O'Sullivan would still be getting plenty of minutes.

awec

awec wrote: »

OSullivan is really young for a prop.

But this McGrath move? Can’t see it. Would be by far the most surprising move between provinces ever.

It would be disastrous on two fronts.

It would weaken Leinster's front row options substantially but worse again, you would have to stop complaining about the IRFU. Can you imagine!

awec

[Deleted User] wrote: »

It would be disastrous on two fronts.

It would weaken Leinster's front row options substantially but worse again, you would have to stop complaining about the IRFU. Can you imagine!

The IRFU haven’t done anything to overly upset me in quite a while.

Sangre

awec wrote: »

The IRFU haven’t done anything to overly upset me in quite a while.

And you find that very upsetting don't you?

stephen_n

awec wrote: »

The IRFU haven’t done anything to overly upset me in quite a while.

In quite a while translates as this season?

Burkie1203

stephen_n wrote: »

In quite a while translates as this season?

Today. Most specially the last 7 minutes.

jacothelad

Burkie1203 wrote: »

Today. Most specially the last 7 minutes.

IRFU don't move McGrath to Ulster....Outrage begins........:D

Eod100

Don't see how McGrath move would make a difference to this RWC cycle unless he moves straight away.

Former Former

Isn't it more likely that Healy will leave after RWC and McGrath will become first choice?

Wegians89

Healy is renovating his house in Dublin, don’t think he has any ideas on leaving Leinster. He probably flirt with offers from abroad to add a bit in to his pay slip But doubt he’d leave

arsebiscuits1

Wegians89 wrote: »

Healy is renovating his house in Dublin, don’t think he has any ideas on leaving Leinster. He probably flirt with offers from abroad to add a bit in to his pay slip But doubt he’d leave

The house will still be there after the 2 or 3 years he might spend abroad though

Shefwedfan

Wegians89 wrote: »

Healy is renovating his house in Dublin, don’t think he has any ideas on leaving Leinster. He probably flirt with offers from abroad to add a bit in to his pay slip But doubt he’d leave

Sign a big contract in France/England and he can sell the kip and buy himself a bigger/better version :P


When I first seen the SOB story I said no chance as who would look after the cows but look what happened


Healy could do 2 years away, rock back in after the Lions tour and potentially play in next WC for Ireland

jonok28

Shefwedfan wrote: »

Sign a big contract in France/England and he can sell the kip and buy himself a bigger/better version :P


When I first seen the SOB story I said no chance as who would look after the cows but look what happened


Healy could do 2 years away, rock back in after the Lions tour and potentially play in next WC for Ireland

I've heard on two separate occasions that Healy wants a pay bump and wants a three year contract and Leinster and the IRFU aren't willing to give him either, they are meant to be offering 2 years. I think he has atleast 3 more top level years infront of him.

Buer

He's 32 at the end of his contract. I'm sure he wants a pay bump but I'm also sure he knows full well his salary is only going in one direction with the IRFU at that age. If he even wants to maintain his current salary level, he'll need to leave Ireland.

Also not a hope of him getting a 3 year deal either given his age and injury record in recent years, I would imagine.

jonok28

Buer wrote: »

He's 32 at the end of his contract. I'm sure he wants a pay bump but I'm also sure he knows full well his salary is only going in one direction with the IRFU at that age. If he even wants to maintain his current salary level, he'll need to leave Ireland.

Also not a hope of him getting a 3 year deal either given his age and injury record in recent years, I would imagine.

I think that's why Healy is going to move on, he could get that 3 years and pay bump in France or England. I think Rob Kearney and maybe even Sean Cronin go the same path.

Yeah_Right

Healy should move to Munster. After all doesn't he have a knife business? Make a lot of extra money through that in Limerick.

salmocab

Jesus lads ye are talking half the squad out the door.

Richie_Rich89

Team to face Zebre?

1. Jack McGrath
2. James Tracy
3. Michael Bent
4. Ross Molony
5. Scott Fardy
6. Oisín Dowling
7. Rhys Ruddock
8. Max Deegan
9. Jamison Gibson-Park
10. Ross Byrne
11. Rory O'Loughlin
12. Conor O'Brien
13. Jimmy O'Brien
14. Barry Daly
15. Ciarán Frawley

16. Bryan Byrne
17. Ed Byrne
18. Vakhtang Abdaladze
19. Mick Kearney
20. Caelan Doris
21. Hugh O'Sullivan
22. Noel Reid
23. Dave Kearney

salmocab

Richie_Rich89 wrote: »

Team to face Zebre?

1. Jack McGrath
2. James Tracy
3. Michael Bent
4. Ross Molony
5. Scott Fardy
6. Oisín Dowling
7. Rhys Ruddock
8. Max Deegan
9. Jamison Gibson-Park
10. Ross Byrne
11. Rory O'Loughlin
12. Conor O'Brien
13. Jimmy O'Brien
14. Barry Daly
15. Ciarán Frawley

16. Bryan Byrne
17. Ed Byrne
18. Vakhtang Abdaladze
19. Mick Kearney
20. Caelan Doris
21. Hugh O'Sullivan
22. Noel Reid
23. Dave Kearney

I’ve a feeling JGP will be held back, he’s currently possibly the most important player we need to not get injured.

sydthebeat

salmocab wrote: »

I’ve a feeling JGP will be held back, he’s currently possibly the most important player we need to not get injured.

we're hardly going to go away to italy with 2 academy scrum halves.....

we have JPG for precisely these situations... LMG could be back in 3 weeks