Leinster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread XII (The Byrne Supremacy)

He's had a good run over the past 3 seasons, he's well over the injury problems imo. And has been playing the best rugby of his career.

Ah yeah, Dave Kearney will be around for this season and next season for sure. He's been banging in the tries when available, which he was very often last season. He played 1,458 minutes, including 19 starts and 10 tries. Maybe you're thinking of the previous season where he was only available for 13 games (885 minutes), but he still bagged 12 tries in that period.

Every year this gets said for one reason or another, we’ve too many in x position y&z will look to move or he’s stuck behind such and such and needs to move to have a chance for Ireland & it really rarely happens.

But lads, some players are not in the discussion for international rugby. Why not take on a new challenge?

Maybe, but there is always the prospect of a larger paycheck!

There always has been nothing has changed.

I see we're back to wanting players to leave Ireland rather than play for another province again.

I'm not saying they're better off abroad. Just that the earnings would probably be better. It wouldn't surprise me to see a couple take a paycheck. What would Deegans value be at the moment? He's got a tremendous way to go, just to catch up to Conan and Doris! The other provinces are stacked quite well with 8's. Perhaps he can go to another province and win the 8 shirt. What about R.O.L? He's got Osborne coming up in his rear view. Connacht would not be an option. They are solid at center. Ulster too! He might be tempted to go to Munster. But I think he's 4th choice center by years end. I am just guessing obviously! Speculation!

I think Irish rugby might have to look at how we treat players who move overseas. Beirne left because he was either going or wasn't going to be a pro. He then got left out (unfairly in my opinion) till he arrived back. Based on the format of no games during international windows it is natural to think squads won't have to be quite as large. You're only talking 4/5 players less but if they move to get gametime I don't think they should continue to be left out of an irish conversation if performance merits selection.

I personally don't think the floodgates will open if someone playing overseas gets selected. They will know their performance needs to be significantly better than someone based here for that to happen. Money and conditions are good with the provinces. Irish lads seem to want to play for their home province. But if it a case of 3/4 games with leinster in a season or 15/20 in England I know which will improve a player long term development.

How much money is there in Wales, Scotland, Italy and SA? I would be in favour of Irish players playing for any URC side being considered for selection. Because there isn't a danger the first-choice players will be poached, but the conditions could be right for unearthing another few Tadhg Beirnes.

And England or France-based players being considered come World Cup time (although I can't see that one happening with making money in the 6N being the IRFU's primary objective).

I think the above would strike the right balance between having a large pool of players to draw on and incentivising top players to stay in Ireland.

Do we need a few more O'Briens?

Maybe it would be unfair if you didn't take into account that Connacht generally do better against the other provinces than they do against non-Irish teams.