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

You're dead on with regards to the Lancaster/Cullen dynamic. Both have worked extremely well together and parked their ego for the betterment of the province. It's highly unlikely that it'll work a second time.

Lancaster wanted a job where he could be far more hands on as a coach and leave some of the more administrative tasks to another. He got that at Leinster even if it meant a 'demotion' on paper.

I'm not sure Cullen will be at Leinster long term either. He has been signing one year extensions since 2020 I think. Maybe he'll help onboard the new head coach and step aside the following year? I hope that's not the case, but it's a possibility.

Saw a suggestion that IRFU performance director might be his next role.

With Stu leaving, it's important to note the vast improvements the squad has made during his time. I can remember the high flying days of O'Connor and Leo's 1st campaign. The fluidity and the improvements across the board are immeasurable. Bear in mind, a lot of Stu's young bucks tog out for Ireland. The man has really left a mark in Leinster. I'm sorry to see him leave.

I'm guessing McElroy has a decent chance of a renewal unless someone better becomes available cheaply.

That could end up as a disaster. If one of Kelleher or Sheehan suffer a long term injury, we're fcuked. I do feel that McKee will get a development contract for next season. Eventually, he's going to have to get minutes.

Losing Treacy prematurely has a knock on effect. McKee could have been eased into the squad. Now, he's certainly going to get a boatload of game time next season.

Right! Didn't think of that. As 3rd choice though, he's probably looking at less money?

I wouldn't be surprised if he went to Bath. I think he'd be a good signing.

I really hope he gets an executive role like DOR rather than the coach job with Ireland if he moves to the IRFU. That seems to be where his real strengths lie. Leinster were not really going in any direction until Lancaster came on board which may have been a hangover from MOC's tenure. Lancaster has been coaching rugby for decades while Leo had less than 2 years of experience when he became head coach, it seemed an insane appointment at the time but it worked out fairly well with Lancaster coming in. Really hard to say whether Leo would be a top flight international coach for Ireland.

Any word on the clubs gear manufacturer for next season? Is the Adidas contract up? seems like everything been whipped out of the lifestyle stores

Think it's very easy to write off Leo's achievements by saying it was all Lancaster, but the truth is that none of us really know. He not only inheirited a sh1t show but it was his first time as head coach and he did a really good job of righting the ship. Think it's harsh to say we "were not really going in any direction" when we finished top of the league in his first season and second (by a point) in his second.

But either way a) I guess we'll get a partial answer next season when Stu is gone, and b) you can be sure that Nucifora has a really good idea of where their respective strengths like.

I'm not sure how much they care about it. It's the same issue year after year, and they don't change, so that reads to me that they are happy with it as it stands.

Leo did turn things over and handed opportunities to lots of young players. Leo has done very well! Together with Stu, they have created an Irish side that is feared and really cohesive. The standards have been insane! Both men have their strengths and have attained so much over the last few years. It's a pleasure to have watched the team perform and develop. Stu will be missed and so will Leo when he inevitably moves on.