Leinster Team Talk Thread (Love you Furlong time)

Aungier would be one I'm sure Leinster would be more than happy to welcome back. I think he is an incredibly solid TH and Leinster could do a lot worse. Despite Clarksons improved performances and development of late I think Aungier would have a higher ceiling.

Having said that. Aungier would be going to not be a starter at one club to not being a starter at another. Would it actually be better for him? Yes one could point to the coaching etc but he's forged a pretty good path for himself so far.

I could understand Connacht wanting Byrne but I don't see Deeny being as attractive a prospect for them with the Murray brothers, Dowling, Josh Murphy and even Thornbury (when fit) all being better prospects than him

Unhinged.

Too early to tell. His injury profile has been poor (bit of a theme down south), but I quite liked what i saw of him last season. Powerful, quite dynamic in the loose.

But regardless of his subsequent performances, had Salanoa not told Leinster he was committed to them, they would have been less likely to give Aungier the ok to move west.

Both.

I doubt that Leinster have a chance at getting Salanoa back. The succession plan for Munster seems fairly clear next year with Loughman and Wycherley on the loosehead side and Jager and Salanoa on the Tighthead side with Dave Kilcoyne, John Ryan and Stephen Archer all ready to call it a day. They also have Ronan Foxe and Darragh McSweeney coming through at TH also.

Ideally Leinster would try and get Salanoa off Munster, or Jack Aungier off Connacht or Marty Moore off Ulster but realistically, There would be uproar if any of these former Leinster academy players went back to Leinster. The only way this would happen is if they actively made it clear that they don't plan to re-sign with the province they are with and Leinster go after them.

Realistically, Leinster will have to use a NIQ designation to replace Ala'alatoa.

Leo was annoyed that the succession plan for the tighthead position was completely dismantled in the space of 12 months. Losing Salanoa, Aungier and Ilo. Salanoa seemingly pushed back at going to Munster at the time (Alan Quinlan has refuted this).

Three quality young prospects left to get game time and Leinster out of necessity were forced to go out and get Michael Ala'alatoa to fill in the spot vacated by Andrew Porter moving to loosehead.

At the time of the players leaving to go to the other provinces, there was a very defined 1st and 2nd choice at tighthead with Furlong and Porter so it is understandable why the sought opportunities elsewhere.

Salanoa should stay at Munster, he is clearly the second choice behind Jager long term. Ilo has only recently signed an extension with Connacht so he isn't going anywhere.

Jack Aungier and Marty Moore are the only two replacements capable of stepping into Ala'alatoa's shoes for Leinster due to their contracts expiring at the end of the season. In the eyes of the other provinces, it is a damned if you do, damned if you don't. If Leinster sign one of Aungier or Moore, Leinster get stronger and the other province get weaker. If Leinster go the NIQ route, they could potentially land a Vincent Koch or Trevor Nyakane and get even stronger.

Regardless, Leinster will sign a tighthead prop and more than likely, they are going to be a borderline starter for their country because of Furlong's injury history.

Nyakane looked good during the world cup when he played. He left Racing as his contract had ended and they probably wanted to go younger.

Leinster don't need him to be a multiple year starter, they just need someone who will bridge the gap next season.

Yeah I don't think it will be Moore, I was just using him and Aungier as examples of Irish tighthead props who are out of contract at the end of the season.

If I had to guess, they aren't going to move Porter back until Jack Boyle is to international standard which could take around 18 months or so.

That's why it makes a world of sense for them to go out and get someone like Trevor Nyakane for next season to allow Boyle to get his experience.

They have Boyle, Milne and Paddy McCarthy waiting in the wings. Maybe they might have to get a loosehead for a season or two if Porter did move back. Either way a LH prop will need to be brought in to replace porter going back to TH or a TH to replace Ala'alatoa.

His fathers passing is bound to rock his world to his core. I think he is doing the right thing taking the time out to grieve and come to terms with the loss.