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

Suprised by that to be honest..

Obviously everyone's situation is different but I honestly thought at 27 going 28 Deegan would be better off moving to another province in order to get some decent game time.

I see where you are coming from but it seems like a fairly sizeable reach that they would go with that line of thinking especially with Jordie Barrett arriving at Christmas. The only way it truly makes sense to me is if Leinster really want to move Ryan Baird back and forth between Lock and Blindside flanker depending on how they are allowed use RG Snyman next year. They probably view Baird as a Molony replacement in certain instances even though he is starting at blindside flanker. Either that or Leo must have made a fairly concrete promise to give Deegan some important Champions cup and big game minutes next season if he maintains his level of form.

just listening to OTB and they are saying that Deegan is confirmed to Ulster, this is podcast from this morning

Oops

can we start the countdown to next seasons episode of everyone saying where Deegan should go for the good of his career?

Ulster would be an unbelievably hard sell at the moment. They are a mess.

I'm delighted that Deegan is staying. Honestly, Ulster don’t need him. Going up to Belfast might get Deegan better opportunities but, there's a strong group of back rows at Ulster. I thought France might have been an option.

I've a feeling Sam Prendergast is going to get a fairly hefty push next season to stake his claim long term for the 10 jersey. I can't imagine Leo or Nienaber are thrilled with the consistency at the position. They have given Harry and Ross a lot of chances and they can't seem to grab the jersey and make it their own. They love how versatile Frawley is so they probably aren't going to hand the jersey to him because how well he can play at centre and full back.

Prendergast has a lot of Sexton in his game but is more expressive in how he moves the ball around the pitch. He has all the tools to be an Ireland international in the next 18 months.

I don’t see why a pro would want to go north to be honest. They are crap with little signs of becoming less crap. Ridiculously hard sell to a player of quality.

Ross was always ideal as the back up fly half, He in so solid across the board but I really struggle to pick one thing he does at the highest level needed. I would have said his place kicking was a strength of his in the past but it seems to have dropped off quite a bit the past 12 months. I was at the game at the weekend and his head was completely gone when he missed that kick in front of the post from 30 metres out. It seems to be a confidence issue for Ross, he should have been able to run in that intercept but straight away was looking for help. Your fly half has to have irrational and supreme confidence that they are going to make every kick and every time the ball leaves their boot, something good is gonna happen and if it doesn't, try, try and try again.

Prendergast has these traits in abundance as well as a killer instinct to finish teams off. Harry does have upside but injuries might cause him to miss out on getting a consistent shot at the 10 shirt.

Deegan staying is good for Leinster. Clearly he's in a comfort zone being a URC guy and he's happy for it, but it's a bit of a waste.

He's happy.

He might have the self confidence to think he'll dethrone one of the current incumbents in blue or green.

He might be content with being a professional player with his favoured team for as long as possible.

Either way a Leinster contract appears to be what he wants and what he has got! Fair play to him, there are hundreds that fail to get that far.

I think you are onto something there. Leinster tried for Tom O'Toole, Finley Bealham and supposedly Jack Aungier before they all signed new deals. They clearly wanted to keep a NIQ available for a different position. Luke just isn't the same player he once was anymore. A fantastic servant to Leinster but his time of playing quality rugby seem to be coming to an end.