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

Starting for Connacht is not as appealing as fighting to start for leinster. Starting for leinster gives the realistic opportunity to get to knock-out stages and win competitions.

Not to mention that being at leinster increases his chances of making Ireland squads.

Connacht will make their case to keep him, that's their right. But I'd be surprised if his loan goes well and he takes the option to stay at Connacht.

If I had to bet I'd be happy to bet on him returning to leinster

If he wants to win trophies he will return, no harm to Connacht and they are doing an excellent job with stadium etc. But the chances of winning trophies are the worst of all the provinces.

The pecking-order of 10s at Leinster isn't an immutable law of the universe, so Leinster could always just decide to play him more.

Christ the negativity!

So what if Connacht gets credit fir developing him? Like, who gives a shiny shyte if he comes back a better player and people give Connacht credit? What a terrible outlook.

If he's not ready physically, I presume they'll manage his gametime and training load.

Don't you worry about players' confidence. Let them worry about that. It's such an overblown load of guff the media use to tell the story. Is being 4th choice, playing in scratch teams in SA, getting hammered, great for confidence?

Has it even occurred to you that it might go well? He might go to Connacht, get more gametime, more responsibility, experience with different coaches and colleagues, make some mistakes, have some decent performance and develop both physicality and skills?

Yes indeed, great servant to the province. Unlucky Ireland was stacked at 6 and 8 over his career. Old fashioned, reliable engine and tough as old boots.

Do you think that there is any real-world impact created by that noise?

I doubt they'll care about who the public think is responsible for developing him. If Connacht play him and he develops, then they'll be entitled to some credit.

We know leinster has a development plan at 10 to play the 3 back up options inconsistently, and Prendergast is back of the queue.

The options are to give Prendergast the fewest minutes of the 4, with least responsibility, in teams with fewest of the front line players. That's one approach and it has its pros and cons. Great chance we'll be here in 12 month wondering if Leinster will finally give him a proper run in 2026 to see if he's any good because we won't know due to him playing in second string Leinster sides.

The other option is to let him have more minutes, more responsibility and with the Connacht first team.

I think it's a good option to give him the opportunity to prove himself and develop.

Fair enough, no way of ever knowing for sure but I'd be very disappointed if that was the case.

I think there's absolutely zero chance of Prendergast staying with Connacht for longer than one season. He's from Leinster, I'm sure he's grown up wanting to play for Leinster. While lots of players make the move, it's almost always after it's become clear that a career in Leinster is not viable. I think there's a tier of elite level players/prospects (Porter, Ryan, Doris etc.), which I believe Prendergast is very much a part of, who would never even consider moving to Galway.

Could prendergast go to Connacht for 6 /8 months while hanrahan is recovering and come back to leinster after the 6 nations.

Would he still be potentially eligible to play in the champions cup for Leinster.. assuming Connacht would be in the challange cup next year?

I specifically didn't refer to Frawley's minutes at 10 because he's been passes around like a tin of roses at Christmas. That's good in one way because he's got minutes, but he hasn't nailed down a best position and is viewed by management as a utility back.

Sure, Prendergast has occasionally played in teams that even gave a few front line players. But its stilted and inconsistent.

I'd like to see him get a run of games starting and subbing, to see how good he actually is. That won't happen at leinster next year. They have several competing priorities which means neither he, Harry or Frawley will get runs of games at 10.

Unless Leinster are getting an NIQ I don't see the benefit of the move

As pointed out above a season under Nienaber and Bleyendaal would be better in my opinion than shipping him out to Connacht, give him some more games in URC and maybe 1-2 starts in Europe in group stages and his progress can be managed.

If he shows massive improvement then Leinster can play him more. I think Ross Byrne contract would be up at the end of next season s well so would give Leinster a better insight into what they plan to do with him, would he be let go if Predergast has shown massive improvement?

By 25/26 Ross might not be at Leinster anymore! EDIT: Ross Signed contract 20223. Presume next 25/26 season is the last year of his contract.

Harry signed new contract few days ago.

Leinster are stuck in a Byrne vortex.

Prendergast should definitely go to Connacht.

Prediction 25/26:

Having never heard of Aidan Morgan and only seen the highlight reel..….I venture he'll be in the Irish squad ahead of the Byrnes(&Burns!).

Ireland depth chart: 1. Crowley, 2. Morgan, 3. Prendergast, 4. Harry, 5. Ross? or Frawley!

JJ had moved into the number 1 slot but from all reports will be out all of net season. Carty I have no idea what his performances are like recently but JJ got past fairly easy

To me Predergast would be going to be the number 1 with Carty backing him up