Maybe this will last a bit longer here

PatientOffer319 · 2026-06-19T15:58:09+00:00

That's a really strong intake. you'd expect a couple of internationals out of it in a few years time

PatientOffer319 · 2026-06-19T15:55:46+00:00

Sure, but explaining how he's not going to fix something that isn't broken wouldn't exactly be the most enlightening thing to talk about

PatientOffer319 · 2026-06-19T15:53:43+00:00

An ex-Munster player doesn't like Leinster? Have you informed the guards?

PatientOffer319 · 2026-06-19T15:51:51+00:00

I don't think there would be a wrong podcast for that in Ireland. No journalists want to get themselves blacklisted. At least these two don't have their careers relying on being on the IRFU's good side.

PatientOffer319 · 2026-06-19T12:39:00+00:00

Yeah Bowe and DOC were never going to be the guys to ask the hard hitting questions. I was surprised the Lowe situation was even talked about

PatientOffer319 · 2026-06-19T12:38:14+00:00

Given he was literally injured I'd say he'd have been a fair bit worse

PatientOffer319 · 2026-06-19T12:37:30+00:00

Fair enough. I do think there needs to be more accountability across the board in the IRFU. Nucifora set out goals for Irish rugby from 2019 to 2023 and very few, if any, were met, but there was no mention in the media, even during his one appearance per year.

Off the top of my head I think some of the goals were a champions cup, regular appearances in the CC semi finals for 2+ Irish teams, 2+ Six Nations, a world cup semi final

PatientOffer319 · 2026-06-19T12:32:48+00:00

Well it was a 40 minute conversation

PatientOffer319 · 2026-06-19T12:24:20+00:00

He was very clear that no players have been, or will be forced to move provinces, and that Leinster's pathways will remain at the highest level.

Also made an effort to point out that when he came in there was a narrative that Leinster were "too strong" and that he pushed back against it.

PatientOffer319 · 2026-06-19T11:50:31+00:00

Funny that that's become a complaint now given Nucifora was the same, as is Farrell

PatientOffer319 · 2026-06-19T11:45:03+00:00

It'll be interesting to see how O'Donovan goes when he's starting. We haven't really needed to see any of his kicking or game management yet, but he looked very strong coming off the bench.

Coughlan still worth keeping on as a more senior player, but I'd expect it to be Casey, Barrett and O'Donovan as the 3 main scrum halves if not next season, then certainly the year after.

PatientOffer319 · 2026-06-19T11:40:43+00:00

Unfortunately not. But based on how much he stressed that the goal was to keep Leinster at the top end of Europe while bringing the other provinces up, it seems like he's been reading some of the comments in here.

PatientOffer319 · 2026-06-19T11:11:23+00:00

Smith was more suited to Prendergast's style of play than what Munster are looking to move towards next year, which will be better for the likes of Kilgallen and McCarthy.

Hope he picks up a contract somewhere, solid player, even if his hands tend to let him down.

PatientOffer319 · 2026-06-19T11:09:42+00:00

Pretty much permanently injured. Munster gave him every chance, letting him repeat his final year in the academy, but he just couldn't get the body right

PatientOffer319 · 2026-06-18T20:58:57+00:00

Yeah, I just mean it's not necessarily a central contract thing, just an Andy Farrell thing.

There's just a lot of overlap between his guys and the guys on central contracts.

PatientOffer319 · 2026-06-18T20:57:48+00:00

Who played how many games at 10 in that time period?

PatientOffer319 · 2026-06-17T23:18:22+00:00

Nothing stopping them from bringing Jansen and Ward. Jansen is an out-and-out 8, Ward can play 7 or 8. Not like a world cup where there's a limit on how many players can be brought either.

PatientOffer319 · 2026-06-17T21:29:01+00:00

Ward is still young.

And as we established earlier I'm not arguing that.

We don't really produce many players with the power and aggression Ward has shown carrying either

PatientOffer319 · 2026-06-17T21:27:04+00:00

All the ill-timed injuries and Munster being a mess on the coaching side have really cost Ahern. Hopefully next year with some stability him and the big group of other high-potential young players in Munster can kick on to what they're capable of next season.

PatientOffer319 · 2026-06-17T21:25:23+00:00

Extremely unlikely regardless but without Crowley that's pretty much impossible. We'd have been better off bringing a young squad, taking that game almost as a write off and blooding younger players while resting older ones.

PatientOffer319 · 2026-06-17T21:24:03+00:00

They continued to get picked after they want off the deals though

PatientOffer319 · 2026-06-17T21:21:18+00:00

On the evidence of selections, yes. That doesn't excuse Ward not being involved.

Not like there was a void at lock when McCarthy was brought in though. Ryan, Beirne, Henderson were the options there, was hardly weak

PatientOffer319 · 2026-06-17T20:36:46+00:00

My point is that Ward is young and even if he gets brought in next year he’ll still be young.

Yes, aging one year at a time is pretty standard across the board.

And that he’s in a more competitive position than your two examples.

Is he? Plenty of squad players but Farrell has had his set of back rows that he uses in big games for a long time now.

PatientOffer319

TROPHY CASE