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The Leinster thread
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<blockquote data-quote="big ginger 8" data-source="post: 1034302" data-attributes="member: 53057"><p>So yeah it's a weird one. As a lot of people are suggesting Porter back to looshead could be the plan, although I'd be loathe to do that. Having two top class tightheads for Ireland is a rare advantage and there's no guarantee anyone will develop to fill the role, also there's always the chance one of them is injured.</p><p></p><p>I think with the Lions tour and regular international duty it makes sense from a Leinster perspective. Bent is all but confirmed to be retiring and if we want to be competitive on two fronts next year (especially with the South Africans joining) we need to not be hurt by our scrum. Outside of the top two our tightheads are Vakh who's just back from being out for around a year with a back injury and the 21 year old Clarkson. Presuming Bent retires we'll have lost three tightheads in the last two years either to retirement or other provinces. In fact every province now has a Leinster tighthead on their books. So from a Leinster perspective I think Alaaltoa makes sense. From his own perspective it doesn't seem to presuming he wants to at least be in the top 23. Unless the plan is Porter switching. Since he got capped by Samoa, staying in NZ wasn't really an option but it's not like there's a lack of clubs looking for a top tighthead. I wonder if it's a mixture of brand recognition, encouragement from Crusaders coaches after the contact they've had with the Leinster staff and other clubs wanting to block him lining out for Samoa.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="big ginger 8, post: 1034302, member: 53057"] So yeah it's a weird one. As a lot of people are suggesting Porter back to looshead could be the plan, although I'd be loathe to do that. Having two top class tightheads for Ireland is a rare advantage and there's no guarantee anyone will develop to fill the role, also there's always the chance one of them is injured. I think with the Lions tour and regular international duty it makes sense from a Leinster perspective. Bent is all but confirmed to be retiring and if we want to be competitive on two fronts next year (especially with the South Africans joining) we need to not be hurt by our scrum. Outside of the top two our tightheads are Vakh who's just back from being out for around a year with a back injury and the 21 year old Clarkson. Presuming Bent retires we'll have lost three tightheads in the last two years either to retirement or other provinces. In fact every province now has a Leinster tighthead on their books. So from a Leinster perspective I think Alaaltoa makes sense. From his own perspective it doesn't seem to presuming he wants to at least be in the top 23. Unless the plan is Porter switching. Since he got capped by Samoa, staying in NZ wasn't really an option but it's not like there's a lack of clubs looking for a top tighthead. I wonder if it's a mixture of brand recognition, encouragement from Crusaders coaches after the contact they've had with the Leinster staff and other clubs wanting to block him lining out for Samoa. [/QUOTE]
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