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The Leinster thread
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<blockquote data-quote="Leinster Fan" data-source="post: 1034320" data-attributes="member: 76349"><p>I can see the appeal, but it's also very easy to understand why people don't want it to happen. Having two quality tighthead props is something that hasn't happened in Ireland before and messing around with it can go wrong quickly. Porter did a lot of work to switch to tighthead in the first place. You're generally right about the looseheads, there are a few lads but anyone in the top talent band is well away from international rugby. You're also right that 1. Porter 3. Furlong 18. New guy is probably better than what we have now and I can see why Porter would be interested, an entire career of mostly being second choice for club and country isn't necessarily appealing to a guy who's shown he's good enough to be an international starter.</p><p></p><p>The opposition to it is generally based on the reality of Ireland needing two good tightheads and there not being obvious replacements of the same quality for Porter in green. There's a reality where Porter switches back, Furlong gets injured 6 months out from the World Cup without adequate backup and Porter has to switch sides again for the third time in his career. The IRFU loves meddling in things like this and it doesn't always work out as hoped and a lot of the time and unexpected solution to the problem they were trying to fix pops up anyway. </p><p></p><p>Anyway, it's likely going to happen. If we were signing a prop to replace his holiness Bent and be purely third choice you'd imagine there were probably cheaper guys available. Not to mention that Andy Farrell a) has talked about it before and b) seems to really rate Tom O'Toole, so presumably he sees a reality of 1. Porter 17. Wycherly probably 3. Furlong 18. O'Toole come the world cup which if it works would be great. He's also made it clear that he doesn't rate any of the looseheads outside Healy/Kilcoyne since he never calls them up unless he absolutely has to so it makes sense that he'd be interested in a switch.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Leinster Fan, post: 1034320, member: 76349"] I can see the appeal, but it's also very easy to understand why people don't want it to happen. Having two quality tighthead props is something that hasn't happened in Ireland before and messing around with it can go wrong quickly. Porter did a lot of work to switch to tighthead in the first place. You're generally right about the looseheads, there are a few lads but anyone in the top talent band is well away from international rugby. You're also right that 1. Porter 3. Furlong 18. New guy is probably better than what we have now and I can see why Porter would be interested, an entire career of mostly being second choice for club and country isn't necessarily appealing to a guy who's shown he's good enough to be an international starter. The opposition to it is generally based on the reality of Ireland needing two good tightheads and there not being obvious replacements of the same quality for Porter in green. There's a reality where Porter switches back, Furlong gets injured 6 months out from the World Cup without adequate backup and Porter has to switch sides again for the third time in his career. The IRFU loves meddling in things like this and it doesn't always work out as hoped and a lot of the time and unexpected solution to the problem they were trying to fix pops up anyway. Anyway, it's likely going to happen. If we were signing a prop to replace his holiness Bent and be purely third choice you'd imagine there were probably cheaper guys available. Not to mention that Andy Farrell a) has talked about it before and b) seems to really rate Tom O'Toole, so presumably he sees a reality of 1. Porter 17. Wycherly probably 3. Furlong 18. O'Toole come the world cup which if it works would be great. He's also made it clear that he doesn't rate any of the looseheads outside Healy/Kilcoyne since he never calls them up unless he absolutely has to so it makes sense that he'd be interested in a switch. [/QUOTE]
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