Transfers Rumours

[LittleGuy]

Not sure if there is anything to this but DTH Van De Merwe put out a message to Rugby Canada and a couple of players looking for Hubert Buydens contact info and I quote "ASAP", could Glasgow be interested in bringing him in?

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Leinster have made an approach for Mike McCarthy of Connacht.

 

[lynam1104]

Leinster have made an approach for Mike McCarthy of Connacht.

While hes in great form now and is good player hes not a solution to the long term problem we have. We really need to develop some young 2nd rows rather then sign a bunch of stop gap players like munster have in the centers over the last number of years.

 

[Feicarsinn]

Leinster have made an approach for Mike McCarthy of Connacht.

Mixed feelings on this. On one hand he's a top signing. Everything we need. An abrasive second row of international quality who still has at least 5 years in him. He'll plug the gap left by Leo excellently.

On the other hand he's a huge player for Connacht. It's pretty bloody unfair that we can just come along and take yet another of their few top players.

 

[psychic duck]

Mixed feelings on this. On one hand he's a top signing. Everything we need. An abrasive second row of international quality who still has at least 5 years in him. He'll plug the gap left by Leo excellently.

On the other hand he's a huge player for Connacht. It's pretty bloody unfair that we can just come along and take yet another of their few top players.

He's 31 now, does he really have 5 more years in him? Leo Cullen is 34 and is nearing the end of his career. I'd imagine Leinster might compensate Connacht with giving them Fionn Carr (with confidence now destroyed) and Damien Browne back if they're lucky.

I agree it's unfair on Connacht. But that's the reason why the Irish teams are so strong in the Heineken Cup, they basically sacrifice their fourth team and put the vast majority of their resources and top overseas signings into those teams as well. They basically have nearly every professional Irish player still playing in Ireland in just 3 teams. Wales on the otherhand, haven't sacrificed the Dragons quite the same way, and have their strength evenly split between the teams with the Dragons only slightly weaker than the rest. Add to that they've lost a number of players to England and France, whilst France and England have their top players spread out over 9 or 10 teams, thus meaning that the IRFU's policy of sacrificing any chances Connacht have of challenging and keeping nearly all Irish talent (at least which is worth having) at home is the reason for the strength of the big three Irish teams in the H Cup.

 

[Feicarsinn]

He's 31 now, does he really have 5 more years in him? Leo Cullen is 34 and is nearing the end of his career. I'd imagine Leinster might compensate Connacht with giving them Fionn Carr (with confidence now destroyed) and Damien Browne back if they're lucky.

I agree it's unfair on Connacht. But that's the reason why the Irish teams are so strong in the Heineken Cup, they basically sacrifice their fourth team and put the vast majority of their resources and top overseas signings into those teams as well. They basically have nearly every professional Irish player still playing in Ireland in just 3 teams. Wales on the otherhand, haven't sacrificed the Dragons quite the same way, and have their strength evenly split between the teams with the Dragons only slightly weaker than the rest. Add to that they've lost a number of players to England and France, whilst France and England have their top players spread out over 9 or 10 teams, thus meaning that the IRFU's policy of sacrificing any chances Connacht have of challenging and keeping nearly all Irish talent (at least which is worth having) at home is the reason for the strength of the big three Irish teams in the H Cup.

Yeah sorry, I meant 3.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

While hes in great form now and is good player hes not a solution to the long term problem we have. We really need to develop some young 2nd rows rather then sign a bunch of stop gap players like munster have in the centers over the last number of years.

Isn't that what Quinn Roux was for?

I have to admit I am still miffed about that signing as I had big plans for him at WP. But with Etzebeth and Bekker sure starters for some time yet and settled back-up in Elstadt and Steenkamp I guess I have to accept he moved on to where he is assured more time at pro level.

 

[lynam1104]

While I do believe that was the goal with Roux I'm not a massive fan of "poaching" young foreigners. I'd rather see us sign a young Irish lock if there are any out there or develop them in the academy. Also Roux is now injured which sucks.

 

[Draggs]

Why does nobody realise that Roux is on a one-year deal?

 

[profitius]

He's 31 now, does he really have 5 more years in him? Leo Cullen is 34 and is nearing the end of his career. I'd imagine Leinster might compensate Connacht with giving them Fionn Carr (with confidence now destroyed) and Damien Browne back if they're lucky.

I agree it's unfair on Connacht. But that's the reason why the Irish teams are so strong in the Heineken Cup, they basically sacrifice their fourth team and put the vast majority of their resources and top overseas signings into those teams as well. They basically have nearly every professional Irish player still playing in Ireland in just 3 teams. Wales on the otherhand, haven't sacrificed the Dragons quite the same way, and have their strength evenly split between the teams with the Dragons only slightly weaker than the rest. Add to that they've lost a number of players to England and France, whilst France and England have their top players spread out over 9 or 10 teams, thus meaning that the IRFU's policy of sacrificing any chances Connacht have of challenging and keeping nearly all Irish talent (at least which is worth having) at home is the reason for the strength of the big three Irish teams in the H Cup.

Its a 2 way street. In the coming seasons Connacht will have the pick of some quality players that can't make the other provinces' squads. I wouldn't like to see Leinster get McCarthy but theres an over supply of second rows in Munster. Some of those could go to Connacht.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Its a 2 way street. In the coming seasons Connacht will have the pick of some quality players that can't make the other provinces' squads. I wouldn't like to see Leinster get McCarthy but theres an over supply of second rows in Munster. Some of those could go to Connacht.

I agree with most of this. McCarthy leaving Connacht for Leinster would be a big blow for the Galway based team but Connacht have benefitted a huge amount from traffic going the other way. Just this season they signed Jason Harris Wright (who has appeared for Leinster in a HCup final) and Nathan White who's a big loss. Paul O'Donohoe was an established Leinster player before moving west. Mick Kearney and Dave McSharry were plucked straight from the Leinster sub-academy. Kyle Tonetti and Dave Moore were both Leinster academy players. Denis Buckley, Gavin Duffy and Tiernan O'Halloran came through the Leinster schools system. Dave Gannon and Matt Healy are both native Leinstermen.

Leinster have to look after their own interests first and if McCarthy is willing to move, they'd be crazy not to pursue it. He's good enough to play regularly for at least two seasons and is Ireland qualified (obviously) allowing them to use a NIQ spot on some other position.

Personally, I'd like to see Leinster try to grab two from Ian Nagle, Ryan Caldwell and Mike McCarthy. If Nagle moves to Leinster, I'd have no problem with Jamie Hagan going in the opposite direction to push BJ Botha. Stephen Archer plainly isn't up to it despite gametime supposedly being the be all and end all with developing young props.

 

[profitius]

Personally, I'd like to see Leinster try to grab two from Ian Nagle, Ryan Caldwell and Mike McCarthy. If Nagle moves to Leinster, I'd have no problem with Jamie Hagan going in the opposite direction to push BJ Botha. Stephen Archer plainly isn't up to it despite gametime supposedly being the be all and end all with developing young props.

Or Tadhg Furlong

 

[Feicarsinn]

Or Tadhg Furlong

Bugger off, he's ours. In all seriousness though, it's shocking that the IRFU allowed Bent to sign for Leinster. As is we've got an international class IQ prop, a capable stand in and two incredibly promising talents on the tight head side without him. Munster on the other hand have BJ Botha and then a huge gulf in class till Stephen Archer, who in my mind should be behind John Ryan. Bent would have been perfect for them. They should definitely take Hagan though if the chance comes up.

As for us and the second row, I'd love us to get our hands on Caldwell. He's just what we need - abrasive, experienced and hard working. If we could get our hands on him and McCarthy I could see us competing for every Heineken Cup for the next 4 years or so. Fail to get either and we have a serious problem as I don't believe we'd be able to be at the very top with weaknesses at centre and second row.

A quality NIQ centre should be one of our targets in the future. What's Conrad Smith up to?

 

[psychic duck]

I agree with most of this. McCarthy leaving Connacht for Leinster would be a big blow for the Galway based team but Connacht have benefitted a huge amount from traffic going the other way. Just this season they signed Jason Harris Wright (who has appeared for Leinster in a HCup final) and Nathan White who's a big loss. Paul O'Donohoe was an established Leinster player before moving west. Mick Kearney and Dave McSharry were plucked straight from the Leinster sub-academy. Kyle Tonetti and Dave Moore were both Leinster academy players. Denis Buckley, Gavin Duffy and Tiernan O'Halloran came through the Leinster schools system. Dave Gannon and Matt Healy are both native Leinstermen.

Leinster have to look after their own interests first and if McCarthy is willing to move, they'd be crazy not to pursue it. He's good enough to play regularly for at least two seasons and is Ireland qualified (obviously) allowing them to use a NIQ spot on some other position.

Personally, I'd like to see Leinster try to grab two from Ian Nagle, Ryan Caldwell and Mike McCarthy. If Nagle moves to Leinster, I'd have no problem with Jamie Hagan going in the opposite direction to push BJ Botha. Stephen Archer plainly isn't up to it despite gametime supposedly being the be all and end all with developing young props.

Yet he keeps on getting called up to the Ireland squad ahead of Hagan for some reason.

 

[Peat]

If Mike McCarthy wants to go to Leinster, then that's the main thing and the rest of it is fluff. Fairness? Eh...

 

[Draggs]

The Caiser is apparently back at the Liberty.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

The Caiser is apparently back at the Liberty.

Who that?

 

[BRSTLDRGN]

The Caiser is apparently back at the Liberty.

Söze's you

 

[Draggs]

 

[psychic duck]

The Caiser is apparently back at the Liberty.

So London Irish have returned the Ospreys back Jonathan Spratt, Tom Smith and Cai Griffiths now, which is unfortunate, just as I'd thought we'd got rid.

The Ospreys have an injury crisis though at the moment, since Wales duty has injured a fair few players with Ian Evans, Alun-Wyn Jones, Richie Hibbard, Aaron Jarvis and Dan Biggar all injured. Plus Adam Jones, Hanno Dirksen both out, and other less important players Joe Rees, Jonathan Thomas and Tom Smith are all injured and that's 10 of the squad.

I don't think the Ospreys depth is up to the challenge, the Ospreys have lost a lot of depth in the off season, so we will be left with just kids and Principality Premiership players for the next few weeks. Unfortunately in the Edinburgh match last Friday, they played some child prop at tighthead who got destroyed by John Yapp which isn't a good sign. I doubt there will be much hope against Toulouse and Cencus Johnston and Gurthro Steenkamp now. Hopefully that Moldovan Arhip can do a job, because those teen kid props have no chance, but then I head Arhip has been struggling with an injury since he got here in November, so looks like we will have no other choice than Griffiths to take on Toulouse.