He did come out and say he had no interest in signing Folau after his recent comments
What happened there? Am I right in thinking he was talked up about England potential not too far back?
How are the two at all comparable? Should Madigan have moved to Connacht the year before the 2015 World Cup while he was one of the starting 10's at Leinster? He left at the first opportunity when Sexton came back but made a mistake choosing a **** club in Bordeaux and got out upon realising that.
I can think of about 1.5m reasons over 3 years as to why he'll get over it! He was showing real signs of becoming a quality 10 under Joe Schmidt but was messed around under Matt O'Connor. Jimmy Gopperth was a good flyhalf but Madigan could have flourished had he been given the same chance that Joe Schmidt gave him.
Well I'm talking on the rugby side not money side.
Again not saying scenarios comparable in terms of moves but in terms of scenario. Like its hard blame moves a player has to take slack too. That is equivalent of JJ Hanrahan bit hard to blame Saints fully. Thing is if you want to be a top 10 you have to play there regularly and in big games. Ross Byrne did it this year and improved hugely and it was very noticeable. Madigans playing career suffered a bit from versatility and Joey could go same. JJ Hanrahan suffered too. Yes Snoop they made money and of that is the aim solely then yes it was a succ3ss but I'm sure these lads want to be a top class 10
But you're criticising Madigan for going to Bordeaux to start at 10, Hanrahan doing the same at Saints but its ok for Carbery to go to Ulster to start 10? It could just as easily backfire for Carbery if things don't go well.
I think we're in agreement that from a rugby perspective, it would have been preferable for Jeremy Staunton, JJ Hanrahan and Ian Madigan to have remained as purely 10s. However I think fans underestimate that rugby players have to earn a living and have a short window in which to maximise their earnings before getting a "real job". While Ian Madigan may have regrets about not playing 10 consistently from 2013-2016, he also probably wouldn't be earning what he is now had he remained a 10 in Ireland. His disappointment will be offset by his salary.
No. I'm saying the lost years of playing at 10 consistently hampered him and his potential as a 10. Same for JJ. Joey could go to Ulster and it backfire. It could be a success but not playing regularly in big games at 10 is a negative for international aspirations and Schmidt thinks same
100% agree. You point out Jeremy Staunton. Another guy at that time similar to other 2. Was a talent at 10 but simply stuck behind a world class 10 at time. Stagnated as a 10. Waited too long to move and by then was past point of rescue regarding potential
I'm saying that that didn't happen with Madigan, he was never worse than 2nd choice 10 past the age of 21. Shaun Berne was second choice up until 2010 and then Mads overtook him, Berquist was brought in and played twice because of Madigan's presence and an injury. Madigan played around the backline a bit yeah but I don't think he ever played a season for Leinster where the majority of his time wasn't at 10, as Snoop alluded to playing under a terrible and restrictive coach in important formative years for a 10 really damaged him but he had plenty of opportunities between 2010 and 2015 to play 10.
Never said he was the sole issue in 2015. But issue was more he had no control or game management in a lot of games due to lack of gametime as a 10 in big games. Now I won't argue on blaming coaches or others but fact is he never progressed past being #2 for club or country even when Sexton is went. You can blame MOC or whatever and some of it probably has truth but player has to take up slack to. The general view outside Leinster is Madigan was a great player but never was a great 10. Above Pro14 but never at level of a 10 who would lead you to business end of European rugby. Maybe he could have been better but progression stalled as a 10 due to versatility.
I'm not going to discuss that but will point out that this isn't consistent and/or relevant with "Ross Byrne did it this year and improved hugely and it was very noticeable." Madigan was probably better than Byrne at equivalent levels of their careers, I wouldn't say the same about Carbery.
I half agree here, I think you either need to be playing there week in week out for your club a la Paddy Jackson or Sexton's development, or you have to be playing a lot of international rugby a la Barrett or McKenzie, Mads and Carbery have kind of been a mix of both which is working ok. Ireland have had better success using the 1st method so that's why Carbery should go to Ulster but had we held on to Jackson and Madigan we'd consider ourselves stacked at 10 because both those players were well on their way to being good internationals. Its worth bearing in mind Madigan was still only 26 at the RWC, similar ages to Hanrahan and Bleyendaal who are still considered to have room to improve, most 10's in this country peak closer to 30, I reckon Mads will tear the prem up.
