I think that the Branch here will be doing there best to get hold of him. They've targeted senior players the last season or two and I can't see Macca not been on their list. Also if his form holds there has to be a good chance of a Central Contract right?

Mike McCarthy will be out of contract again at the end of the season though. Leinsters major weakness is the 2nd row. He'd walk into their 2nd row at this stage and its his last big contract decision while in his prime. I'd be very pleased and it would send a seriously positive signal of intent if we could get his signature wrapped up for at least another 2 years.

As for this game. Its basically Ireland A v Fiji A who are minus nearly all their top players. We should win easily regardless of selection and it doesn't count for ranking points so lets just see a team put out with the future in mind. Hopefully the likes of Gilroy, Zebo, Marshall etc. are given games time. Stephen Archer should be left at home. Hasn't pushed on in a number of years now. Even the most die hard Munster fans say he isn't good enough for Munster. Ronan Loughney is paying the price for lack of game time with us as he's miles ahead of Archer even on a bad day.

RonanL wrote:

sea_point wrote: with the serious games in mind they imported Nathan Hines and then Brad Thorn. (Wonder who their joker this year will be)...

That reminds me. In the player ratings in the independent on Monday, Macca got a 9, and the author commented that Leinster should throw a shed load of cash at him to get him up there. I believe Mike has turned them down in the past but I'm open to correction on that one.

He did. The summer that Cronin, Keatley, Carr and Hagan left.
I chatted to him about it. He said something along the lines of "I like Galway, and playing rugby"

sea_point wrote: with the serious games in mind they imported Nathan Hines and then Brad Thorn. (Wonder who their joker this year will be)...

That reminds me. In the player ratings in the independent on Monday, Macca got a 9, and the author commented that Leinster should throw a shed load of cash at him to get him up there. I believe Mike has turned them down in the past but I'm open to correction on that one.