New Zealand don't do offers Siob, you make yourself available and if they want you they pick you. If you don't make yourself available (ie play in new Zealand) then you don't get picked no matter how good you are.

The only thing new Zealand might do is offer him a semi decent contract and this might persuade him to move the whole family again but I doubt it would be enough. I'd be more afraid of big offers from France or england tbh but I think there is a real chance we hold him if the terms are even 3/4 what he'd get in France and for Irelands best player he should be getting top dollar.

If he makes another step up like from his first to second season here, the competing offer might come from NZ, all the more reason to get him signed up soon.

EvoGeo wrote: Bundee seems to be a man who puts family and "brothers" before all else and if he can secure his families financial future in the west then I could easily see him putting down roots.

Imagine the draw it would be for other top players to see bundee signing on for three years at the sportsgroud. I'd say the likes of Robbie would be on the first available train back once he has fulfilled his big smoke responsibilities.

The French and English Clubs will able to offer way more cash. But they won't be able to offer International Rugby. In a more attritional environment to play his domestic rugby in, for another Country other than NZ, Samoa or Ireland it's unrealistic. You'd be talking Autumn 2020 for either France or England.

How Connacht perform next season will go a long way to deciding what he does contractually. If we don't go some way to backing up the season completed the risk of losing him is far greater. As loyal and dedicated as he is, he's ambitious too.....

Bundee seems to be a man who puts family and "brothers" before all else and if he can secure his families financial future in the west then I could easily see him putting down roots.

Imagine the draw it would be for other top players to see bundee signing on for three years at the sportsgroud. I'd say the likes of Robbie would be on the first available train back once he has fulfilled his big smoke responsibilities.

I think we are now starting to consistently see David Nucifora's influence (positive) in Irish rugby.

I suspect the whole Ben T'eo to England saga has left a sour taste and although Bundee is a miles better player anyway, it does seem the IRFU are moving quicker in this case. Lessons learned perhaps.

I think if Bundee wants to play for Ireland, a deal will be done. If he does not, I fear moving somewhere else for money will be hard to ignore for the man. Hopefully if the latter, Connacht can offer something too good to turn down.

Will be interesting to see how it unfolds.

Good points FC, I still think if you are down a lineout option from 8 then you will be at a slight disadvantage. It might not be that big a disadvantage to connacht as we don't use the lineout as often as some teams though.

Re lineout jumpers and big lads lighting smaller lads it doesn't work from a length of time it takes to get a smaller guy up too. Due to the longer lifting distance it takes a fraction longer to get the smaller guy up and this can be countered a lot easier by small lifters of big lads on the other side.

No, the taller guy will have longer arms to start with and it's not a simple height a plus height b equation as the jumper is lifted at and angle and from around their knee. The huge behemoths aren't the best lineout jumpers usually, not really to do with their weight as 2 professional rugby players should be strong enough to lift most other players, more to do with having a good spring in their jump so the lifters can get them up there quicker.

Always wonder why teams stick to the convention of smaller strong guys lifting tall (and heavy) behemoths at lineouts. Why wouldn't the tall guys lift the smaller, lighter and probably more agile backrowers or even wingers. Same height overall no?

FACECUTTR wrote: Fox is a bit short I think so I think playing 8 is a non runner. Masterson is good but won't be back until at leaSt December. McKeon seems to play 6 or 7 now and we are stacked with 6 and 7. SOB I think with a good pre season at 8 could be the way to go.

You don't have to be 6'4" to play number eight, Chris Masoe being the classic example in recent years (Steffan Armitage was another example). He can play across the back three, but has been probably in the top three number eights in Europe an extended period. An effective Eight requires a range of skills, good hands, intelligence on the ball, speed off the back of the scrum, but being a lineout option is just a bonus.

But as long as you have some jumping options in your backrow you should be fine. Heenan can cover eight and jumps, Mul & SOB2, Masterson, McKeon, I'd have no worries about Nepia going in at Eight on our ball. Remember Bundee likes a few runs from there too..

If Browne stays fit, I see him as the guy being slotted in to fill the role vacated by Aly. He's also has i the past been the lineout leader for Connacht before his run of injuries, and has good skills for a second row Marshall will provide cover for him.. I see Ultan and Quinn will be left free to cause havoc carrying up and basically putting themselves about.

EvoGeo wrote: True enough he is only 6'1" or so, not much of an option in a lineout. He's as heavy as muldoon though so power wouldn't be an issue.

Ps he's not much shorter than stander either.

I do have concerns in the lineout already though with muldowney heading off so adding to them probably wouldn't be top of the agenda. My main concerns with the masterson news is can we afford to rely on muldoon week in week out again and is mckeon good/big enough to cover there? Maybe SOB is the future?

Muldoon is not often injured, SOB prooved to be constantly good,, and I do think McKeon was back to his "Emerging Ireland" level on the last 3 games Don't forget Masterson is due in less than 6 months now, so in theory 10-12 games max for those 3 players before he comes back.
You're right we should focus on a "jumping lock" instead

Siob wrote: Was Robbie not a cc?

No this year was a one year extension with Connacht, he will on one be next season tho

Was Robbie not a cc?

So looks like Bundee could be our first central contract, unless you know, the IRFU.

And great that there's no mention of him being moved east or south on a potential central contract.

www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/irfu-move...lubs-hover-1.2674799

Re Bundee, at least they're being proactive about it.

Fox is a bit short I think so I think playing 8 is a non runner. Masterson is good but won't be back until at leaSt December. McKeon seems to play 6 or 7 now and we are stacked with 6 and 7. SOB I think with a good pre season at 8 could be the way to go.