ummm, wrote: Selecting Bent immediately could just be an exercise in capping him before someone else does.

Who else is going to want him though, looks like he's miles down the pecking order back in New Zealand and I wouldn't imagine he's qualified for another country without spending 3 years there.

International Rugby really should represent the pinnacle of a players career but the likes of this is just degrading the whole thing and people wonder why some players appear to give more for their provinces than the national team.

salmson wrote:

swift4prez wrote:
munster if locks stay here, connacht if locks go to munster.

I'm more orless in agreement with what's being said on this thread.

BUT, For the last time: Loughs is contracted until 2014, it's Wilko that's out of contract in 2013.

Oh, and one other thing - anyone else thing that of the Connacht players not selected it's McSharry rather than Loughs that has most reason to be pissed off?

if for some reason hagan and locks were moving, connacht and the irfu could agree to rip up the contract to make way for props to move around between province.
niall o connor was contracted till end of this season but both teams agreed for him to go back to ulster. were all under the IRFU, no big deal if a piece of paper is in the way.

white clearly is our tighthead lately so locks is kept on the bench, declan fitz just about ahead of him. im not pissed of at that, im pissed of at bent.

as mary hinge said above, i agree 100%. if we fall out of the top 8, well the irfu and kidney should be embarresed for the shit there doing. honestly o gara ahead of keatley.
if they lose all the games, they will deserve it

Selecting Bent immediately could just be an exercise in capping him before someone else does.

True. I remember that something similar was done when Tom Court came over originally. He was given an A cap and then thrown back to Ulster and told earn his place. That said Tom Court was very raw coming over so much so that people like me never thought he'd make it. Am very glad to be wrong.

That said really want Kidney to go cause I've had enough of him. Was looking at the Ulster site when the team was originally announced and the feeling is quite mutual up there as well.

Selecting Bent immediately could just be an exercise in capping him before someone else does.

swift4prez wrote:
munster if locks stay here, connacht if locks go to munster.

I'm more orless in agreement with what's being said on this thread.

BUT, For the last time: Loughs is contracted until 2014, it's Wilko that's out of contract in 2013.

Oh, and one other thing - anyone else thing that of the Connacht players not selected it's McSharry rather than Loughs that has most reason to be pissed off?

The Bent situation should be an embarassment to Kidney, but I suspect won't be. This guy should go and take his failed thinking with him. I really don't care how the international side does under his charge to be honest. I am only interested in seeing Connacht progress, and seeing the other provinces do well in the HEC. I wouldn't mind seeing us lose to South Africa and Argentina and us drop out of the top 8 in the world as it might accelerate this clown's departure and we might start seeing some non-Munster selections.

Just wait and see O'Callaghan, O'Mahony, Murray, O'Gara, and Zebo making the starting 15 against the Boks when none of them should be on the park.

To play devil's advocate. There's a good article here. All underlines are mine.

Taranaki's Michael Bent heads for Leinster

In-form prop Michael Bent could be in action for Ireland club Leinster as early as next week.

Taranaki's exit at the hands of Canterbury in the national provincial championship semifinal at the weekend has enabled Bent to move his departure date forward a week.

The 26-year-old will fly out on Saturday to join the Heineken Cup holders and could be in action as early as the following weekend when Leinster take on Ospreys in Pro12 competition.

Bent said he had spoken to Leinster scrum coach, former Taranaki and All Blacks prop Greg Feek, since Taranaki's extra-time loss to Canterbury.

"I've been speaking to Feeky around getting over there earlier and getting some game time," he said yesterday.

Bent holds an Irish passport because his grandmother was born in Ireland and it is believed the national squad is keen to look at him when he arrives.

Some reports have even mentioned him having an outside chance of being called into the Ireland squad as it prepares for its autumn internationals against South Africa, Fiji and Argentina.

"They are not saying that is going to happen, I've just to get over there and play a bit of footy for Leinster first before they can even look at me," he said.

"It does sound pretty positive, but obviously I've got to prove myself first before they can look at me seriously.

"There is interest in getting me playing as soon as possible, so I've just got to get over there, train as hard as I can and see what eventuates from that."

Bent was the only Taranaki forward to appear in every one of Taranaki's 13 first-class matches this season, with midfielder Jayden Hayward and utility back Kurt Baker the only other players to manage the feat.

His workrate, excellent scrum work and ball-carrying must put him close to being named Taranaki player of the year, although fellow prop Chris King would also be close to the title.

Unwanted by Hurricanes coach Mark Hammett for most of the Super Rugby season, Bent showed his potential by producing the best form of his career.

He repeatedly came in for praise from Tenderlink Taranaki coach Colin Cooper who paid tribute to the front rower after Saturday's match in Christchurch.

"He is an outstanding player and I think he had a great year for us," he said.

"He has improved his game, both defensively and on attack, because his scrummaging was always good.

"We asked him to improve his ball-carrying and I think he did that, so it's a real shame to lose him because he is still young. Hopefully he might come back."

fucking jamie hagan was stolen from us, clearly happy to stay here as he agreed to sign a contract (old story but i have a point) but leinster came in a promised stuff to him and he signed for them.

he was first choice here and doing a bloody good job.
he went to leinster knowing he was behind mike ross, then leinster signed nathan white the same summer. ross was first choice, white on the bench. hagan was playing b+i cup most of the season.
he could of been playing heineken cup if he stayed here.

this year i had hope for hagan to push for back up to ross, and even a chance with ireland.

NO leinster sign another tighthead, not only that but he is already ahead of hagan even though he's only in the country, with the ireland team. i bet the IRFU have him down already down as cover for the 6 nations, hagan again is 3rd choice at leinster.

hagan is only on a one year deal. at the end of the season he should move to connacht or munster.

munster if locks stay here, connacht if locks go to munster.

a dog would be treated better. he deserve more.

Glad to see Marshall getting a call up.

This issue with Bent is an absolute embarrassment. To say its a farce would be kind!

Ireland Squad Additions (Club/Province/International Caps):

Sean Cronin (St.Mary’s College/Leinster/21)
Craig Gilroy (Dungannon/Ulster)*
Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster)*
Paul Marshall (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)*
Tiernan O’Halloran (Buccaneers/Connacht)*
Michael Bent (Leinster)*
Declan Fitzpatrick (Belfast Harlequins/Munster/2)

well done to TOH he deserve a chance, might put the hop back in his step.

im so so pissed of at michael bent getting in. i heard he's only in the country today.
when did kidney see him play,?

no secret im not hagan biggest fan, but between him and ronan locks im fucking pissed of.
why would they bother play in the country if given a bigger contract in france/england.
they'll never ever get picked when kidney is aloud to do that.

Toland article in the Times saying McCarthy is the outstanding second row in Ireland at the moment:

www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2012/1026/1224325731780.html ]

fitzpatrick starts for ulster vs dragons, aofa on the bench. im sure he's there to prove himself as kidney is going to be calling up another prop after the games.
i wonder will he tell eric to start locks, and if locks start will anyone from the irfu be over in wales having a look at him.

I think EE might have been told to start Loughs in Ospreys. Kidney need a back-up TH and with Fitzpatrick having been out with an injury for a while and Loughs not playing much becuase of White it's a straight toss up with maybe Fitzpatrick having a bit more clout with Ulster doing so well. Will be interesting to see which one gets the call up.

fitzpatrick starts for ulster vs dragons, aofa on the bench. im sure he's there to prove himself as kidney is going to be calling up another prop after the games.
i wonder will he tell eric to start locks, and if locks start will anyone from the irfu be over in wales having a look at him.

also tommy bowe starts fullback for ulster, again id guess that was kidney getting his orders acrosss as kidney forgot or refused to pick a natural full back for ireland. (how he's getting away with ill never know)
j payne is on the bench so he's not injured

G****e H**k in the Independent today:

"So far this season only Leinster have shown any invention in the backline".

I doubt he's having a go at us, far more likely he's simply forgotten we exist.

sea_point wrote:
Cronin should be at a club where he is first choice, himself and Strauss are the same age and have the same game basically so barring injury / cataclysmic loss of form selection will always be a toss up.

Don't know what his contract situation is with Leinster are, but next season he should be looking at a move to Munster or at least somewhere where he is likely to be top dog...

Macca & Mul won't see any game time in anything but the Fiji game, if that. I'll bet my car Kidney will pick DO'C, PO'C and Ryan as his second row options in the key games barring an injury to one..

Good call on Cronin, he would be miles ahead of the two lads at Munster imo at least. I imagine Strauss is just being called up to nail him down for definite with a cap, not sure who would be first/second choice behind Best long term.

Scotland have named 7 uncapped players and we only have 4 named, although Henry and Mul might as well be uncapped (and will remain in that bracket) cause they will get fuck all game time and will not be in contention for a six nations spot unless Kidney has changed his outlook significantly, and one look at his choices for 10 shows that he hasn't. So the one chance we have of finding out what players are capable of is being passed over again.

its all about world rankings. neither the irfu or kidney can afford to fall out of the top 8.