@Pierce O’Hehir: Not at all Pierce… Just referring to his Leinster career. He’s given so much to Leinster, I would see it as fitting if he got to lift a trophy this year before he heads to Bath…i.e. go out on a high! For sure, he has plenty of rugby left in him and I expect he will make a big impact in England.

@Mark Murphy: fair call Mark, I took it up wrong! Would love to see him stay in the Irish system in Connacht or Ulster.

@Pierce O’Hehir: He’ll get more money at Bath, and with no Irish caps yet, he might as well go try something new and earn a few more bob while he is at it. Irish provinces can’t outbid each other for a player so he’d have been offered the same money at Connacht for example that he’d have got offered at Leinster. At the end of this deal, there is nothing to say that he won’t return home.

@Andrew Slazenger: I disagree, he’s not first choice if everyone’s fit but that rarely ever happens. Ryan has many injury issues and RG well let’s wait and see on that one. Also he was alway available during international windows.

@chris mcdonnell: Fair point on RG haha! I’m not saying he’s no loss, just not a big loss if he’s not part of our all are fit strongest 23 OR is young with loads of potential. International windows (only 4 matches now) can be covered by RG, Deeny and Mangan. Also as an aside, he probably wanted to leave to get more first team rugby

@chris mcdonnell: light enough in 2nd row: McCarthy, Ryan, Snyman FFS

@Michael Corkery: Did you stop reading early to register your outrage? Why not read the next sentence Chris wrote. 2 of the 3 players you mentioned he addressed as being absent for long periods. It was during these periods Molony featured prominently. 2 locks out but one incoming = …?

@Andrew Slazenger: You also have O’Tighearaigh who was an Ireland U20 last year & the year before.

@Michael Corkery: for the past 3 months only Mccarthy is actually playing rugby.

@Andrew Slazenger: He’s a huge loss to the squad in terms of his reliability and his leadership. Ryan and McCarthy will be away with Ireland, as will Baird (who is a 6 now anyway). Snyman – we’ll have to wait and see if he can stay fit. I don’t think Deeny has shown any of the potential that you mention so don’t think he’s ready. COT is a kid and won’t be ready for a couple of years. Mangan is not a second row, he’s a backrow. Not tall enough for second row. We’ll be desperately light at second row next season when internationals won’t be there.

@Carmine Lorenzo: COT will be 22 next year the age as Joe McCarthy broke on to the international scene. He’s nearly as tall and with the right gym work

@TL55: contd: he’ll be heavy enough (based on recent stats. I suspect he’ll be well capable of filling in when the internationals are away.

@TL55: You know your stuff so will take your word on that. He’s got a big frame alright but my point is he’s still very unproven. Deeny aswell hasn’t really shown any stand out performances for me either so unless there is dramatic improvement, I don’t see him being a week in week out URC standard type player.

@TL55: I think aswell it’s very unusual the way McCarthy came about, he was a standout and developed very quickly. His rise is the exception vs the norm. E.g. he was playing AIL, got a debut for Leinster in January 2022 and then was fast tracked into the 6N squad in 2022 as a development player. So his development has been massively accelerated due to his regular exposure to the best in the country from an early age, and he wasn’t flogged by Leinster either. They held him back at times in the first year or two.

@Carmine Lorenzo: Deeny has been really good when I’ve seen him play, and Mangan is listed as 2nd row on Leinster website + he’s 6’6, the same as Molony! The internationals aren’t away like they used to be, far less games

@TL55: Where did Sorrocco (spelling?) go? He had shown well under 20′s and got a few games for Leinster. Had the frame but not the tallest. Anyone?

@Noel Lynn: Injured. and he’s more of a 6 than a second row.

@Andrew Slazenger: Hi Andrew, wouldn’t always read into those stats. Mangan is even playing at 8 in AIL for UCD recently. He’s a chunky enough unit when you see him in real life but he’s defo not a second row, build of a backrow. Genuine question, what games were those that Deeny stood out for you? I will go back and try rewatch. Just haven’t seen it at all myself.

@Conor Morris: I’m sure Israel is nice guy

@Aidan Farrell: Shannon Frizell is a vile piece of work no matter how much New Zealand police and the All Blacks want to brush him beating up and threatening women with more violence under the table

@Ultán Corcoran: Kurtley Beale, Sevu Reece, Gareth Thomas!!

@Aidan Farrell: Papé

@I92wJ21M: lol. They have 3 NIQ slots, vacated this summer. Leinster are filling the slots. You really have to admire the persistence of Munster fans claiming to have some concern for the development of young Irish talent in Leisnter. If JB (6 month deal) for RG (12 month deal) block someone’s development, will your province be able to plug the gap? Didn’t think so. Especially not at centre with Munster. How many consecutive seasons is it hiring a new centre? We’ve been waiting 10 years for a Munster developed player to become an Irish regular. That’s a big bigger scandal and disgrace than short-term deals. You might also want to ask your province why they keep getting knocked out in the Last 16, whereas 90,000 people have paid through the gates 2 weeks in a row to see Leinster. €€€€€

@I92wJ21M: did munster actually have an academy? Don’t recall many players coming through.

@Andrew Martin Farrell: did you bank your head? Whatever about seemingly not considering Nash, Crowley or Casey to be Irish regulars. Thinking there was 90,000 in the Aviva these past 2 weekends, isn’t it 50000 capacity?

@Ciaran Kennedy: If you care to add up the tickets sold vs Leicester and the tickets sold vs La Rochelle, you come to over 90,000. Simple mathematics. Selling out the Aviva with less than a weeks notice really shows that Leinster are the biggest draw around.