RTÉ Rugby podcast: Jordie Barrett, balancing quality & inequality, plus Ireland's big win

Neil Treacy is joined by former Munster wing Johne Murphy to recap a busy week across the four provinces.
We look at Leinster's impressive Investec Champions Cup win over La Rochelle (01:00), as Leo Cullen's side booked a semi-final date with Northampton Saints at Croke Park.
We also discuss their big moves in the market, with Jordie Barrett (13:00) and Tyler Bleyendaal (28:10) arriving next season, while also examining whether they're getting too big an advantage from the central contract system (19:06).
And we also look ahead to Munster, Connacht and Ulster's return to BKT United Rugby Championship action this weekend (31:48), as we head into the final five games of the regular season.
Later, Neil is joined by Alison Miller (45:00) to recap Ireland's Guinness Six Nations win against Wales, while we look ahead to Saturday's Twickenham trip.
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[@seangriffin8659]

more central contracts = less provincial availability for key players. its completely fair that the freed up salary space allows leinster keep the same quality of roster while their internationals are away. otherwise one province has to suffer to prop up the national side.

[@craig6520]

Lads, if ye could start timestamping different discussion topics within the videos it would be much appreciated

[@FR-je9bw]

Great suggestion

[@rtesport]

Thanks for the suggestion Craig, we've put the main timestamps into this ep description, and will look to do it more in the future. Cheers, Neil.

[@craig6520]

That would be awesome. Thank you. Always enjoy your content​@@rtesport

[@Camcolito]

So we have Keenan, Frawley, Larmor and Barrett. I reckon it wouldn't hurt to sign Ramos just in case we pick up a couple of knocks.

[@jasonjohnflaherty]

😂😂😂

[@riyaadrhoda3990]

You can see the hand of Nienaber in Leinster's in your face defense. Something that was missing the last few years. La Rochelle don't know what hit them.

[@pistonrod2692]

Johne Murphy speaks a lot of sense, cannot punish success.

[@danielg8001]

In other words Johne, jam tomorrow for the other provinces! It can’t be about funding one team as we know this team have had their issues getting over the line in the last few years and have a way to go yet this year. Surely having four competitive teams would be better for Irish rugby and Ireland?

[@patrickcoote8441]

There is a case for spreading more central contracts around. Like a minimum 4 or 3 for each province with the rest being player based. Each province has at least that many Irish squad players The contract could also be based on their status so if they are not a clear starting player, or not even a 23 and more of a development prospect. This would assistant provinces financially Connacht (Aki, Bealham, Hansen, N, Murry, Prendergast, Blade, Forde) Ulster (Herring, Stewart, O’Tool, Henderson, Timmony, McCann, McCloskey, Doak, Hume, Baloucoune) Munster (Jager, Birne, Ahern, Coombs, O’Mahony, Casey, Crowley, Nash)

[@pistonrod2692]

Then we will have four provinces that win nothing, our best players will go abroad. fans numbers attending games will decrease

[@BobH-eh8wu]

And yet no one batted an eyelid when sneyman was signed to Munster and when kitshoff signed to ulster. Think Munster seem to be forgetting their team had around 5 South Africans in it only going back a few years ago😂

[@tomc2581]

Can someone explain the Munster "love-in" of La Rochelle? Must be the only province that actively supports a non-Irish team over an Irish one. Is it jealousy? Ive noticed it and especially since 2009. I get the O'Gara point but that surely can't be the main reason as it's often been the case with supporting other teams in knockouts when they face Leinster

[@purplecrown505]

Snyman will be there for 1 year, Barrett for 6 months. Everyone needs to chill out

[@danglybit1]

Jaques is basically training the Irish side..could end up being low scoring games in SA. due to both sides being defensive.

[@daviiidoff]

Yes because 40 points is low scoring isn’t it .. 🤡

[@FR-je9bw]

Would be great if you could reignite the rivalry by beating us for first time since 2016!

[@danglybit1]

@@FR-je9bw ... don't have anything to say, but you say it anyway ...key-board arm wrestling is so pointless.

[@jacqloock]

@@FR-je9bwFrom your lips…

[@FR-je9bw]

@@danglybit1 Can I ask you this? Will anyone turn up in Loftus or Ellis Park this weekend? Our boys are used to playing in front of full stadia. Everytime I tune into SA games, the grounds are empty.

[@seangriffin8659]

munster should move kendellen to the centre and get josh wycherly throwing line-outs to move him to hooker. he's undersized as a loosehead but would be a scrummaging threat at hooker. both would address depth issues. ulster is a lost cause, but they should sign a bruising lock (they seem to only have locks of the "could-play-six" kind), and try get frawley. if they can't get frawley they could get two native ulstermen paddy jackson and peter nelson who has 60 ulster caps, plays club in Pro D2 at aurillac and internationally for canada connacht should just continue to poach leinster backups and try to lure sam prendergast out west. they also need to sign either an all black (ex. codie taylor) or a first class center partner (ex. tuisova) to motivate bundee aki to actually try at provincial level.

[@ballyshonognzhawkesbay7202]

Ulster won a European Cup, Munster too .... Leinster we're the laughing stock of Irish rugby for many years throughout these years... they learnt tough lessons along the way, with help from shrewd signings along the way they've now created a club that's the envy of European Rugby.... where's the critism of French rugby??? Get over yourselves lads and be thankful that the Barretts of this world want to learn from us. Who was complaining about Leinster rugby when Ireland won last year, this year ???

[@tvpc3194]

IRFU have made Leinster the Dublin GAA and Man City of Irish Rugby.

[@brianmcarton]

Good

[@pistonrod2692]

And help pay off musters 26 million thomand park debt

[@Dreyno]

@@pistonrod2692Didn’t Munster have Doug Howlett, Jean DeVilliers, RG Snyman, Damien DeAllende, Christian Cullen, BJ Botha, Malakai Fekitoa, Sam Tuitupou etc.? The difference with Leinster isn’t the occasional big overseas signing. It’s the homegrown talent.

[@tomc2581]

Did the IRFU invest millions and millions extra over the other provinces? Or did Leinster build a system that they now get to enjoy the fruits of?

[@tomc2581]

Tbh I think the salty fans are correct, this was a conspiracy to ensure Leinster's success, it wasn't due to an excellent school system followed by academy and homegrown talent. Should just kick Leinster out for cheating