It's possibly a coincidence, but David Nucifora's arrival in Ireland comes just as more and more players are realising that in order to enhance their international claims - they need to make a move within the IRFU to further their playing time.
Most people assumed that Nucifora would help ease tensions between provinces and allow more movement to spread out assets amongst the four teams. We've seen Robbie Henshaw move east to Leinster, Sam Arnold bolster Munter's centres, and now Cian Kelleher will be heading west to Connacht.
Is it enough? Perhaps not. While Leinster are overloaded in all areas of the pack - Ulster are desparate for a back-row, and Munster really need a second row. Leinster would need help in the half-backs, whilst Ulster are overloaded with centres.
Is there anything we can do to help that? Should there be more moves made between provinces? We think so here at balls - so we've come up with four moves that would benefit all teams in Irish Rugby. The rules - each provinces loses one player and gains one player. That means that although we'd like to see one of Leinster's factory of loosehead's go west to help out Denis Buckley, other needs for other teams took precedence.
Here's the four moves we thought would help everyone:
Robin Copeland - Ulster
Ulster haven't replaced the ball-carrying ballast of Stephen Ferris, and are set to lose Nick Williams too. Springbok Marcell Coetzee is an outstanding signing, but he's very injured and ball-carrying isn't his main attribute.
The rumours are that anyone of Leinster's backrowers are about to head north to help the problem. While that would be ideal, the rules we've given ourselves mean that I've picked Robin Copeland to head north. Copeland hasn't hit the heights of his time at Cardiff Blues, partly because he's been overshadowed by CJ Stander, Jack O'Donoghue, and Peter O'Mahony. With Dave Callaghan and Shane Buckley also there - Munster are well set at 6 and 8 without Copeland. Ulster just have promising Ireland U20's Conor Joyce and Lorcan Dow - as well as Robbie Diack and Roger Wilson.
Copeland would help Munster bring through Jack O'Donoghue faster, as well as helping Copeland become a focal point in a team, and would ease the burden of carrying on Iain Henderson. Sounds like a win-win-win situation.
Mike McCarthy - Munster
It seems strange to say after the 20 years they just had - but Munster are now in need of a second row. There's no Mick Galwey, or Donncha O'Callaghan, or Paul O'Connell coming through - and Donnacha Ryan needs help. Dave Foley's development has stalled, and they need help anyway.
Should Munster look east to Leinster they will see an embarrassment of riches in the second row. Devin Toner, Ross Molony, and Mick Kearney are all international quality - whilst the signing of Ian Nagle seems like an added luxury. It would depend on the futures of Tom Denton, Gavin Thornbury, Hayden Triggs, and David O'Connor though. Assuming at least one of those will be re-signed then Leinster have more than enough locks for the season without Mike McCarthy.
John Cooney - Leinster
This is a move that we've been backed into based on the rules. Leinster need a scrumhalf - the rumours are that an NIQ is on the way, it just needs to be confirmed. Until that happens, we're assuming that Luke McGrath is the only 9 under the age of 35 on the team.
Academy scrumhalf Nick McCarthy has some way to go to be a viable back-up to McGrath - so why not bring back Leinster product John Cooney into the fold.
Cooney has been a decent pick-up for the Westerners, but injuries have disrupted his rhythm. There was a time when Cooney was outplaying first choice Kieran Marmion. Now though, Cooney seems to have fallen behind Caolin Blade in the pecking order. In Marmion and Blade, Connacht have two nines who will serve the province with distinction for the next ten years. With academy scrumhalf Conor Lowdnes third in the pecking order, they could afford to let Cooney go to Leinster.
It wouldn't be as a much of a win-win situation as Copeland to Ulster, but it still represents getting the four best scrumhalves for the two provinces the most amount of gametime.
Darren Cave - Connacht
Ulster are a centre factory at the moment. Stuart McCloskey, Stuart Olding, Jared Payne, and Luke Marshall are an embarrassment of riches - which means they can afford to let Sam Arnold and Chris Farrell leave the province. At a pinch, Tommy Bowe, Charles Piutau, Louis Ludik, and Andrew Trimble could all play in the centres too.
All of which means that Irish international Darren Cave isn't being afforded enough gametime. Should we move Cave out to Connacht - we could see the best of the centre. He'd be a luxury player for Connacht but would improve their squad.
He'd join Bundee Aki in the first choice XV, that would help ease Peter Robb and Rory Parata into more gametime - while Craig Ronaldson floats between outhalf and inside centre.
But if Schmidt wants his best centres playing regular rugby - then it's a move that Cave might need to make.
See Also: Leinster Rage At Losing Promising Academy Star To Connacht
See Also: The Biggest Transfer Needs For Each Irish Rugby Province
Picture credit: SPORTSFILE
