We welcomed Stephen Ferris again this week to cast his expert eye over what was a tumultuous week in Irish rugby.
RG Snyman moving to Leinster has brought to the fore a lot of provincial feelings, but has also called into question possible favouritism towards Leinster from the IRFU.
While it is an excellent signing for both the province and Snyman himself, it is but another advantage Leinster gain on the field.
Ferris Questions The Rules In Irish Rugby
Stephen Ferris - in one of our weekly chats in association with Ladbrokes - questions whether this is an example of the IRFU turning a blind eye to Leinster's depth and whether the signing is a contradiction of their NIQ rules for other provinces:
It's a tricky one because I was still very much following Ulster and a huge fan of Ulster when Ruan Pienaar was there, and he's still playing for the Cheetahs at 39 years of age, Man of the Match last week against the Sharks I believe in their victory in the Challenge Cup.
And he more or less got moved on from Ulster didn't he? To make space for born and bred Irish players.
And you just wonder about the likes of Joe McCarthy at Leinster, you know, James Ryan, like if Leinster has a fully fit stack team, RG Snyman is probably going to start and probably going to play.
So Joe McCarthy, who for me feels like he's next in line for Ireland, never mind Leinster. He sort of misses out or doesn't he? Or does he get better because he's working with somebody like RG Snyman on a more regular basis.
But I just feel it's a precarious situation that we now find ourselves in because other provinces will be like, 'well, hold on a second.
'It doesn't matter if we have five Irish born tight head props in the squad, they're all not good enough and we need to go and sign a South African or somebody who's going to do better and they go 'oh, no we need to make space for, you know, the Irish guys coming through.'
Well, hold on a second. That's not the same rule for Leinster then. Is it not?'
READ HERE: Bernard Jackman Has 'Sympathy' For Munster Over RG Snyman Dilemma
3 March 2023; RG Snyman, left, and Jean Kleyn of Munster after the United Rugby Championship match between Munster and Scarlets at Musgrave Park in Cork. Photo by Tom Beary/Sportsfile
"So it's going to be an interesting landscape, isn't it, over the next couple of seasons to see what way signings are made from the other provinces," continued Ferris.
"I know there's been a hell of a lot of chat about the front row at Munster, and it needs to be bolstered. And if they're going to continue on or pick up where they left off, four or five seasons ago, they need to bolster the front row.
"So maybe letting RG Snyman go will maybe give them a little bit more leeway with the IRFU and trying to sign a foreign front row player.
"But it's going to be an interesting landscape over the next couple of years, and it has a lot of spice ahead of this game on Stephen's Day when Leinster travel down to Munster."
SEE ALSO: Could Ireland Coaching Appointment Hint At Leinster Return For Johnny Sexton?
