Geech Talks Sense.

[Neils]

I'm aware this makes me look a bit sad but I am always tempted to run the numbers on how many games Leinster's top players appear in the URC.
It's easy to look good in Europe when 1/ Leinster's squad is effectively the Irish one 2/ it is likely that the top players playing time is managed in a way to ensure they are at their freshest for European weekends.

For the record, I think this is where the provinces get player management right but I suppose that's possible when there isn't the threat of relegation and the financial repercussions of that. Although, if relegation is removed from the Prem, we may no longer have this excuse!

I have no worries about looking sad, especially about stats.

Leinster have player 17 games in the URC and 7 in the Champions Cup.

               URC     CC
Porter        5         6
Furlong      4         6
J Ryan       3         2
Doris         5         7
VdF           6         7
JGP           5         7
Sexton      3         6
Lowe         6         6

Thanks Jac, so this kind of re-enforces my point then really!

You would never see this in the Prem (this is based purely on when relegation was in the Premiership). Imagine only seeing Joe, Jack, Dobby and some of our other key players playing a maximum of 6 games in the prem. It wouldn't happen.

I don't watch the URC but, for those who do, can you tell me whether you think that the league is devalued by this? I don't think any other club does this in the URC, do they? I wonder, if relegation is removed from the Prem, we would start to see this happen more for English clubs?

The URC is devalued by this. I watch most weeks but you know before kick off what you are likely to see. The top two Irish teams have squads so deep that they can play an almost international second team. Further if you have that level of squad and during the vast  time spans of international representation (AIs and 6N) where the Scottish teams certainly lose 10/12 each and I am sure thw Welsh lose a comparible number it is a lottery - plus you now have the Saffer teams who do not lose anything like as many (nor do they have the 6N (yet)).

The URC is a closed league and, generally, the same teams top it year on year (Pro 14 previously).