competitive. The game in Ireland is financed predominantly by the IRFU with the provinces topping up the wages through their own Sponsorship deals and Gate receipts. The Provinces aren't slow about splashing the cash for the right foreign player when required and the NZ media are annoyed that we are targeting their players. Tight Head prop John Afoa and Utility back Jared Payne have signed for Ulster next season for deals reportedly in excess of 400,000 per annum each and Leinster have signed Matt Berquist as a back up to Johnny Sexton and Benson Stanley the All Black centre is rumored to be on his way to Munster or Connacht.
There isn't a salary cap in Ireland or France as there is in the UK and its no coincidence that the last for in the Heineken Cup is made up of 2 French, 1 Irish and 1 English based team. The IRFU have been able to compete with the French teams for Irish Internationals because of how well the players are looked after here medically and also there is a Tax break for Sportspeople in Ireland that if they retire from playing in Ireland they get 40% of any tax paid in Ireland back in the form of a rebate. The wages being paid are still a long way short of Premiership soccer players level but given the Physical nature of the sport it is certainly a step in the Right direction.
There is no doubt that the IRFU have done a great job in developing the game since rugby went pro and the top 3 places in the Magners League are currently filled by Munster, Leinster and Ulster in that order. Connacht are four places from the bottom and they have made progress under Eric Elwood this season and are definitely heading in the right direction.
Munster had a very impressive away win over the Scarlet's in Wales at the weekend and they are currently 14 points clear of the pack with 2 matches to play so they completely deserve the home draw that they will have for the play offs. The most impressive thing about Munster is the fact that they are now starting to blood players from their Academy and the club game and they are showing that they have strength in depth. Leinster and Ulster locked horns in the RDS in front of 17,000 fans on Saturday evening and the intensity that Leinster started the game with which was incredible. They had the 4 try bonus point wrapped up by the 37th minute which is a record in the Magners League this season. Leinsters last two matches are against the bottom two teams in the League and they have it in their own hands now to also get a home semi and avoid Munster but also reward their fans who wont have to travel away.
The big talking points of last few weeks action for me has been the form of Felix Jones and Shane Horgan. Felix Jones is a Full Back from Munster who was formerly in the Leinster Academy. He always had huge potential but his progress at Munster was hindered by suffering two long term injuries back to back. He crushed Vertebrae in his neck with required a metal plate being inserted and then he suffered a cruciate ligament rupture which also required surgery. He has great pace and his first inclination is to counter attack. With Rob Kearney and Geordan Murphy having missed the 6 Nations due to injuries their appears to be weakness in this area but if they were fit I expect them to edge out Jones for this World Cup but I think over the coming years he will be a huge threat. Shane Horgan is at the opposite end of his career in that this will probably be his last world cup. He scored two tries against Ulster on Saturday night and it wont have been lost on him or the Irish Selectors that he was being marked by Andrew Trimble who played on the wing for Ireland in the last 6 Nations match against England. Shane is a huge influence on and off the pitch in any team he is involved in. He is what we call an "Energizer" and his attitude and work rate are always inspirational. At the last World Cup it was obvious that Squad Morale was low at times. I could think of no better man to have in New Zealand in October to have on the field but also behind the scene making sure the mindset was right.
