For the foreseeable future, the 80+ column will appear on the Harpin’ Substack page just subscribe for free over there to receive it every week.
I’ll post a couple of the Front 5 articles plus the bonus clip here for this week but from next week on, it will be exclusively on Substack.
WRAP OF A WRAP
I needed a late substitute this week and although he had already done the preview show to make his 200th overall Harpin contribution, Ciarán Duffy was also on hand to do #201 along with Conor Cronin. It was the second week of our new pod format going with topics rather than a timeline approach. I still personally like the ‘old way’ myself as it was a throwback to the pre-podcast day when I’d do a match writeup but I reckon for the pod genre of content this way is better suited.
ICYMI click here to check out the wrap pod on Spotify or you’ll also find us on Apple and most major platforms.
FRONT FIVE
A selection of eye-catching egg-chasing quotes & links from around the rugby media landscape
THE LION’S SHARE
Unlike other years, all players will be paid the same amount for their contributions on tour – whether they feature in all three Tests or merely figure for minutes off the bench.
Leinster to earn almost €1m more than three other Irish provinces combined from Lions tour
Mark Donlon – Extra.ie
The headline looks like it has been designed to ragebait the ABL crowd, but you won’t be surprised to learn that my personal response is “proper order!” Whatever your opinion on the amount of Leinster players in the squad, when there’s as many as 12, why shouldn’t the province benefit, especially when there has been what I call a “Leinster tariff” imposed on it which is to benefit the other provinces (which I approve up FWIW in case I’m misunderstood).
DAY OF REIKO-NING
“I’ve spoken closely with [Leinster head coach] Leo [Cullen] over there and they have a plan…I’m sure they’ll look after me well and everything will be good.”
Rieko Ioane expects ‘50/50′ reception from Leinster supporters
Liam Napier – NZ Herald
Yeah, I get the whole 50/50 thing I guess, but if he puts in the effort when he’s here, the Leinster fans will take to him. Actually if he has half the impact Jordie has brought he’ll be doing well in my book.
HARPIN ON…THE LIONS SQUAD
LEAD-IN : Well with all that happened last weekend against Northampton including the tragic news about Caelan Doris’ surgery, despite there being so many Leinster and Ireland players involved, we weren’t exactly all that excited about the Lions selection during the week so we didn’t respond right away, which means it’s about time we did and I have asked the panel to go over the squad and maybe select a XV for the first test between them.
HARPIN' ON RUGBY 