Bernard Jackman expects Munster overtures for Leinster players to be a short-term fix as the province looks to improve the quality of its own home-grown talent.
Joey Carbery has settled in well in his new surroundings after deciding opportunities for game-time were better served at the southern province.
Munster confirmed today that scrum-half Nick McCarthy, who has Luke McGrath and Jamison Gibson-Park ahead of him in the pecking order for the number nine jersey, will follow suit next season on a two-year deal.
Newport Gwent Dragons head coach Jackman told 2fm Game On listeners that there are differences in circumstances between the two moves.
"Joey was under contract and there seems to be involvement from the top in terms of making that move happen," he said.
"Nick is out of contract in June and maybe he has made a decision based on where he feels he can get more game time.
"Jamison Gibson-Park and Luke McGrath have been ahead of him up until now, but Nick has got more game time because Leinster can only pick two 'foreign' players in Europe [Heineken Champions Cup rules state a team can only pick two "overseas players" in a match-day 23. Certain countries are exempt, but New Zealand is not].
"Once Gibson-Park becomes nationalised, there’s probably a chance he will get less game time.
"There’s not a clear and obvious contender behind Conor Murray at Munster to be the back-up guy. For players who want to make the national team, definitely getting more game time, no matter the province, is a help."
The former Ireland hooker cited the example of John Cooney at Ulster, another Leinster castaway, who is thriving in a different environment.
It has raised questions of whether Leinster’s brimming pool of talent has meant it is simply farming out players elsewhere who struggle to make the cut in the match-day 23, and brings into focus the academies of the other three provinces.
"I understand Munster fans asking, ‘why aren’t we producing home-grown players? There has been a big focus on their Academy going back a few years. I remember Tony McGahan under his reign saying that they needed to revolutionalise it.
"Munster would probably see this a short-term solution"
"I know Peter Malone is doing a huge amount of work, Paul O’Connell was in last year as a consultant, but it takes time.
"They don’t have the natural talent coming through that is in Leinster. Munster would probably see this a short-term solution.
"They will want to produce more of their own players."
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