goreyguy wrote:Byrne isn't a good enough athlete for other positions, in fact he may not be a good enough athlete for a modern day international 10.
If Byrne develops and reaches his potential, maybe in the future we will see him at 10 and Carbery at 15. But that's a big if and would require to develop pretty quickly IMO.
Don't agree with that at all, he's barely any different to Sexton in terms of athletic ability, or Biggar!
He is slower than both those lads based on what i've seen to date from him, both on based on pace and acceleration.
He may be able to overcome his athleticism at 10, but not at other positions.
Slower than Biggar
Really????
Ruddock's tackle stats consistently too low for me to be taken seriously as a Six Nations blindside..... Ruddock's defensive stats don't stack up. - All Blacks Nil, Jan 15th, 2014
England A 8 - 14 Ireland A, 25th Jan 2014 Ruddock(c) 19/2 Tackles
ISA !SA !SA!
Is he better now than in his first spell? Can't be far off.
76pts in the Heino this season-top pts scorer
6 tries-top try scorer (Scored in every game so far)
You know I'm going to lose,
And gambling's for fools,
But that's the way I like it baby, I don't want to live FOREVER!
I think Isa is ahead of Dr Phil at this point. In his first stint he won 3 Heineken Cups, an Amlin and a Pro 12. O'Driscoll has said he's the smartest player he's ever played with.
He then retires for 2 years and comes back better than ever, leading a very inexperienced Leinster team to a Pro 12 final, and I'm convinced we would have won that had himself and Toner been on the field!.
This year he's been ridiculous on the pitch and the impact he has off the pitch as well is incredible for the young outside backs!
Would be amazed to think that some of you would have Contepomi over Nacewa as best import - an absolute key part of the Leinster glory years and his second coming has been almost as good
All the skills on and off the field - I'd say he is one of you best ever full stop
Golf Man wrote:Would be amazed to think that some of you would have Contepomi over Nacewa as best import - an absolute key part of the Leinster glory years and his second coming has been almost as good
All the skills on and off the field - I'd say he is one of you best ever full stop
blockhead wrote:You could argue that Dr.Phil did the hard yards and Isa reaped some of that.
I would argue that Felipe was only capable of taking us so far. I am not convinced that we would have beaten both Munster and Leicester in 09 had he stayed fit. This, of course, is pure conjecture with the benefit of hindsight, and I thought we were f%~ked when Felipe went off in Croker Park (as Mr. Barnes called it). But J10 never looked back after nailing that penalty and he was at the heart of all that we did over the next four years. As was Isa.
I'm not sure you are all getting where the heart says Conters is coming from. The guy was a total gent and super passionate about Leinster. (Why Munster fans hated him and visa versa) In the cold light of day away from pashun and d'like Isa is the man. Not to say Isa doesn't have and play with passion etc. He has fire in the veins but ice in the head. The model pro.
27 appearances
15 tries
74 penalties
1 drop goal
58 conversion
416 points (287 in CL, 129 in HEC)
No Leinster player has gotten with 100 points of that one season total. He was staggeringly good that year and all behind what would generously be called an underperforming pack.
Isa would get my vote for best overseas player ever at Leinster but even he's never hit the heights quite like Felipe did that season. Gave his all in every game whether it was Borders away or a HEC semi-final. Loved him to bits.
27 appearances
15 tries
74 penalties
1 drop goal
58 conversion
416 points (287 in CL, 129 in HEC)
No Leinster player has gotten with 100 points of that one season total. He was staggeringly good that year and all behind what would generously be called an underperforming pack.
Isa would get my vote for best overseas player ever at Leinster but even he's never hit the heights quite like Felipe did that season. Gave his all in every game whether it was Borders away or a HEC semi-final. Loved him to bits.
You can't really call it an underperforming pack - it was not good enough at the top level, but Leinster couldn't have performed as they did that season if the pack were consistently underperforming - if anything they overperformed, becuase there was definitely a few duds in there. But that season for Contepomi will be remembered for one game - and he was woeful in it - sure the pack were beaten up but was he
Nacewa I don't think has ever had a game like that - ever?? Nacewa is outargeously good -his try v Leicester probably the best HC try of all time imo , and outrageously consistent
Contempomi was selected for preference as a 12 elsewhere and I think he was better there. I genuinely had no concerns about Sexton (we won the league with him playing 10 and Contepomi playing 12) and frankly would have selected him for the semi in '09 at 10 anyway.
Nacewa is a better player. Contepomi carried off lots of man of the matches and won us a stack of league games with the kids where he looked head and shoulders the best player on the pitch but I don't think he was quite the thing at 10 for the extra big matches.
