James Lowe signs for Leinster

[papachino]

FINALLY !!!! Leinster have needed to sign a Second Row and a Winger for three seasons... but it was well worth the wait, two amazing signings !!
Lowe and Byrne on the wings is some extremely exciting stuff!!

Team for 2017-18:
15.Kearney/Nacewa/Carbery
14.Byrne/McFadden/Daly
13.Ringrose/O'Loughlin/Daly
12.Henshaw/Reid
11.Lowe/Kearney
10.Sexton/Byrne
9.McGrath/Park
8.Heaslip/Conan
7.VDF/Murphy
6.O'Brian/Leavy/Ruddock
5.Toner/Molony/Kearney
4.Fardy/Triggs/Nagle
3.Furlong/Bent/Ross
2.Cronin/Leavy/Strauss/Byrne
1.McGrath/Healy/Dooley/Byrne/Porter

I'd like to see Leinster convert either Dooley or Porter into a Tight-Head...

[leinsterforever]

Lowe has played a good bit at 15

ROL is primarily a 13 though and loads of gametime for him with Henrose away a lot and ROL could well start ahead of Reid (with Ringrose at 12) were Henshaw to be injured

ROL has put in some top-notch performances on the wing. I think I'd have him starting at 11 even with everyone else fit.

Don't think Ringrose at 12 is anything more than emergency cover

[Oldschool]

The simple solution to the residency rule is to leave well enough alone.
I don't get this desire for a five year thingee.
The numpties/numbties at work.

[sunshiner1]

The simple solution to the residency rule is to leave well enough alone.
I don't get this desire for a five year thingee.
The numpties/numbties at work.

Agreed.

[LeRouxIsPHat]

ROL, like Ringrose, gets a few games as winger. I think however that ROL has shown a greater aptitude for the role.

Or more simply, he's faster, which is a bigger deal for a winger.

Yeah plus he only turned 23 in January so I wouldn't be too quick to say he's primarily a 13. Just because he's been a centre up until recently doesn't mean that his best position may not be elsewhere and he could play elsewhere for ten years.

I'm undecided about what his best position is going to be. I'd be leaning towards the wing but he's been excellent in both. I think I'd have him as second choice 13 and first choice 11 right now. Really impressed with how he adapts his game to position he's playing, not an easy thing to.

Larmour and possibly Kelly not too far away from being ready for the first team either, exciting times but can see us losing players over the next 18 months. Zane and Isa are obvious ones but I think there'll be others.

[the spoofer]

Ridiculous strength in depth next year


15:Lowe
14:Byrne
13:Ringrose
12:Henshaw
11:Nacewa
10:Sexton
9:McGrath
8:Conan
7:VDF
6:SOB
5:Toner
4:Fardy
3:Furlong
2:Cronin
1:McGrath

16:Tracey
17:Healy
18:Bent
19:Ruddock
20: Leavy
21:JGP
22:Carbery
23:ROL

*Significant Players Excluded:*

Forwards: Heaslip, Murphy, Moloney, James Ryan, Porter

Backs: Ross Byrne, McFadden, Dave Kearney, Rob Kearney, Noel Reid, larmour

May I ask why you've excluded Heaslip?

[Dave Cahill]

He is, like, so last year, man

[Golf Man]

Spitballs, Bayer Leverkusen, 42, Keith Gleeson and many many others - there are literally 1000s of examples across 100s of sports. Making an ex post facto change to a regulatory environment is very difficult (e.g. in Ireland its unconstitutional in both criminal and civil law)

Not a lot of relevance in there tbh - bit of googling and they give a recent relevant example, where France have decided themselves to enforce a 5 year residency rule. The players who could avail of this grandfather clause are the ones who have already represented France (ie already satisfied the existing 3 year requirement) like Spedding, Antonio etc (or in Irelands case Stander). No suggestion that there was a back dating to allow for other contracts etc.

While this may be a decision by the French (al la us not choosing foreign based players) I don't think its as simple as you make out

For example the Bayer Leverkusen example - making them apply to the new rules would have had an impact of their ongoing business - changing eligibility rules has no impact on these guys contracts - Lowe for example has no contract to play international rugby in 2020 - he might have an expectation that he will play but not sure how protected he would be in law

[leinsterforever]

A while back I was pondering how well Leinster would be covered next season if both of Nacewa and Kirchner left and weren't replaced. I came up with:

15. RK, Dardis, Power, Kelly
14. DK. A. Byrne, Keenan, Larmour, Kennedy
13. Ringrose, ROL, C. O'Brien, J. O'Brien
12. Henshaw, Reid, T. Daly, C. O'Brien, J. O'Brien
11. ROL, McFadden, B. Daly, Fitzpatrick

...which left me thinking that it would probably be preferable to hang on to Isa for another year since RK is injury-prone and his back up is inexperienced. It probably would have been manageable with no imports, though, especially if DK and Carbery covered 15 a bit. In that context, it's surprising that Leinster have two NIQs signed up for next season. I suppose such a good quality project player was hard for Schmidt and Nucifora to pass over

[simonokeeffe]

Midfield the only area we're not swimming in depth in

Had ROL played wing before this season? He has shown good adaptation/promise there after a shakey defensive start alright, but thought that came about due to injuries and trying to make space for him in the 23 due to his form

Ringrose/ROL for me is a better combo than Reid/Ringrose

[neiliog93]

He's one of the best young players in the world in his position, developing players for the Irish team is a bonus and he shouldn't even impede it much given Ferg is getting older and ROL is really more of a 13. Great bit of business.

[Peg Leg]

Ridiculous strength in depth next year


15:Lowe
14:Byrne
13:Ringrose
12:Henshaw
11:Nacewa
10:Sexton
9:McGrath
8:Conan
7:VDF
6:SOB
5:Toner
4:Fardy
3:Furlong
2:Cronin
1:McGrath

16:Tracey
17:Healy
18:Bent
19:Ruddock
20: Leavy
21:JGP
22:Carbery
23:ROL

*Significant Players Excluded:*

Forwards: Heaslip, Murphy, Moloney, James Ryan, Porter

Backs: Ross Byrne, McFadden, Dave Kearney, Rob Kearney, Noel Reid, larmour

May I ask why you've excluded Heaslip?

Well he's been in decline since '09 for a start

[Flash Gordon]

Midfield the only area we're not swimming in depth in

Had ROL played wing before this season? He has shown good adaptation/promise there after a shakey defensive start alright, but thought that came about due to injuries and trying to make space for him in the 23 due to his form

Ringrose/ROL for me is a better combo than Reid/Ringrose

Larmour hadn't by the way, he was playing 13 so another midfield option.

[Peg Leg]

Dear Burt,

This is ambition, this is what a top European club looks like. Would you fancy playing against us next season?

2+1 year contract extension attached. Please sign and return at your nearest convenience.

Regards,

Joe, David, Philip & Leo.

[erskinechilders]

I think we're alright at midfield in all honesty. :

12/13 : Henshaw & Ringrose

Reid & O'Loughlin

Daly & McFadden

O'Brien & O'Brien could easily be breaking through next year.

Mullins, Kelly, Larmour, O'Brien all have played their at some point. Carbery could easily play 12 I would imagine.

[ronk]

Super signing. Exactly what Leinster need. A few solid signings from outside to compliment the existing the developing talent. Not signing for the last few years has been watching us concede the Cup from the start.

We have been scraping by playing guys out of position on the wings for a very long time. Its hard to become an elite winger when all your peers converted to fill the position and aren't naturals. That injection of quality in 2 key positions turns weaknesses into strengths (hopefully). We don't have so much depth and so many signings that development is going to be blocked. It'll continue apace.

[Ruckedtobits]

Super signing.
A real finisher: something we haven't really had since Hickie.

A certain Luke Fitzgerald springs to mind. How quickly we forget!

[curates_egg]

Super signing.
A real finisher: something we haven't really had since Hickie.

A certain Luke Fitzgerald springs to mind. How quickly we forget!

Lukie was many things but he wasn't a finisher. He was a skillful footballer, with a great rugby instinct, which made him a whole different type of winger but I doubt even he would describe himself as a real finisher. The Munster hoardes never tire in pointing out how none of our wingers scores tries...and the stats don't lie.

[curates_egg]

Ridiculous strength in depth next year


15:Lowe
14:Byrne
13:Ringrose
12:Henshaw
11:Nacewa
10:Sexton
9:McGrath
8:Conan
7:VDF
6:SOB
5:Toner
4:Fardy
3:Furlong
2:Cronin
1:McGrath

16:Tracey
17:Healy
18:Bent
19:Ruddock
20: Leavy
21:JGP
22:Carbery
23:ROL

*Significant Players Excluded:*

Forwards: Heaslip, Murphy, Moloney, James Ryan, Porter

Backs: Ross Byrne, McFadden, Dave Kearney, Rob Kearney, Noel Reid, larmour

May I ask why you've excluded Heaslip?

Well he's been in decline since '09 for a start

Decline? He was always overrated. Baggy pants and headphones and attitude. Roger Wilson: now there's a ledge bag.

[simonokeeffe]

I think we're alright at midfield in all honesty. :

12/13 : Henshaw & Ringrose

Reid & O'Loughlin

Daly & McFadden

O'Brien & O'Brien could easily be breaking through next year.

Mullins, Kelly, Larmour, O'Brien all have played their at some point. Carbery could easily play 12 I would imagine.

excluding any injuries Henshaw & Ringrose will miss half the league with Ireland, Reid is Reid, McFadden hasnt played (much) centre in a long time and IMO isnt suited to it anymore (mighnt be here either)

Rest are all completely untested kids at pro level

ROL gets injured and our league midfield looks iffy to me