Scott Fardy joins Leinster

[neiliog93]

32 yr old comes in a on two-year and will play exclusively at second row. Very astute signing. Very low mileage for his age having only made his pro debut at 28.
http://www.the42.ie/scott-fardy-wallabi ... 4-Mar2017/

[curates_egg]

32 yr old comes in a on two-year and will play exclusively at second row. Very astute signing. Very low mileage for his age having only made his pro debut at 28.
http://www.the42.ie/scott-fardy-wallabi ... 4-Mar2017/

Being discussed on two other threads already.
But, regardless of which thread, it looks like a great signing on the face of it.
Afterwards, there are so many other factors at play c.c. our previous Australian lock signings (I'm counting Waga as Scottish for this exercise).

[Ruckedtobits]

Fardy is 6'6"" and currently wights 18 st (115 Kg). He earned his first Australian Cap at age 29 and will be 33 next July, i.e. before he joins Leinster.

On the basis of how we are playing at present, he appears an ideal recruit, being an excellent footballer as well as a tough second-row. The best Irish parallel would be Donnchadh Ryan, who also played some back-row earlier in his career.

Fardy has played on both sides of the scrum and with Dev now locking down the Tight-head side, it's not as if we are looking for another TH second-row for our European games.

For Pro12 games without Dev, Fardy seems to be a younger, higher skills, version of Triggs. Capable of playing a high tempo game and contributing the hardness necessary against Munster, Glasgow, Ospreys or Ulster.

Reviewing the line-out analysis of the 6N tournament carried in the IT this morning, it is patently clear that the day of two second-row jumpers equally sharing the load is well passed. In that regard, the majority of Fardy's line-out taken for Oz were in No 6 position, lifted by Hooper. This strongly suggest he has a natural jump and is very agile for his size.

IMO, good recruitment and let's hope he settles in Dublin and doesn't miss the sun too much

[wixfjord]

"A younger, higher skills, version of Triggs." is a good description.

[goreyguy]

"A younger, higher skills, version of Triggs." is a good description.

more athletic too.

[leinsterforever]

I've grown to like Triggs as a player, so I'll be sorry to see him go (if, as is likely, Fardy's arrival heralds his exit). Fardy was very impressive at blindside in the World Cup, so hopefully he's as good at lock

Wouldn't necessarily agree that Fardy's more skillful than Triggs. Triggs's ball-handling is very good

[curates_egg]

"A younger, higher skills, version of Triggs." is a good description.

more athletic too.

Much, much, better facial hair

[jimbobjoe]

Should also be noted that even if he gets capped in all of the Rugby championship games (6) this summer and summer tour (3?) he'll hit 48 caps which is still a way off being eligible to play for Oz under Giteau's Law (60 caps needed).

That's a great bit of experience to have around the Leinster dressing room all season long.

[simonokeeffe]

Should also be noted that even if he gets capped in all of the Rugby championship games (6) this summer and summer tour (3?) he'll hit 48 caps which is still a way off being eligible to play for Oz under Giteau's Law (60 caps needed).

That's a great bit of experience to have around the Leinster dressing room all season long.

think hes moving BECAUSE he hasnt been gettign in the Aussie side of late (which was a mistake IMO)

[jimbobjoe]

Should also be noted that even if he gets capped in all of the Rugby championship games (6) this summer and summer tour (3?) he'll hit 48 caps which is still a way off being eligible to play for Oz under Giteau's Law (60 caps needed).

That's a great bit of experience to have around the Leinster dressing room all season long.

think hes moving BECAUSE he hasnt been gettign in the Aussie side of late (which was a mistake IMO)

Ah I see. Yeah, last I saw of him in yellow he was doing a great job.. picking up more plaudits than Hocock/Pooper on more than a few occasions.

[Golf Man]

Fardy allowed Pocock and Hooper to be selected together - with them at 7 and 8 you need a lineout option and a bit of a melter at 6. The comparison to Ryan is decent but while Ryan had always been a lock first and could fill in at blindside, Fardy is far more the other way - so there is a slight risk in him being solely a lock - has barely featured there for 4 years

[paddyor]

Fardy allowed Pocock and Hooper to be selected together - with them at 7 and 8 you need a lineout option and a bit of a melter at 6. The comparison to Ryan is decent but while Ryan had always been a lock first and could fill in at blindside, Fardy is far more the other way - so there is a slight risk in him being solely a lock - has barely featured there for 4 years

As i understand it he came thru as a lock first and moved to 6 where he did well.

[erskinechilders]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRl_UTkVmEE

Good look at him there. Exactly what we needed to bridge the gap! Far happier with a signing like this than one to replace Zane.

[Golf Man]

Fardy allowed Pocock and Hooper to be selected together - with them at 7 and 8 you need a lineout option and a bit of a melter at 6. The comparison to Ryan is decent but while Ryan had always been a lock first and could fill in at blindside, Fardy is far more the other way - so there is a slight risk in him being solely a lock - has barely featured there for 4 years

As i understand it he came thru as a lock first and moved to 6 where he did well.

Think he played 2 seasons for teh Brumbies primarily as a lock - but since 2013 has been essentially exclusively a flanker - all his Australia caps are at 6. Fell out of favour a little bit in Australia in teh last year - Dean Mumm was being selected ahead of him. Very very good player, but possibly a slight risk as specialist second row at the top level

[paddyor]

Fardy allowed Pocock and Hooper to be selected together - with them at 7 and 8 you need a lineout option and a bit of a melter at 6. The comparison to Ryan is decent but while Ryan had always been a lock first and could fill in at blindside, Fardy is far more the other way - so there is a slight risk in him being solely a lock - has barely featured there for 4 years

As i understand it he came thru as a lock first and moved to 6 where he did well.

Think he played 2 seasons for teh Brumbies primarily as a lock - but since 2013 has been essentially exclusively a flanker - all his Australia caps are at 6. Fell out of favour a little bit in Australia in teh last year - Dean Mumm was being selected ahead of him. Very very good player, but possibly a slight risk as specialist second row at the top level

Yeah my principal worry being the scrum, could well slow him down around the park, but should be fine at the lineout.

OTOH he'll be packing down with an international tight 4 some of the time which should help him adapt.

[joooooe]

Whatever about the merits of signing him as a player, it should not be forgotten that this opens up an opportunity for us to give him the nickname "Jamie".

Scotty Fardy's having a party!

[johng]

Only rhymes if you're a yank or accusing him of being farty

[simonokeeffe]

IIRC he has captained Brumbies if not other sides so handy bit of leadership/experience

[goreyguy]

Commenting on the news, Leinster Rugby Head Coach Leo Cullen said, “Scott is a player of considerable talent and experience and we are looking forward to welcoming him to Leinster.

“In order to compete consistently on two fronts in the Guinness PRO12 and the Champions Cup we need to have competition across the team and while Scott has played a lot of rugby in the back row, we have signed Scott as a second row and believe he will complement the second row options that we already have here in Leinster.

“His arrival though is some way off and I know that he is keen to focus on the rest of his time with the Brumbies as are we with the rest of the PRO12 and Champions Cup season starting tomorrow against the Scarlets in the RDS. But it is certainly an exciting announcement for the team and for our supporters ahead of next season.”

[Logorrhea]

Great signing, right where the squad needs it.

Well done to all involved.