Scott Fardy joins Leinster

[cormac]

He'll also be 34 years old when he starts. If he is a flop it would be no surprise. It would mirror a whole host of previous sloppy signings.

He'll be 33 when he joins. Born 5 July 1984.

[simonokeeffe]

Just watched Fardy v Rebels and am now getting worried as to why we recruited him. Certainly no sign of him playing in the row or having the physique to do so. Decent at line-out but that's it.

He has the height and he has a preseason to put on some weight for specialising in the second row

[Raydollard]

Meant to write "in his 34th year when he starts"

[wixfjord]

6'6 and 18 stone? What more physique does he need?

[neiliog93]

He won't be a flop, he has very low mileage for his age, only went pro at 27/28, and has the right personality to get on with the job. Excellent at the breakdown for a very tall man, good work-rate, intelligent, good hands, and obviously fairly physical and a line-out option. He's not going to be another Rocky Elsom and we shouldn't expect that, but he's going to be a very good player.

[ronk]

Just watched Fardy v Rebels and am now getting worried as to why we recruited him. Certainly no sign of him playing in the row or having the physique to do so. Decent at line-out but that's it.

Only saw the last 20 minutes or so but didn't see anything concerning.

[COYBIB]

I don't know how much of an upgrade Fardy will be on Triggs, he may well just be a journeyman at this point. Obviously I hope i'm wrong on that, but if i'm not, one positive is it blows two spots in a match day squad wide open, and should see plenty of game time for prospects like Moloney and Kearney and hopefully the international James Ryan. I'm interested to see what he looks like in blue. Even Nagle is young in rugby years, so is still a development prospect in my opinion, he has good potential still to achieve I think. Good development opportunity.

[hugonaut]

He won't be a flop, he has very low mileage for his age, only went pro at 27/28, and has the right personality to get on with the job. Excellent at the breakdown for a very tall man, good work-rate, intelligent, good hands, and obviously fairly physical and a line-out option. He's not going to be another Rocky Elsom and we shouldn't expect that, but he's going to be a very good player.

Yeah, I have no worries about Fardy, really looking forward to seeing him in Leinster colours.

I don't see the positional change as a huge deal given his size and his international experience. The only part of the game that is going to be a change for him is scrummaging - he's a first rate lineout option, really good at the breakdown, can maul, ruck, tackle, handle etc. He's going to be doing all of those things way more often than scrummaging. It's the nature of modern rugby that there is loads of general play and fewer set-pieces. In any case he's got the size to play in the row: he's pretty much exactly the same size as Nagle at 198cm and 114kg. He's got the competitive mentality and I reckon he'll be keen to get his hands dirty and get used to the new scrummaging duties.

In fact, it surprises me that people are so gung-ho on Beirne and so down on Fardy, when they're really similar types of player – except that one has played in a World Cup final and played the All Blacks ten times.

I expect that we'll be using him a lot in the middle of the pitch, in the same manner that we used Triggs in the second half of the season and in the manner best exemplified by Brodie Retallick for the All Blacks. He's a really good handler, is a much quicker player than Triggs and will naturally attract a lot of attention.

[wixfjord]

He won't be a flop, he has very low mileage for his age, only went pro at 27/28, and has the right personality to get on with the job. Excellent at the breakdown for a very tall man, good work-rate, intelligent, good hands, and obviously fairly physical and a line-out option. He's not going to be another Rocky Elsom and we shouldn't expect that, but he's going to be a very good player.

Yeah, I have no worries about Fardy, really looking forward to seeing him in Leinster colours.

I don't see the positional change as a huge deal given his size and his international experience. The only part of the game that is going to be a change for him is scrummaging - he's a first rate lineout option, really good at the breakdown, can maul, ruck, tackle, handle etc. He's going to be doing all of those things way more often than scrummaging. It's the nature of modern rugby that there is loads of general play and fewer set-pieces. In any case he's got the size to play in the row: he's pretty much exactly the same size as Nagle at 198cm and 114kg. He's got the competitive mentality and I reckon he'll be keen to get his hands dirty and get used to the new scrummaging duties.

In fact, it surprises me that people are so gung-ho on Beirne and so down on Fardy, when they're really similar types of player – except that one has played in a World Cup final and played the All Blacks ten times.

I expect that we'll be using him a lot in the middle of the pitch, in the same manner that we used Triggs in the second half of the season and in the manner best exemplified by Brodie Retallick for the All Blacks. He's a really good handler, is a much quicker player than Triggs and will naturally attract a lot of attention.

Very good point.

Personally I think Fardy will turn into an excellent signing, if he can scrummage. Will add a lot to our defensive lineout too and provide another turnover option.

Certainly don't get the claims about him being 'too small' above.

He's objectively a class above Triggs, who was a brilliant guy for us but was punching above his level.

We'll have a pack built for playing attacking running rugby next year and hopefully a solid set-piece too. The signings we've made and shape of the team this season would indicate that Leo/Bomber et al see this as the way forward.

Learning from Toner and Fardy can only be a good thing for James Ryan too.

[ronk]

People assume more Sykes or Douglas than Hines or Thorn. But Fardy has an unconventional path more like them

[BlueWheels]

Just wondering what people thought of him in the recent friendly?
Couldn't make it myself

[Dave Cahill]

Just wondering what people thought of him in the recent friendly?
Couldn't make it myself

Very good. Took a lovely line to make a break for the first try and showed good hands in the transfer. His work in the tight was classic old pain in the bollix of a second row type of play that we've missed since Leo retired. Hard to know how he contributed to the scrum as we had them on toast regardless of the personnel involved (I'd say Charlie Rock would have sent Afoa backwards on his arse the way he was acting the maggot)

[BlueBlue]

Just wondering what people thought of him in the recent friendly?
Couldn't make it myself

He was excellent, won some good turn overs, link play was good and he looked aggressive and physical.

[BlueBlue]

People assume more Sykes or Douglas than Hines or Thorn. But Fardy has an unconventional path more like them

[LeRouxIsPHat]

Just wondering what people thought of him in the recent friendly?
Couldn't make it myself

Very good. Took a lovely line to make a break for the first try and showed good hands in the transfer. His work in the tight was classic old pain in the bollix of a second row type of play that we've missed since Leo retired. Hard to know how he contributed to the scrum as we had them on toast regardless of the personnel involved (I'd say Charlie Rock would have sent Afoa backwards on his arse the way he was acting the maggot)

Thought Afoa looked incredibly unfit, he was seriously blowing through his rear and taking as much time as possible before getting set for scrums.

[riocard911]

Scott Fardy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2W-PgEjaejw