Kieran Lewis

Tim Robbins

bleg wrote: »

The line is: if a player is good enough to get a game then he should get a game. Lewis wasn't. He didn't. End of story.

That doesn't answer any the questions:
When a province should get an import?
How many they should get?
What should happen to fringe international players?

Otacon

bleg wrote: »

The line is: if a player is good enough to get a game then he should get a game. Lewis wasn't. He didn't. End of story.

Also, max of five imports?

Otacon

Tim Robbins wrote: »

When a province should get an import?

When they have the money / When the player will fit into the coaches plans / When they are a better option that what is there already [Or could be there to cover for players going on International duty]

Tim Robbins wrote: »

How many they should get?

I believe the max is five

Tim Robbins wrote: »

What should happen to fringe international players?

If these players are not getting gametime where they are, either improve or go to another club.

thomond2006

I think you can compare Kieran Lewis to Jeremy Staunton.

Big expectations, little opportunity, was found out to be an average player.

Amazotheamazing

madds wrote: »

IIRC a buddy of mine who was part of the playing setup with Leinster for ~4 years was so impressed with Lewis as a player he laid a bet that he would get capped at Int level within 12 months. Think the bet was laid in '05/'06. Obviously the bet was lost but it just shows the esteem in which certain players held him in.

Your mate won his bet, Lewis was capped on the tour to Japan in 2005, and again on the tour to Argentina in 2007.

Feel free to send me half his winnings.

Chucky the tree

Tim Robbins wrote: »

Well I see no reason why the IRFU should fund a province if that's the thinking. You can't have it both ways.

I see no reason why provinces shouldn't release there players until 1 week before internationals then. Personally I'd much prefer seeing a 5 max imports playing for provinces and players being released early and not having to play in between two breaks during the 6nations.

Why didn't Lewis leave earlier?

thomond2006

If Leinster had an really bad injury crisis, could they call up Lewis as cover?

phog

Tim Robbins wrote: »

That doesn't answer any the questions:
When a province should get an import?
How many they should get?
What should happen to fringe international players?

Dont the IRFU (the paymasters) have the PAG to advise them on the provinces hiring foreign players?

Micky Dolenz

buck65 wrote: »

You beat me to it on the Elsom point. I think what Earls and O Brien would have learned from these guys would be massive. Plus I really enjoyed getting to see Elsom play in Thomond last April and in Croker too. I still get a buzz from looking at Howlett play 20 metres from my seat in the East stand. Some of the greatest players in the world are playing their rugby in Ireland in th epast few years and looking forward to seeing the likes of de Vill and these guys coming.

The provinces would be lesser without the likes of Warwick, Contepomi, Elsom, Howlet, Mafi ,Tipoki, Halstead, Harrison, Danelli, Nacewa.

It's been great to see some modern greats of the game play in our own back yard and more importantly we are in a position so they want to play for our provincence's amongst our own home grown greats. It really is a wonderfull time to be a fan of Irish rugby.

Suckfisher

Lewis was part of an excellent J2 Marys back line on saturday which defeated
Stillorgan 37 -11 despite Stillorgan having a 11-10 advantage early in the second half.

He looked quality obv at lower level.

Buer

It's a bit of a joke having someone that was playing international rugby 6 years ago lining out at that level given he's still only 32. If he was pushed, he'd absolutely p*ss all over the opposition.

Suckfisher

Buer wrote: »

It's a bit of a joke having someone that was playing international rugby 6 years ago lining out at that level given he's still only 32. If he was pushed, he'd absolutely p*ss all over the opposition.

I dunno Marys are competitive at all levels were goung for a J1 double too i think.
ts great for Stillorgan guys to be playing such quality opposition he actually didnt stand out,
the Marys wingers were flyers though one lad had a side step like skippy the bush kangaroo .

jacothelad

Tim Robbins wrote: »

Conor O'Shea highly rated him as well and made the point he had to leave Leinster because of Drico / D'Arcy.

Well. COS thought that ROG should have started all the Ireland games in the last 6 Ns after Sexton pulled out.

CatFromHue

It might appear as a bit of joke but did he break any rules i.e. has he been playing J2 all season?

He may not want to commit to the time commitments of Marys 1st and may not want to play on Sundays, that's if J1's still play on Sundays.

Suckfisher

CatFromHue wrote: »

It might appear as a bit of joke but did he break any rules i.e. has he been playing J2 all season?

He may not want to commit to the time commitments of Marys 1st and may not want to play on Sundays, that's if J1's still play on Sundays.

Im sure hes been j2 all year hes nearly 33 in fairness to him.

He is probably playing non stop since he was 17 18 and j2 can still be competitive.
The league needs a shake up though seems only Lansdowne Marys and Stillorgan make any real effort in it.

Think J 1 still played on a sunday which sucks for any social life and should probably be used by guys who are on the fringes of the ail squad.