Fitzgerald out for 6 months

jam_on_toast

Well, 4-6months.

http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2009/1116/fitzgeraldl.html

Hope it isnt too bad and he recovers fully.

On the plus, we are well covered in that area.

conf101

Jaysus, bad luck!

thomond2006

Holy shít. :eek:

That's bad luck. Luke did well in defence and attack when he got a chance. He's a top player.

Leinster have good cover though:

11. Nacewa
14. Horgan
15. Kearney

This opens a big window of opportunity for Keith Earls to stake a claim for an Irish wing berth. Up to him now to take his chance.

danthefan

Disaster, for Leinster and Ireland. No other word for it.

phog

Desperate luck for Luke, it didnt seem too hard a knock at the time but I suppose there the ones that cause most injury, wish him a speedy return to rugby.

Aidric

Massive blow. Fitzgerald was really hitting his stride presently.

ongarite

Bad news for Ireland and Leinster.
Good news for Earls and maybe Horgan too, who has been in good form this season.

Andre1816

That's an absolute disaster, im gutted for him. Hopefully he'll make a quick and good recovery

fifth

Ah for gods sake, really disappointing news!

Four-Percent

thomond2006 wrote: »

Holy shít. :eek:

That's bad luck. Luke did well in defence and attack when he got a chance. He's a top player.

Leinster have good cover though:

11. Nacewa
14. Horgan
15. Kearney

This opens a big window of opportunity for Keith Earls to stake a claim for an Irish wing berth. Up to him now to take his chance.

Indeed, good post.

anonymous_joe

thomond2006 wrote: »

Holy shít. :eek:

That's bad luck. Luke did well in defence and attack when he got a chance. He's a top player.

Leinster have good cover though:

11. Nacewa
14. Horgan
15. Kearney

This opens a big window of opportunity for Keith Earls to stake a claim for an Irish wing berth. Up to him now to take his chance.

Also Conway, Simon Keogh, Dave Kearney. Not to mention some of the other youngsters. Still a fcuking kick in the proverbials.

Nukem

Bad luck - was really starting to show his abilities off

Sangre

Nukem wrote: »

Bad luck - was really starting to show his abilities off

I was actually really starting to get sick of him over running the player!

Huge loss for Leinster and Ireland though. I really don't want Earls to take his place for Ireland, I don't he is of intl. standard yet.

gavkm27

Well that is a blow for poor Luke,i think we have strength and depth in that area,not like our front row

Zuffer

Gutted for him, he is a fantastic player.

Podge_irl

That's awful news, for both himself and Ireland and Leinster (possibly moreso Leinster, he's really exceptionally important to them). He was out most attacking back while he was on against Aus, always looked dangerous.

As Dan says, bloody disaster. I don't think people will realise how much Ireland and Leinster will miss him til he's gone.

lmao

Thats terrible unlucky! Wish him a speedy recovery!

[Jackass]

Much worse news for Leinster than Ireland. Plenty of cover for Ireland. I've a feeling Kearney will play 11 for Leinster and Nacewa at 15....which isn't ideal...and Kearneys form has been below his usual standard ever since after the Lions tour.

Best of luck luke, get well soon!

Podge_irl

[Jackass] wrote: »

Much worse news for Leinster than Ireland. Plenty of cover for Ireland. I've a feeling Kearney will play 11 for Leinster and Nacewa at 15....which isn't ideal...and Kearneys form has been below his usual standard ever since after the Lions tour.

Surely Nacewa is a much better 11 than Kearney, whereas its 50-50 as to the better fullback? I can't see Kearns going back to 11, he really wasn't ever great there.

[Jackass]

Podge_irl wrote: »

Surely Nacewa is a much better 11 than Kearney, whereas its 50-50 as to the better fullback? I can't see Kearns going back to 11, he really wasn't ever great there.

Yeah I agree, but Cheika seems to prefer Nacewa at 15 and has been a fan of Kearney on the wing in the past. Personally I'd go for Kearney at 15 and Nacewa at 11 every time, but not sure Cheika would agree.

conno16

best of luck to jedward - sure he'll be back next season

PhatPiggins

Sangre wrote: »

I was actually really starting to get sick of him over running the player!

Huge loss for Leinster and Ireland though. I really don't want Earls to take his place for Ireland, I don't he is of intl. standard yet.

I think Fitzgerald is the most under used talent in Irish rugby. Some of his lines of running are exquisite but his team mates aren't always on the same wave length.

Reminds me of when Cullen was at Munster. Even on one leg and half a shoulder he was still running lovely angles, unfortunately no one know what he was doing.

If Fitzgerald was a Kiwi he'd be their starting full back.

Colm_OReilly

Hope he's a speedy recovery.

Earls at 11 for Ireland for me. Be good for Earls to actually stay in one position for a length of time.

Trojan

Big loss for Leinster. He's really upped his game in the last season. Fingers crossed there's no long term impact on his career.

Macca07

phog wrote: »

Desperate luck for Luke, it didnt seem too hard a knock at the time but I suppose there the ones that cause most injury, wish him a speedy return to rugby.

He ruptured his LCL, doesn't need to be a hard knock, just where he got it.

Dunno about Earls against the Boks, he's a great attacking player but he just isn't able to defend against the best of them. And am I right in saying he'd be up against Habana???

But saying that I don't know who would be a better option, haven't watched enough of Leinster to know what form Shaggy's in

Macca07

PhatPiggins wrote: »

I think Fitzgerald is the most under used talent in Irish rugby. Some of his lines of running are exquisite but his team mates aren't always on the same wave length.

If Fitzgerald was a Kiwi he'd be their starting full back.

I'd agree with u there.

I remember George Hook going on about him a few years ago before he broke into the Leinster squad, and he said he was the most promising player he has ever seen, better than BOD at the same age!!!

funky penguin

Macca07 wrote: »

But saying that I don't know who would be a better option, haven't watched enough of Leinster to know what form Shaggy's in

He's in fantastic form. But it again raises the question...experience vs blooding youth.

Munster Blogger

WOW!! didnt think it would be that bad. Big loss.

Macca07

funky penguin wrote: »

He's in fantastic form. But it again raises the question...experience vs blooding youth.

I think he'll blood youth, just to have the option for the 6 Nations, but its still a big loss

premierstone

Macca07 wrote: »

Dunno about Earls against the Boks, he's a great attacking player but he just isn't able to defend against the best of them. And am I right in saying he'd be up against Habana???

Habanna has been cited afaik for kicking out in the french game and is expected to be suspended.

Otacon

premierstone wrote: »

Habanna has been cited afaik for kicking out in the french game and is expected to be suspended.

I saw that 'kick' at the time. Can't remember the French player involved, but it looked like he moved his arm behind Habana's leg, and pulled his leg into him, making it look like a kick.

Anyone have a clip? I was watching a stream so I could be wrong.

Sorry, off-topic.

Macca07

Didn't think it was much of a kick to be honest, but its a 4 week suspension if found guilty, so he would be missing. But if he's available would he be No.14 or No.11?

Macca07

Habana Kick

Here's a pretty good video.

he was No.11 against France anyway so he'd be up against Bowe, and Bowe did a decent enough job on the Lions Tour

ALH-06

Macca07 wrote: »

Dunno about Earls against the Boks, he's a great attacking player but he just isn't able to defend against the best of them. And am I right in saying he'd be up against Habana???

I agree - Earls has shown several times that he is a liability in defense. Massive pity, as he's such a superb attacking prospect. But defending against the very best wingers in the world? I just have no confidence in him.

Macca07 wrote: »

he was No.11 against France anyway

Habana nearly always plays 11 for South Africa - it's Peterson on the right wing that Earls would be up against.

Fitz is a big loss. I'd prefer to see Shaggy in there as opposed to Earls versus South Africa. While not as creative going forward, he's experienced, solid defensively and in great form at the moment.

Amabokke

Pity about Fitzie, I actually like the lad's guts.

As for the Habana video :rolleyes: ...say no more.

louthandproud

phog wrote: »

Desperate luck for Luke, it didnt seem too hard a knock at the time but I suppose there the ones that cause most injury, wish him a speedy return to rugby.

+1 on the speedy return, most unfortunate.

Looking at the replay it seems almost that it was the during rolling away from the tackle on the ground that his leg jarred.

Extremely bad luck for him.