McLaughlin considered quitting game

phog

From RTE

New Ireland blindside wing-forward Kevin McLaughlin has admitted he considered quitting rugby before having a breakthrough season in 2009-10.

The 25-year-old, who has also struggled with injuries, spent much of last season behind Australia star Rocky Elsom in the Leinster pecking order but he has cemented his place in the blues back row this year, impressing with his powerful tackling, ball carrying and lineout work.

The 25-year-old said: 'Last season was tough for me. With Rocky there I wasn't getting any game time. I had a couple of years where I struggled to make a breakthrough but that's just allowed me to appreciate this season all the more.

'I've come through it and am delighted to be seeing some reward. Last season I was looking at careers other than rugby.'

McLaughlin added that the support of Leinster's coaching staff, which includes Ireland backs coach Alan Gaffney, had been vitally important.

He said: 'The coaching staff at Leinster have been good to me and kept faith. Luckily I repaid them by improving. Now I have my chance in the Irish set-up. It's time to repay some of the faith shown in me.'

Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll backed McLaughlin to perform against Italy.

He added: 'Kevin has been very consistent. He's been a big impact player for us, has carried well and has a high work rate.

People were waxing lyrical about Rocky last year and he was great for us. People wanted to know how we were going to replace him.

'Well I think Kevin has done a fairly good job of that and the change has been fairly seamless.'



He would have been a huge loss should he have quitted, this is one of the drawbacks to signing foreign players. Unfortunately for him, he was behind probably one of the best ever foreign signings for Leinster and he must really have felt out in the cold. One of the drawbacks to foreign players is that they generally get more games than the Irish Internationals and it's harder for the up and coming lads to get a look in if they are vying for the same position.
Hope he has a good game on Saturday.

CatFromHue

he has been playing great, i hope he does the stuff on sat.

i remember reading an interview with him in oct/nov after he'd had a few good games at that stage.

he was saying that yeah he was thinking of moving away from leinster and was doing work experience with anglo irish bank.

considering he is now starting for ireland in the 6 nations and anglo irish bank is slightly "troubled" at the moment, he made a great decision!!

anonymous_joe

Bloody good year for him isn't it?

Apparently Cheika said that if he didn't show he could stay fit for a full season, he'd be out of Leinster.

Now he's starting for Ireland, and deservedly so. Fair fcuks.

Podge_irl

He's a bloody hero. I thought that blindside would be one of the problems for Leinster this season. I mean, how the hell do you replace Rocky? But McLaughlin has fitted in seamlessly and I don't think the Leinster backrow has lost much, if anything, in the change. It's why I'm confident of him doing well for Ireland - he just seemed to adapt so effortlessly to starting for Leinster. He's not flashy, but he gets his job done.

bleg

Meh, everybody has doubts about their career. It's perfectly normal. I'm having doubts about mine right now.

thebaz

first international from gonzaga in ages - they seam to be producing a lot of good individuals these days , theres a few also in the U 20 squad to watch

Malmedicine

He was looking at clubs in england last year as leinster were holding out on a contract. If memory serves he only got one quite late as well off them .

themont85

thebaz wrote: »

first international from gonzaga in ages - they seam to be producing a lot of good individuals these days , theres a few also in the U 20 squad to watch

Dominic Ryan is a good player, another flanker. May have to move to get anywhere professionally though.

chupacabra

When Rhys Ruddock comes through id say McLaughlin will find himself behind a player yet again.

Malmedicine

chupacabra wrote: »

When Rhys Ruddock comes through id say McLaughlin will find himself behind a player yet again.

Having played with both of them I'm not so sure.

bamboozle

themont85 wrote: »

Dominic Ryan is a good player, another flanker. May have to move to get anywhere professionally though.

are there not big things expected from Ryan?

i guess with the number of backrowers we have i wouldnt be suprised to see Ruddock or Ryan end up down in Munster or over in Connacht on loan for a year.

thebaz

bamboozle wrote: »

are there not big things expected from Ryan?

.

one of the best young backrowers i have seen in ireland, we'll get an idea of his progress on Friday , in the u 20 international.
The hooker Doyle is another to watch

KevinK

Does anyone remember the last Irish player to make his debut with a start in the 6nations?

POC is last I can think of, but I'm sure there must be some since..

themont85

bamboozle wrote: »

are there not big things expected from Ryan?

i guess with the number of backrowers we have i wouldnt be suprised to see Ruddock or Ryan end up down in Munster or over in Connacht on loan for a year.

Going to Connacht would be a good option. The problem with young forwards is that unless they are almost superhuman (a lá Cian Healy) they struggle in Ireland to get meaninful game time until they're well past 21. For a flanker (and we've seen this with McLoughlin), they need time to adjust to the pro game, its not like tossing a young back out there on the wing and bedding him in. Its fullblooded 1-8. With Heaslip, O'Brien, Jennings and McLoughlin he will struggle to get game time. Added to that the likes of Hines (who we need for second row) getting time at 6, its tough to see him get in there consistanly for at least another season. He also has the Ruddock boy too to compete with, who from my limited look at him looks very promising. Add to that the fact that there is always talent coming through, it could be very difficult.

Flanker, centre, out half and the back 3 is set for the next 5-10 years for Leinster imo with the considerable talent backlog. Scrum half is a weakness for me though. We need to start producing more versatile half backs. Scrummies and Out halfs who can kick from hand and on the ground.

Heroditas

KevinK wrote: »

Does anyone remember the last Irish player to make his debut with a start in the 6nations?

POC is last I can think of, but I'm sure there must be some since..

Flannery in 06?

durkadurka

Heroditas wrote: »

Flannery in 06?

I think i remember him playing against nz in nov 05. Shane byrrne left after lions in 05 so flannery took over then

Podge_irl

I went through all the profiles on the IRFU website, cause I was that desperate to avoid work, and i couldn't find anyone since POC to get their debut as a start in the 6N. Court got his first cap in the 6N, but it was as a sub.

crisco10

Podge_irl wrote: »

I went through all the profiles on the IRFU website, cause I was that desperate to avoid work, and i couldn't find anyone since POC to get their debut as a start in the 6N. Court got his first cap in the 6N, but it was as a sub.

Thats impressive distraction-seeking.