Leo Avuaa?

liam12989 · 29-12-2011 2:26pm #1

lads whats this guys story? Where did he come from? is he IQ.?
And how did connacht not look at taking him when he was playing AIL?

thomond2006 · 29-12-2011 2:29pm

Apparently Connacht did offer him a one year deal but Auva didn't want to risk it. It would have meant giving up his regular job in Dublin.

danthefan · 29-12-2011 2:30pm

He wasn't here to play rugby was he, just lived in Dublin and played a bit of AIL, was fairly handy and Leinster brought him in? I think he's IQ anyway.

shuffol · 29-12-2011 2:49pm

Someone mentioned him as the new Stephen Keogh which is a good comparison. Not sure how effective he'd be against stonger sides but the weaker teams have trouble handling him, developing quite a penchant for the quick taps from 5m out, he must've been unstoppable in the AIL.

CatFromHue · 29-12-2011 3:04pm

Driving to work a couple of weeks ago I passed him standing outside the Tara Towers in Booterstown dressed up in his Leinster tracksuit. He had a tiny little bag in his back, you know the ones 8 years old wear? It looked like one of them!

7 starts this season with another 4 from the bench and 4 trys, pretty good altogether.

I would have him ahead of Ruddock as the back up No.8. He's very dynamic and a pretty good ball player.

chris85 · 29-12-2011 3:39pm

Excellent ball carrier for sure. Looking forward to seeing how his season progresses.

Impressed by him so far and seems to be getting a bit of an almost cult following. The fans want to chant his name but everyone chanting a different version of it. Listening to the commentary the other days and they had at least three versions said through the game.

Dravokivich · 29-12-2011 3:57pm

It can be a bit hard to get his surname heard right among a crowd roaring it out at different rates.

Cracking player have enjoyed watching him at all the games so far as well meself.

And the odd wink he gives while keeping warm along the side of the pitch when people cheer him on is sound enough alright.

funky penguin · 29-12-2011 4:18pm

I know it's such a small and specific thing, but I love his ball presentation at rucks.

wixfjord · 29-12-2011 4:37pm

He's the exact type of player that you need in the Rabo. Constantly makes yards, does the simple stuff well, and has that little bit of X Factor too.

As well as that, he won't challenge any of the younger lads coming up. The perfect player for Leinster at the moment, and very valuable.

I was always a fan of Ste Keogh, and while Auv'va isn't at that level yet imo, he's getting there.

molloyjh · 29-12-2011 4:58pm

Great player to be able to call on. He always seems to make ground and get us on the front foot. As my uncle said at the Ulster game he's a but if a one trick pony (powerful straight line runner) but if it works....

durkadurka · 29-12-2011 5:07pm

Remember that simpsons episode where nelson muntz is playing American football? He's running with one arm out in front of him swatting aside puny little kids.

That's him.

ktulu123 · 29-12-2011 5:38pm

He has a touch of the Andy Powels about him, i'd like to see him pass more rather than constantly go into contact. Looks to be a great player though!

GSOIRL · 29-12-2011 7:11pm

He is a very good player with ball in hand. He has great pace and power and if he bursts one tackle he's very hard to catch. Not bad as second defender for pinching ball but after watching lots of him in AIL last season I think he needs to improve his rucking and tackling. Not so much his technique but his willingness to do it. It'll be interesting to see him play on a wet muddy cold pitch for Leinster.

thomond2006 · 29-12-2011 8:05pm

Auva'a = "Ow/ooh/vah" ?

durkadurka · 29-12-2011 8:06pm

thomond2006 wrote: »

Auva'a = "Ow/ooh/vah" ?

F**k knows!

Superbus · 29-12-2011 8:10pm

thomond2006 wrote: »

Auva'a = "Ow/ooh/vah" ?

His apostrophiness.

Tox56 · 29-12-2011 8:11pm

Ah-Ooh-Vah-Ah apparently.

tolosenc · 29-12-2011 8:15pm

Would have gone with Ow-Vah-?-Ah, where the question mark is the sound the hyphen makes in "uh-oh", not silence exactly.

thomond2006 · 29-12-2011 8:16pm

Tox56 wrote: »

Ah-Ooh-Vah-Ah apparently.

Ah ok, like "mah-ah" Nonu.

Big Nelly · 29-12-2011 8:25pm

Mr T to me and the lads, alot easier

Seen him a good bit this season and kind of came out of nowhere in the first match I seen him in. Didn't have a clue who he was or how to say his name so Mr T has stuck with me and lads.

Great ball carrier and also when he goes into the tackle he always seems to be able to present the ball back greatly. Just watch the Ulster match again. At any ruck he was able to present the ball back perfectly. We noticed this before at a game but is very clear when watching on the TV

He should just go running up the pitch shouting "I pity the fool"

Tigerandahalf · 29-12-2011 8:40pm

Tox56 wrote: »

Ah-Ooh-Vah-Ah apparently.

I can feel the Lion King chant coming on here.......
A.oo..va..a.......
A.oo..va..a.......
A.oo..va..a.......
In the jungle...the mighty jungle......!!!!!!

Richard Hillman · 29-12-2011 9:35pm

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

Blair · 30-12-2011 4:02pm

Great Rugby League player also. Took at least 3 players to take him down.

Some pics

http://www.dublincityexiles.com/

http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/dublincityexiles/photos/dce-vs-carlow-crusaders-55590.html

http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/dublincityexiles/photos/dce-vs-north-dublin-eagles-56847.html

Mister Dread · 30-12-2011 6:47pm

Richard Hillman wrote: »

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

Not a great hightlights clip for the man himself but lovely try at 3 minutes in.

.ak · 30-12-2011 10:17pm

Read an article on him prior to him playing any senior games for Leinster. He was apparently signed to Belvo because they were very tight in the 8 department or atleast didn't have anyone that could take the ball from set pieces and so he completed their puzzle per say.

I watched most of the AIL last year and I have to say he was one of the stand outs in the tournament. Especially in the semi final (IIRC) he at times looked like another winger... Some set of wheels on him when he wants to run.

jacothelad · 30-12-2011 11:21pm

If Heaslip is Ireland's No.1 Eight, who is no.2? To be honest it looks like Leo to me given the lack of others apart from SOB.

CIARAN_BOYLE · 30-12-2011 11:30pm

jacothelad wrote: »

If Heaslip is Ireland's No.1 Eight, who is no.2? To be honest it looks like Leo to me given the lack of others apart from SOB.

Really? I'd have Leo as 10th choice number 8 for Ireland (Assuming all are fit) although Kidney has gone for players that I wouldn't have in my top ten in a position before. He is doing well but he doesn't have a minute of HEC gametime under his belt.

1 Heaslip, 2 SOB, 3 Wallace, 4 Wilson, 5 Coghlan, 6 Henry, 7 Muldoon, 8 POM, 9 Leamy, 10 Auva'a

irishbucsfan · 31-12-2011 12:14am

You can be sure Leamy is far higher up Decos list!

31-12-2011 12:36am

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

Really? I'd have Leo as 10th choice number 8 for Ireland (Assuming all are fit) although Kidney has gone for players that I wouldn't have in my top ten in a position before. He is doing well but he doesn't have a minute of HEC gametime under his belt.

1 Heaslip, 2 SOB, 3 Wallace, 4 Wilson, 5 Coghlan, 6 Henry, 7 Muldoon, 8 POM, 9 Leamy, 10 Auva'a

yeah agree completely that Auva'a is miles off the radar tbh..

irishbucsfan wrote: »

You can be sure Leamy is far higher up Decos list!

agree with this, would be shocked if Leamy wasn't #3 in the above.

irishbucsfan · 31-12-2011 1:23am

I'd be completely shocked if SOB played 8 ahead of Leamy. I'd put a lot of money against it in fact.

Hype710 · 31-12-2011 12:09pm

Leinster might find it difficult to hold onto Leo if he has ambitions to start in the Heineken.

padser · 31-12-2011 1:04pm

Hype710 wrote: »

Leinster might find it difficult to hold onto Leo if he has ambitions to start in the Heineken.

I think we are getting a little ahead of ourselves with Leo.

Great Celtic League player. Probably unlikely to set the world alight at HEC / Test level.

Similar in that repect to Ronan, Keogh, Coughlan etc. (who I would argue fall below HEC level for a side with title ambitions)

I would put him at a level below Quinlan / Jennings / McLaughlin (who I would argue fall / fell below test level for Ireland) and far below Heaslip, SOB, Wallace, Ferris etc

Hype710 · 31-12-2011 2:23pm

Some of the lower H cup teams will be looking at him, is what I meant. It's only his first season as a pro so he can only get better.

jacothelad · 31-12-2011 4:03pm

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

Really? I'd have Leo as 10th choice number 8 for Ireland (Assuming all are fit) although Kidney has gone for players that I wouldn't have in my top ten in a position before. He is doing well but he doesn't have a minute of HEC gametime under his belt.

1 Heaslip, 2 SOB, 3 Wallace, 4 Wilson, 5 Coghlan, 6 Henry, 7 Muldoon, 8 POM, 9 Leamy, 10 Auva'a

Was suffering from Drink Amnesia and couldn't remember the others. If only Leamy could get back to his 2006/7 form.

jacothelad · 31-12-2011 4:07pm

Hype710 wrote: »

Some of the lower H cup teams will be looking at him, is what I meant. It's only his first season as a pro so he can only get better.

He looks a far better player than Diack who has gone backwards at lightning speed this last year. Once Wannenburg goes, I'd have him at Ravenhill in a flash. He, Ferris and Faloon/Henry/Birch/Faloon MkII would be a decent enough outfit.

Leo Avuaa?

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