David Holwell returns to Leinster!

Crash · 28-11-2008 12:58PM #1

http://leinsterrugby.ie/newsroom/3012.php

Leinster Rugby has announced that out-half David Holwell has rejoined as cover for the next few weeks...
Holwell, 33, made 22 appearances for the province during the 2004/05 season and amassed 282 points (5 tries, 55 conversions, 49 penalties) in all competitions.

Leinster Coach Michael Cheika commented: “I am delighted that David was so keen to return to Leinster to provide cover over the next few weeks. David has outstanding experience as an international class operator and I know how highly he is regarded by those who played with him during his last spell with Leinster, which makes me very confident in him playing an important role for us at this important stage of the season. "The fact that the he has already worn the blue jersey and understands our culture is a real bonus.

“With Felipe Contepomi and Isa Nacewa due to return to action over the next few weeks, it is important that we maintain our momentum and David will provide the extra cover we need in the out-half position behind Jonathan Sexton.”

Holwell’s representative honours include selection for North Island Under-16 (1991), New Zealand Under-17 (1992), New Zealand Colts (1996), Rugby Academy (1998), and New Zealand A (1998 and 2000). He also won the NPC title with the Wellington Lions in 2000.

Since moving home to New Zealand, he has featured for Northland in the Air New Zealand Cup (1995-98 and since 2005) and the Hurricanes in the Super 14 where he has also played for the Auckland Blues. He was called back into the Hurricanes squad in 2006, where his experience helped the side into their first Super 14 final and has scored 676 points in 76 appearances.

Holwell is the holder of two Leinster records from his season with the province; the most individual points scored in a Celtic League game (26 against Llanelli) and the most individual points in a Heineken Cup game (29 against Bourgoin).

Coming in for a few weeks until Nacewa and Contepomi are back as outhalf cover. Interesting one, any idea what his play has been like since he left us?

bamboozle · 28-11-2008 01:02PM

great signing!

Amz · 28-11-2008 01:07PM

I looooooooooove him!

Yay! Hopefully he's as useful as I remember him

cmcsoft · 28-11-2008 01:09PM

I agree, excellent signing fro Leinster, I know he played Super 14 last year with the Blues but I haven't heard anything of him since.

Amazotheamazing · 28-11-2008 01:10PM

Shocking lack of faith in Sexton, imo. Nacewa and Contepomi will be fit pretty soon, and Kearney is a handy goal kicker if Sexton gets the yips.

TarfHead · 28-11-2008 01:10PM

Hmmm.

I wasn't too impressed with how his stated reason for returning home, worked out against what he did when he returned home.

And while he was a great player for Leinster, that was a few years ago and he was past his peak then.

And the description of Contepomi's injury intrigues me. How can a hand infection rule him out of play for so long ?

Clean the wound - antibiotic - job done - get your boots on ?

Serenity Now! · 28-11-2008 01:16PM

Thats the spirit :rolleyes:
Bring in an overseas, non-Irish qualified player at a key position (especially with national team in mind) to stand-in for two other overseas non-Irish qualified players while the Irish qualified player gets dumped to bench or worse.
Holwell is a good player (saw him during the Air New Zealand Cup games this year) but for f**k's sake, Irish provinces.

Graham Henry and Sean Fitzpatrick were right when they pinpointed the gulf between Tri Nations and 6N teams.

Crash · 28-11-2008 01:19PM

Amazo: I think the purpose is the Castres game on the 6th of December - We need a backup outhalf for that game otherwise we're potentially screwed.

edit: oh and I will point out, Cheika quite clearly states he's there as cover "behind Jonathan Sexton".

I really don't see this as a big deal, or a lack of faith in Sexton, but more the fact that after Sexton there's a fairly large gulf til our next number 10, and not one i'd like to see exploited for the HC game.

cmcsoft · 28-11-2008 01:20PM

I wouldn't say it's a lack of faith in Sexton, he's just coming in as backup. Can't see him being dropped for Holwell. Leinster have a few important HC games coming up, you need an experienced head on the bench if Sexton get's injured

Amazotheamazing · 28-11-2008 01:25PM

Going Forward wrote: »

Amazo: I think the purpose is the Castres game on the 6th of December - We need a backup outhalf for that game otherwise we're potentially screwed.

edit: oh and I will point out, Cheika quite clearly states he's there as cover "behind Jonathan Sexton".

I really don't see this as a big deal, or a lack of faith in Sexton, but more the fact that after Sexton there's a fairly large gulf til our next number 10, and not one i'd like to see exploited for the HC game.

If Holwell is a better player than Sexton, then he has to play imo, you can't limit your team in a big game. If Cheika thought Sexton was up to it, he wouldn't have rushed a player over from the far side of the world. Either that or Nacewa's and Contepomi's injuries are more serious than they're letting on.

cmcsoft · 28-11-2008 01:30PM

You can't go into a game like this with only one recognised outhalf. It's fine to say give Irish players a chance but Sexton will start, Holwell will be cover.

Serenity Now! · 28-11-2008 01:31PM

cmcsoft wrote: »

I wouldn't say it's a lack of faith in Sexton, he's just coming in as backup. Can't see him being dropped for Holwell. Leinster have a few important HC games coming up, you need an experienced head on the bench if Sexton get's injured

You show great faith in this. Good luck on that.

If you're a coach desperate to win a game, you pick your best team possible. No two ways about it. A coach is not going to be dictated in anyway on selection by anyone outside their staff. Sexton might start the first game but there's no way if Holwell plays better when he comes on that Sexton will be chosen ahead in the next crucial fixture.

The four Irish provinces here are going to have even more bloody overseas players playing for them than even Wales, France or England at this rate.

Amazotheamazing · 28-11-2008 01:31PM

cmcsoft wrote: »

You can't go into a game like this with only one recognised outhalf. It's fine to say give Irish players a chance but Sexton will start, Holwell will be cover.

Why would you play the weaker outhalf in a big game?

Crash · 28-11-2008 01:32PM

Tbh i'm not sure what Holwells current form is like, or even where he'ss been playing lately? Assuming airNZ cup. Sexton will start the Castres game - i'd guess Holwell is there to take over 1)if sexton gets injured or 2)if he starts playing utter ****e.

edit: Erk. He's been playing for Northland, //ignore that. was looking at the wrong year.

cmcsoft · 28-11-2008 01:37PM

I think we're losing the point here. Who says Holwell is better than Sexton? I think Sexton is a very good player and would expect him to keep his place. If Holwell comes on and plays better so be it. Our boys need to step up to the plate and start proving that they are good enough to keep their places.

If our young guys can't cut it against guys coming to the end of their careers from the tri nations than we have a bigger problem than I though. I think this will push Sexton to perform at his best

crisco10 · 28-11-2008 01:47PM

Going Forward wrote: »

Amazo: I think the purpose is the Castres game on the 6th of December - We need a backup outhalf for that game otherwise we're potentially screwed.

edit: oh and I will point out, Cheika quite clearly states he's there as cover "behind Jonathan Sexton".

I really don't see this as a big deal, or a lack of faith in Sexton, but more the fact that after Sexton there's a fairly large gulf til our next number 10, and not one i'd like to see exploited for the HC game.

I would have assumed that Holwell wouldnt be registerd for the HC no? or can he be registered after the cut off these days?

Serenity Now! · 28-11-2008 01:52PM

cmcsoft wrote: »

Who says Holwell is better than Sexton?

I would.
Wholly experienced and a 'compleat' footballer who was in sublime form for his NZ union side this year. A proven playmaker who has all facets of the game in the bag.

Amazotheamazing · 28-11-2008 02:00PM

crisco10 wrote: »

I would have assumed that Holwell wouldnt be registerd for the HC no? or can he be registered after the cut off these days?

Yep, Leinster can still register to extra players.

cmcsoft · 28-11-2008 02:03PM

Serenity Now! wrote: »

I would.
Wholly experienced and a 'compleat' footballer who was in sublime form for his NZ union side this year. A proven playmaker who has all facets of the game in the bag.

I will agree he has all the components of a great player but Sexton is young and dynamic. I think it is shrewd move by Cheika. He has the best of both Worlds

sm.org · 28-11-2008 02:06PM

If Sexton is anything less then excellent in his next game then he will be dropped and Holwell will start for the remainder of his contract.

Sexton seems to be a confidence player and clearly needs a run of games whether or not he's playing well or not. Thats clearly not going to happen now.

Rugby is a professional game and the pressure on Cheika to do well in the HC this year is huge, I can completely understand his thinking.

Amazotheamazing · 28-11-2008 02:06PM

cmcsoft wrote: »

I will agree he has all the components of a great player but Sexton is young and dynamic. I think it is shrewd move by Cheika. He has the best of both Worlds

But you can only play one of them.

cmcsoft · 28-11-2008 02:09PM

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

But you can only play one of them.

But look at the options he has, whereas without another outhalf if Sexton got hurt, has an off day or can't cope with the occasion he has no other option.

If you were Cheika you would do the exact same thing given the situation

Amazotheamazing · 28-11-2008 02:12PM

cmcsoft wrote: »

But look at the options he has, whereas without another outhalf if Sexton got hurt, has an off day or can't cope with the occasion he has no other option.

If you were Cheika you would do the exact same thing given the situation

If I was Cheika, having signed Holwell I'd start him.

cmcsoft · 28-11-2008 02:13PM

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

If I was Cheika, having signed Holwell I'd start him.

I can't see it, can he play Saturday?

Goodluck2me · 28-11-2008 02:57PM

cmcsoft wrote: »

I will agree he has all the components of a great player but Sexton is young and dynamic. I think it is shrewd move by Cheika. He has the best of both Worlds

Sexton can learn from the infinitely more experienced Holwell too, and it should push him.

If it turns out Sexton isn't good enough, I don't care where he's from he shouldn't be playing.

Serenity Now! · 28-11-2008 03:58PM

sm.org wrote: »

Rugby is a professional game and the pressure on Cheika to do well in the HC this year is huge, I can completely understand his thinking.

His thinking and those who think like him is already evident in being detriment to Irish, English, Welsh and French rugby on the international stage.

Pity really.

Zzippy · 28-11-2008 04:30PM

cmcsoft wrote: »

I will agree he has all the components of a great player but Sexton is young and dynamic. I think it is shrewd move by Cheika. He has the best of both Worlds

Well, he's young alright, but dynamic??? I haven't seen too much to be impressed by yet, the hype is a lot more than the substance to date.

BTW, did Contempomi nearly lose a finger or something? Didn't think a small infection would keep him out that long...

Podge_irl · 28-11-2008 05:07PM

We have no idea how well Holwell is going to be able to play. He was signed as cover because Leinster have had to play games without a recognised outhalf in the HC in the past and it wasn't pretty. Sexton will start this game and the Castres game I imagine. If, as some are so ridiculously quick to suggest, Holwell is still so much better then Sexton at this stage that he demands inclusion in the starting team for Castres then it hardly matters that foreign talent was brought in because Sexton will have been shown to be not good enough anyway. I don't happen to expect to see that happen.

Holwell did very well for Leinster when he last played for them and I think its great that he is so eager to come back and help out for a few weeks.

Podge_irl · 28-11-2008 05:12PM

Serenity Now! wrote: »

His thinking and those who think like him is already evident in being detriment to Irish, English, Welsh and French rugby on the international stage.

Pity really.

What complete and utter nonsense. In case anyone missed it Healy, Toner, O'Brien and McFadden are starting the game against the Dragons. Cheika plays young Irish players when he thinks they are good enough. He had no trouble throwing Kearney, Fitz and Heaslip straight into the first team.

Amazotheamazing · 28-11-2008 05:17PM

Podge_irl wrote: »

What complete and utter nonsense. In case anyone missed it Healy, Toner, O'Brien and McFadden are starting the game against the Dragons.

Nothing to do with injuries?

Podge_irl · 28-11-2008 05:24PM

Yes, of course it does. Though Healy, Toner and O'Brien would be in the squad/starting anyway. My point is that there is a large number of young Irish players regularly involved with Leinster and that Cheika's thinking is merely that playing ones that aren't good enough and who he thinks never will be is pointless.

David Holwell returns to Leinster!

Comments