A potential London Irish starting XV in season 2019/20
London Irish’s rebuild ahead of their potential re-entry into the Premiership is fast approaching a crescendo, with confirmation of the signing of British and Irish Lions backrow Sean O’Brien to the club today making waves across social media.
Nick Phipps, Curtis Rona and now O’Brien have Irish fans salivating at the a potential starting XV for next season. The club already announced new deals for Jacob Atkins, Rory Brand, Isaac Curtis-Harris, Ollie Hassell-Collins, Ben Loader, Tom Parton and Matt Williams, and they’re shaping up to have a potentially super competitive squad for a potential return into the Gallagher Premiership next season.
2019/20 signings so far:
• ?????????????
• 147 international caps
• Two British & Irish Lions touristsSo far so good. Stay tuned…#StatementOfIntent pic.twitter.com/gEFrsNyILX
— London Irish (@LiRFC) February 11, 2019
Here RugbyPass talks a look at what a starting XV could look like if they land some more of their ‘most wanted’ stars.
15 Alivereti Veitokani
While it’s a tough call on the ex-England U20s fullback Tom Parton who has largely laid claimed to the position this season – the former Fijian Drua playmaker was key to his side’s National Rugby Championship success in 2018 and lit up the competition with his fast footwork, audacious offloads and strong support play. Not a household name but watch this space.
14 Luke McLean
Italian international McLean has the benefit of international experience and has become one of the first names on the teamsheet this season. The Aussie born wing can also slot in at fullback.
13 Curtis Rona
The powerful former NRL player has made a relatively seamless transition to union with the Waratahs and Wallbies respectively, and at 26, the 6’4, 102kg winger cum centre is in his prime. Rona made his name with NRL clubs North Queensland Cowboys and Canterbury Bulldogs before switching codes to join Western Force in 2016, where his performances were rewarded with a call-up into the 2017 Australian national squad.
12 Bryce Campbell
The hard-running American who had been playing his rugby at Colorado-based side Glendale Raptors before joining London Irish in the summer of 2018. The no-nonsense American is one a number of veteran centres in the squad, including Brendan Macken, Fergus Mulcrone, Ciaran Hearn and Terrence Hepetema.
11 Waisake Naholo
Could it really be true? RugbyPass understands that the All Black winger is now top of London Irish’s wishlist and that it is they – and not Wasps – who are leading the chase to sign the speedster. A devastating finisher who has done little wrong in an All Black jersey.
10 Paddy Jackson
While he may have to share the position with former England and Northampton Saints 10 Stephen Myler, there is no denying that Jackson is – at his best – a tremendous talent. He’s been dogged by off field controversey and has had a nightmare season with Perpignan, but if he does sign for London Irish fans can expect fireworks if his pack deliver him frontfoot ball.
9 Nick Phipps
70-cap Wallaby Phipps is another ‘statement of intent’ signing from the club. He will also bring no small amount of ‘craic’ with him. The Aussie is infamous for both his on and off-field antics – including disciplinary action taken against him for urinating against a public bar and pushing over a medic during a Rugby Championship match.
8 Steve Mafi
RugbyPass understands that Mafi is set to sign from French champions Castre. If he were to do so, he would add both experiences and dynamism around the park. He also offers utility as a player who can play across the back five of the scrum.
7 Sean O’Brien
The Tullow Tank is the club’s most high profile signing to date, and if they can keep the Leinsterman fit, he could be a devastating prospect in the Premiership. RugbyPass reported he will earning in region of £450,000, so the club will be eager to get the most out of the 31-year-old. Like Mafi, has the ability to play any position in the backrow.
2?? British & Irish Lions tours
5??4?? Ireland caps
4?? Champions Cup titles
1??2??2?? appearances for Leinster
4?? Pro 14 titles1?? Statement of intent.#OBrienSigns pic.twitter.com/jniV3PDLGu
— London Irish (@LiRFC) February 11, 2019
6 TJ Ioane
TJ Ioane, who joined from Sale Sharks, is a current Samoan international back-rower, winning the most recent of his 17 caps during this summer’s Pacific Nations Cup and Rugby World Cup qualifiers.
5 Adam Coleman
Another massive potential signing for Irish, the giant Wallaby secondrow looks set to transfer from the Waratahs to London for next season. At 6’8 and 122kg the agressive Australian will certainly add bulk and experience to Declan Kidney’s side.
4 Franco van der Merwe
The big South African has become a mainstay at Irish since he arrived from Ulster in 2017. After making just under 200 appearances for South African side the Lions, van der Merwe made the switch to fellow Super Rugby outfit the Sharks in 2013 prior to joining PRO 14 club Ulster a year later.
3 Ollie Hoskins
Twenty-six-year-old Australian prop Ollie Hoskins joined London Irish from Western Force in the build up to the 2016/17 season. Hoskins has represented Australia at Under-20 level and made 26 Super Rugby appearances for the Force. He may not be a household name, but he has managed to hold onto the tighthead berth, with former Leicester Tigers prop Pat Cilliers in hot pursuit.
2 Saia Fainga’a
Wallaby Fainga’a made his Super Rugby debut for the Brumbies in 2006 and had a two-year stint with the Canberra-based club, before moving to Queensland Reds where he spent seven seasons. Has become an important part of the London Irish pack already.
1 Allan Dell
Capped 13 times by Scotland, the loosehead prop hails from South Africa and represented their U20s four times in 2012. The prop is currently ranked 11th in his position in the Six Nations by the RugbyPass Index, and 41st in the world with a score of 73.
Comments on RugbyPass
It’s impressive that we can see huge stadiums with attendance in the 40 000 to 50 000 region. It shows how popular this competition is becoming. What is even more impressive is the massive growth in broadcast viewership. The URC is one of the two best leagues in the World, the other being the Top14.
6 Go to commentsChristie is not Sottish, like the majority of the Scotland team.
2 Go to commentsHold the phone, decline over-rated. Is it a one game, dead cat bounce or the real thing? Has the Penney dropped? Stay tuned.
44 Go to commentsTotally deserved win for the Crusaders Far smarter than the Chiefs who seem to be avoiding the basics when it matters Hotham showed them what was missing and Hannah seems a real find - a tad light but that can be fixed over time
8 Go to commentsGreat insight into the performance culture with Sarries and I predict Christie will be a fixture in the Scotland team now for some time to come. However, he is slightly missing his own point around Scotland “being soft” when he cites physicality examples in defence of that slight. The issue is much closer to the example he referenced around feeling off before a game but being told “it doesn’t matter, you can still play well” by Farrell. Until Scotland can get their psyche in that square, they will carry on folding under extreme pressure…
2 Go to comments> We are having to adapt, evolve and innovate more than when we were in Super Rugby where there was only really one style that everybody had to play to gain the most success. Have = able to? Interesting what that one style might be? I thought SA sides still had bad tours now, or at least bad schedule, months away? Those extra few hours flights have to be a killer though, no surprise to see their sides doing so badly at the start of the season each year. I wouldn’t enjoy that unfairness as a supporter.
6 Go to commentsThe problem for NZ, and Aus, is they ripped up the SR model and lost a massive chunk of revenue that hasn’t been replaced. Don’t forget SA clubs went North because they were left with no choice, Argy unceremoniously binned and Japan cast adrift. Now SR wasn’t perfect, far from it, but they’ve jumped into something without an effective plan, so far, to replace what they’ve lost. The biggest revenue potential now lies in Japan but it won’t be easy or quick to unlock, they are incredibly insular in culture as a nation. In the meantime, there is a serious time bomb sitting under SH rugby and if it happens then the current financial challenges will look like a picnic. IF the Boks follow their provincial teams and head north then it’s revenue meltdown. Not guaranteed to happen but the status quo is a very odd hybrid, with the Boks pointing one way and the clubs pointing the other way. And for as long as that remains then the threat is real.
44 Go to commentsI think Etene has had some good tuition, likely while at the Warriors to be a professional that helped his rugby jump, but he was certainly thrown in the deep end way too early. Should have arguably 20 less SR caps, and therefor a way better record that he does at his age, but his development would have been fast tracked by the need to satiate his signing away from league. Again, credit to him and others that he has done it so well. Easy to fall over under that pressure in the big leagues like that but he kept at it when I myself wasn’t sure he was good enough.
1 Go to commentsAwesome story. I wonder what a bigger American (SA) scene might have mean for Brex.
1 Go to comments“Johnny McNicholl and the Crusaders” save a Penney. Who has been in camp this week and showed them how to play?
8 Go to commentsSo, reports of the Crusaders’ demise / terminal decline are perhaps just - slightly - premature/exaggerated…? 🤔 Will we see a deep-dive into that by the estimable Rugbypass scribes, and maybe one or two mea culpas? Thought not.
8 Go to comments1. The Chiefs are rudderless without DMac, which enhances his AB chances 2. Chiefs pack are powderpuffs. The hard men arent there anymore 3. They had their golden title chance last yr and wont threaten this yr. Gone in second round of playoffs.
8 Go to commentsHonestly, why did you have to publish such a foolish article the day they play us? 😂
44 Go to comments> They are not standalone entities. They are linked to an amateur association which holds the FFR licence that allows the professional side to compete in the league. That’s a great rule. This looks like the chicken or egg professional scenario. How long is it going to be before the club can break even (if that is even a thing in French rugby)? If the locals aren’t into well it would be good to se them drop to amateur level (is it that far?). Hope they can reset from this level and be more practical, there will be a time when they can rebuild (if France has there setup right).
1 Go to commentsWhat about changing the ball? To something heavier and more pointed that bounces unpredictably. Not this almost round football used these days.
35 Go to commentsThis is the problem with conservative mindsets and phycology, and homogenous sports, everybody wants to be the same, use the i-win template. Athlete wise everyone has to have muscles and work at the gym to make themselves more likely to hold on that one tackle. Do those players even wonder if they are now more likely to be tackled by that player as a result of there “work”? Really though, too many questions, Jake. Is it better Jake? Yes, because you still have that rugby of ole that you talk about. Is it at the highest International level anymore? No, but you go to your club or checkout your representative side and still engage with that ‘beautiful game’. Could you also have a bit of that at the top if coaches encouraged there team to play and incentivized players like Damian McKenzie and Ange Capuozzo? Of course we could. Sadly Rugby doesn’t, or didn’t, really know what direction to go when professionalism came. Things like the state of northern pitches didn’t help. Over the last two or three decades I feel like I’ve been fortunate to have all that Jake wants. There was International quality Super Rugby to adore, then the next level below I could watch club mates, pulling 9 to 5s, take on the countries best in representative rugby. Rugby played with flair and not too much riding on the consequences. It was beautiful. That largely still exists today, but with the world of rugby not quite getting things right, the picture is now being painted in NZ that that level of rugby is not required in the “pathway” to Super Rugby or All Black rugby. You might wonder if NZR is right and the pathway shouldn’t include the ‘amateur’, but let me tell you, even though the NPC might be made up of people still having to pull 9-5s, we know these people still have dreams to get out of that, and aren’t likely to give them. They will be lost. That will put a real strain on the concept of whether “visceral thrill, derring-do and joyful abandon” type rugby will remain under the professional level here in NZ. I think at some point that can be eroded as well. If only wanting the best athlete’s at the top level wasn’t enough to lose that, shutting off the next group, or level, or rugby players from easy access to express and showcase themselves certainly will. That all comes back around to the same question of professionalism in rugby and whether it got things right, and rugby is better now. Maybe the answer is turning into a “no”?
35 Go to commentsWow, didn’t realise there was such apathy to URC in SA, or by Champions Cup teams. Just read Nick’s article on Crusaders, are Sharks a similar circumstance? I think SA rugby has been far more balanced than NZs, no?
4 Go to commentsBut here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.
44 Go to commentsIt could be coincidental or prescient that the All Blacks most dominant period under Steve Hansen was when the Crusaders had their least successful period under Todd Blackadder and then the positions reversed when Razor took over the Crusaders.
44 Go to commentsDefinitely sound read everybodyexpects immediate results these days, I don't think any team would travel well at all having lost three of the most important game changers in the game,compiled with the massive injury list they are now carrying, good to see a different more in depth perspective of a coaches history.
3 Go to comments