The Unstoppable Rise of Darragh Fanning

[psychic duck]

Interesting to see a player with not a particular great deal of talent, but great work ethic and desire prove his value to a side like Leinster. Any thoughts on whether this is just a flash in a pan, or has Fanning proven himself as a worthy member going forward to a side aiming for European trophies. http://whiffofcordite.com/2014/10/21/the-unstoppable-rise-of-darragh-fanning/#comments

Darragh Fanning has started every game for Leinster this season, and on Saturday night his Leinster career hit new heights, as he scored two tries in his first European Cup match. He's living the dream. Initially signed to plug a gap while players were injured and unavailable, with a glut of players still injured, he's becoming a fixture in the team. Expect to see plenty more of him this season.

Fanning, or 'Fanj' as he's known, is 28 years old and so qualifies as a late bloomer. A productive winger for St Mary's at AIL level, he spent a season at Connacht before returning to the club game, then Leinster came calling. If you had told Leinster fans that he would be starting a European match a year ago, they probably would have laughed. But here he is, and with two tries to his name. It's as many as Irish international wing Dave Kearney managed in the whole of last season.

There's a tendency on the terraces and in internet fora to be a bit sniffy about players who arrive at the top level via this path – and before we're accused of pointing fingers, we're happy to admit some culpability ourselves. We talked recently about the hipster's choice players; guys like Fanj are really the anti-hipster's choice. They scream 'journeyman', and nobody ever gets excited about that. How skilful can they be if they were languishing in the AIL for most of their mid-20s? The accepted way for players to get to the pro ranks in Ireland is via the academy structures. When a player arrives in the first team, freshly minted by the academy, hipster 'do' rendered just-so, there is an innate desire to proclaim him the next big thing. When someone is brought in to 'do a job' from the AIL it's a case of 'meh'.

Demented Mole has written about the topic, and noted that the sole route to professionalism via the academy has its flaws in that it favours those who are physically developed at a young age, and others who have potential but may not have the same physical development by the time they're 18 can slip through the net. Brendan Macken has always had the look of someone who became a campus hero because he could steamroll other schoolkids, but never developed the skills to thrive against better, stronger players.

It's very different in France, and to an extent in England, where there is a second-tier professional league which is an ideal breeding ground for youngsters, and the smaller clubs often act as feeders to the Top 14 sides. It means more players who may be unheralded in their youth at least find a home in the second division or at one of the smaller Top 14 sides, rather than slipping out of the professional game; and if they do manage to bloom later in their careers, they can find themselves elevated to the top level. Morgan Parra started life at Bourgoin; Vincent Clerc had four years at Grenoble. There are umpteen Irish plugging away in both ProD2 and the English Championship, while scrum half Jambo Hart has found himself elevated to the Top 14 and is dining out on great reviews with high-flying Grenoble.

Other players to make the upgrade from AIL to pro in recent(-ish) years are Craig Ronaldson at Connacht and the pick of the bunch, James Coughlan who proved a stalwart for Munster after his belated elevation, and currently finds himself earning a last-of-the-summer-wine payday with Pau in the ProD2. Coughlan proved so effective that some excitable fans thought he should displace Jamie Heaslip from the Irish team. Whether Fanning can become such a cause celebre for Leinster remains to be seen, but for the moment his progress continues. The thought of him going up against Christian Wade was mildly terrifying, but there's more to rugby than screeching pace. Wade scored a brilliant try, but Fanning scored two and Leinster won the match. He will never be able to do some of the things Wade does but there are plenty of things Wade isn't great at that Fanning is pretty good at, like clearing rucks etc. *genuflects in front of framed Joe Schmidt picture*. That's rugby for you, it takes all sorts.

 

[big ginger 8]

He's really having a great year this year, no doubt assisted by the experience of last year and having a proper preseason. He was also apparently training with the Ireland squad today.

It'll be interesting to see how long he can keep his starting place as more talented players come back.

 

[munstermuffin]

We'll surely this taking the pi$$.
He's Leinster's equal of Johne Murphy. Good to fill in but nowhere near front line player. Only training with Ireland as few are sitting out and a lot of wingers injured.
But he isn't good enough to be regular in Leinster when everyone is fit but who knows as Matt O'Connor will probably prefer him over Luke Fitz as he's more a crash ball merchant.

 

[profitius]

He is what you would define as a journeyman. Played for Connacht, went to Australia and played for one of their super rugby sides' A team for a while. Went back to the AIL (all Ireland league) and got picked up by Leinster during an injury crisis.

He isn't great at any particular thing but is very solid and doing very little wrong and as the OP said, he works hard and has a good attitude.

 

[lynam1104]

Hes a good squad man, on a good bit of form of the moment which is nice. I've been very critical of him in the past but hes shown his worth as a back up and a pro 12 player.

 

[big ginger 8]

Matt O'Connor will probably prefer him over Luke Fitz as he's more a crash ball merchant.

Yeah that's a load of bull****.

 

[munstermuffin]

Yeah that's a load of bull****.

Which part?

But as I said I respect a guy who works hard like he does but he's no more than a back up player.
And it is possible that he would probably be picked consistently in MOC's plan as he fits bill. Like other Leinster fans have said - he is big and great at crash balls or kick chasing. Exactly what MOC likes. Luke Fitz is a smashing player when fit but MOC doesn't seem to like skillful guys much. Madigan is 1 that spins to mind easily but Ben Te'o (from a member of Leinster staff's mouth) was signed to be a "truck up the middle guy" and he's also said he's nowhere near same type of player as BOD with both having 2 completely different "skillsets and mindsets".

 

[big ginger 8]

Which part?

But as I said I respect a guy who works hard like he does but he's no more than a back up player.
And it is possible that he would probably be picked consistently in MOC's plan as he fits bill. Like other Leinster fans have said - he is big and great at crash balls or kick chasing. Exactly what MOC likes. Luke Fitz is a smashing player when fit but MOC doesn't seem to like skillful guys much. Madigan is 1 that spins to mind easily but Ben Te'o (from a member of Leinster staff's mouth) was signed to be a "truck up the middle guy" and he's also said he's nowhere near same type of player as BOD with both having 2 completely different "skillsets and mindsets".

The part I quoted.

O'Connor had all of last year to pick Fanning over Fitzgerald and didn't, he know's full well Fitzys the better player. Madigan may be the more skilled player but he's not the more skilled outhalf. To say MO'C doesn't like skilled players is just plain wrong. He prefers players who don't do a lot wrong, that doesn't mean they're not skilled. Te'o was the best available option a year before the WC so of course we got him. How many centres can you find that are as skillful as BO'D these days anyway? The majority of teams have at least one crashball player. Te'o is our first because no matter what you say Fanning sure as hell isn't. He can clean up but ht's not someone who can smash the gainline in midfield.

By the way and it's something a lot of people forget both Fanning and Gopperth were signed by Schmidt, not MO'C.

 

[munstermuffin]

The part I quoted.

O'Connor had all of last year to pick Fanning over Fitzgerald and didn't, he know's full well Fitzys the better player. Madigan may be the more skilled player but he's not the more skilled outhalf. To say MO'C doesn't like skilled players is just plain wrong. He prefers players who don't do a lot wrong, that doesn't mean they're not skilled. Te'o was the best available option a year before the WC so of course we got him. How many centres can you find that are as skillful as BO'D these days anyway? The majority of teams have at least one crashball player. Te'o is our first because no matter what you say Fanning sure as hell isn't. He can clean up but ht's not someone who can smash the gainline in midfield.

By the way and it's something a lot of people forget both Fanning and Gopperth were signed by Schmidt, not MO'C.

Well I'll be honest I was being bit sarcastic. And last year I'd agree re Madigan but he is better 10 this year. And if you believe reports Schmidt had no part in Gopperth signing as he was signed to go before Gopperth agreed. But surely you can admit BG8 MOC has desperate tactics and isn't getting everything out of them Leinster guys. Like with Sexton around next year he will have to change tactics. And it's hard to say Te'o was best option as fact is he could be good or complete disaster.