Transfers 2014/15

[lynam1104]

Soo anybody any idea what hes like? See they want him at 12 may indicate D'Arcy to spend more time at 13/resting this season.

 

[munstermuffin]

Soo anybody any idea what hes like? See they want him at 12 may indicate D'Arcy to spend more time at 13/resting this season.

Don't know but well I presume he has the skillset

 

[ratsapprentice]

I wouldn't quite call him a crash ball merchant - but he's going to bring a lot of physicality.

 

[Feicarsinn]

Hmph. I'll give him a fair crack of the whip, but converts like this haven't been successful in the past.

The centre situation at Leinster is very disappointing, but it's hard to know exactly how much more the province could have done. You'd have said two years ago that between them O'Malley and Macken would have been ample coverage for 13. Macken hasn't kicked on at all, while O'Malley was so unlucky to be forced to retire. Losing Sexton only serves to exacerbate the situation, and again that can't be blamed on the branch. I would say that missing out on Aki was a misstep, but Connacht have certain advantages when it comes to signing New Zealand based players at the minute.

Shame though, we could have been looking at a Sexton-Madigan-O'Malley midfield if things had fallen out differently. A bit lightweight, but that would have been fun as hell to watch.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Hmph. I'll give him a fair crack of the whip, but converts like this haven't been successful in the past.

Who are you thinking of?

 

[Feicarsinn]

Andy Farrell, Lesley Vainikolo, Shontayne Hape, etc. I know there are lots of successful converts too, but his lack of union experience is a concern. I don't think he's really played at all before, not even as a kid.

EDIT: Apparently he has played a bit of union in the past. My bad.

 

[ratsapprentice]

He's a Kiwi, so will have played a little bit as a kid, at least.
He's also played at a higher level than all of them - State Of Origin.
Hape and Vainikolo were both solid club players in Union, Farrell was broken and over the hill before he switched.

He should be a good signing.

 

[Geordie]

Andy Farrell, Lesley Vainikolo, Shontayne Hape, etc. I know there are lots of successful converts too, but his lack of union experience is a concern. I don't think he's really played at all before, not even as a kid.

EDIT: Apparently he has played a bit of union in the past. My bad.

How old is this guy? The problem with Vainikolo, Hape etc was that they were pretty much done in League let alone Union...Vainikolo was shot to bits.

If this guy is still fairly young then he should be fine.

 

[Feicarsinn]

I hope so, but it is undeniably more of a gamble than a union player would have been. Even SBW looked pretty poor for his first 18 months or so.

 

[ratsapprentice]

He's 27 - but what level of league they are playing at the time they switch is the most important factor in predicting whether they will be successful.
He's playing high level league, and is young enough that he's got a pretty decent length of career if he's successful.

Hape and Vainikolo were both playing Super League when they switched - that's significantly lower level than NRL/SOO.

 

[goodNumber10]

Hmph. I'll give him a fair crack of the whip, but converts like this haven't been successful in the past.

The centre situation at Leinster is very disappointing, but it's hard to know exactly how much more the province could have done. You'd have said two years ago that between them O'Malley and Macken would have been ample coverage for 13. Macken hasn't kicked on at all, while O'Malley was so unlucky to be forced to retire. Losing Sexton only serves to exacerbate the situation, and again that can't be blamed on the branch. I would say that missing out on Aki was a misstep, but Connacht have certain advantages when it comes to signing New Zealand based players at the minute.

Shame though, we could have been looking at a Sexton-Madigan-O'Malley midfield if things had fallen out differently. A bit lightweight, but that would have been fun as hell to watch.

I'd move Darcy to 13, and Madigan to 12.

/the end.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Steve Mafi ----------> Western Force

Such a shame, but apparently they are using the Olympic loophole to get him into the Aus setup from Fiji to help cover the locks.

Fox Sports
The same eligibility loophole is being looked at by the ARU to help solve a shortage of locks following the recruitment of Steve Mafi to the Western Force.
Sydney-raised Mafi was cut by the Waratahs in 2010 for being too light but went on to become a big name in the UK premiership for powerhouse outfit Leicester. He won the Tigers' Players' Player award in 2012, and has played Tests for Tonga.

Ironically recruited by the man who axed him at NSW — Michael Foley — Mafi, 24, will be a foreign import in Perth on a two-year deal but it is understood ARU types are looking into the Olympic loophole to get him switched from Tonga to the Wallabies in 2016.

It is believed after such an Olympic eligibility jump, unions may be able to apply to the IRB to make the switch permanent and applicable to Test rugby.

But Mafi would need to wait until early 2016 and need Australia to play in the Oceania qualifier. And then get a game.

If all that fails, Mafi will become eligible for Australia in June, 2017.

Guess he will be a lot closer to family after last year and his childs complications at birth he probably thought about it more.

Real Shame.

But guess a fit Croft would be ahead of him.

 

[munstermuffin]

Steve Mafi ----------> Western Force

Such a shame, but apparently they are using the Olympic loophole to get him into the Aus setup from Fiji to help cover the locks.

Fox Sports
The same eligibility loophole is being looked at by the ARU to help solve a shortage of locks following the recruitment of Steve Mafi to the Western Force.
Sydney-raised Mafi was cut by the Waratahs in 2010 for being too light but went on to become a big name in the UK premiership for powerhouse outfit Leicester. He won the Tigers’ Players’ Player award in 2012, and has played Tests for Tonga.

Ironically recruited by the man who axed him at NSW â€" Michael Foley â€" Mafi, 24, will be a foreign import in Perth on a two-year deal but it is understood ARU types are looking into the Olympic loophole to get him switched from Tonga to the Wallabies in 2016.

It is believed after such an Olympic eligibility jump, unions may be able to apply to the IRB to make the switch permanent and applicable to Test rugby.

But Mafi would need to wait until early 2016 and need Australia to play in the Oceania qualifier. And then get a game.

If all that fails, Mafi will become eligible for Australia in June, 2017.

Guess he will be a lot closer to family after last year and his childs complications at birth he probably thought about it more.

Real Shame.

But guess a fit Croft would be ahead of him.

He's the type of player that would excel in Super Rugby. Very athletic and not a bad back rower to have

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

That for me is the confusing part I would consider him a 6 who can play second row.

Aus I would have thought would want an out and out lock.

But yes he should thrive in super rugy.

Oh well it nice to no that we turned him into that player, still can't believe over he is only 24.

Damn he was my favourite tiger.

Oh well guess with matera at 6 for argentina we should still be fine with 6 cover.

Imagine a backrow of 6. matera 7. Salvi 8. Barbieri, that a back row that could dominate the breakdown.

 

[welshglory]

Well he reminds me of Rocky Elsom quite a bit. I wouldn't be surprised if that is just the media guessing about his position

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Shalva Mamukashvili --- > Sale

http://www.espn.co.uk/premiership-2014-15/rugby/story/237531.html

 

[ratsapprentice]

Sailosi Tagicakibau --> Wasps

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Surprised at that.
I'm feeling that not nots are for the drop, they've lost a lot of their best players and haven't recruited particularly well, especially in the backs.

 

[ratsapprentice]

They seem to have released him because they think he's surplus to requirements.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Bit crazy when you consider the loss of Yarde and JOC. I know they have Short coming in, probably another journeyman or two, but seems strange to release one of their most experienced backs.