Murray Kinsella reports from Glasgow
A SCOTTISH JOURNALIST ventures a question and James Lowe can’t resist cutting across him.
“Crikey, you’ve some accent, lad!” says Leinster’s Kiwi wing with a broad grin, as effervescent a presence as ever off the pitch – where he possesses the same vibrancy that makes him so potent on it.
Lowe is always ready with a joke, praising his team-mates while getting a good slagging in with his next sentence.
Asked about Garry Ringrose’s try in the first half of Leinster’s Guinness Pro14 final win over Glasgow at Celtic Park, Lowe gives us an example.
“His school just bought a horse,” says Lowe of ex-Blackrock College man Ringrose. “It’s called something stupid like The Fame, and it won so he’s just upgraded houses!
“Man, he’s an awesome athlete, he’s an awesome dude off the pitch, one of the nicest men you will ever meet, and that’s the nitty gritty that gets you over the line.
“Garry probably doesn’t do all the fancy stuff but what he does do, he’s got huge impacts on the game. He’s got a huge future for such a young man.”
Lowe himself is only 26 and surely has plenty of good times ahead of him. He will qualify to play for Ireland in November 2020 and it looks close to a certainty that the Nelson native will make the step up to Test rugby at that point.
Yesterday, he was simply delighted to be sitting with a medal around his neck, his long hair resting on his shoulders as he looked forward to a big night with his Leinster team-mates.
While Lowe did play in the Pro14 final last season, he had to sit out the Champions Cup final success over Racing 92 due to the non-European players rule, while he tasted defeat in this campaign’s European decider against Saracens. Every medal is welcome.
“It’s cool,” says Lowe. “If you told me three years ago that I’d be sitting here talking to you guys trying to decipher your accents, I would have called your bluff.
“But it’s awesome to come over here and learn. I’ve still got so much to give to the game, I feel, so it’s an exciting time. Where Leinster is at the moment, there’s only room for improvement.”
The dejection Leinster felt after losing to Saracens in Newcastle two weekends ago was severe and Lowe admits it added to the province’s sheer need to beat Glasgow at Celtic Park yesterday.
“I related it to Liverpool. Such a good team but if they don’t win a trophy, they’ll see it as a bad season even though they’re such a good team. We learned a lot from Newcastle, we probably got stuck in fourth gear.
“Credit to Sarries putting us under enormous pressure but we learned over these last two weeks and if we didn’t perform today, all of that was just talk. The fact that we were able to close it out was awesome.
“Glasgow are such an expansive, rugby-playing team. I played under Rens [Dave Rennie], their head coach, for five years and when they’ve got the ball they want to score. When they don’t, they’re trying to get the ball back. They’ve got some amazing athletes, some young talent, Scotland’s future is pretty bright.”
Leinster are sure to come across the Warriors several more times in the coming years as the Scots look for their first Pro14 title since 2015 but last night, Lowe was more worried about getting back to his team-mates.
“It’s been 40-odd weeks of work so to come away with a medal is always very good. We used 57 players this year and only 23 got to represent today, but it’s not just about us, it’s about all the boys who have put in the work throughout the year and come away with a medal.
“I couldn’t be any happier.”
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Gotta love Lowe’s positivity and outlook, great guy to have in the squad
I can’t wait till he plays for Ireland. After a year and a half already one of the best imports ever into Irish rugby, and seems a lovely character. In the age of people worrying about what everyone else thinks, it’s great to see someone be themselves.
@Andrew H: he’s one oof the best players to have never played test rugby. I could see maybe lowe at 11 (i think he’s left-footed) stockdale at 15 and maybe larmour at 14. I love earls and think he’s a superb player (never underperforms for munster even when the rest do) but at 32 larmour may get prioritised ahead. I hope im wrong though
He’s a breath of fresh air & a huge asset to club & country if he pulls on the green Jersey next year. Besides his x factor he’s also got amazing strength, always breaking the gainline & taking a few defenders to stop him. He’s not one to shy away from a dust up either!
Really hope he never plays for Ireland. I get Leinster fans like him but there are 3 other provenses where his popuarity is questionable at best.
If he conduced himeself Like Ringrose or Ryan or Van De Flier I’d be delighted to see him in an Irish jersey
@John Kelly: obviously you’re entitled to your opinion, I would like him to put on the green jersey as his style is something none of our current other options have, he’s a very creative player, covers the back 3 and is extremely intelligent especially in attack. He has his flaws but I’ve seen a progression in those(mistiming shooting out of the line was one).
The three players you mentioned are true gents but in a team environment you need a mix of personalities to get the best out of a group, every team needs a few jokers and messers to take some of the seriousness out of the day to day ongoings and it generally uplifts the moral. Lowe is just that, and it seems that his teammates have really taken a shine to him and his light hearted take on life.
@John Kelly: Munster fans not liking Lowe is like Leinster fans not liking Zebo. Opposition fans don’t like it when someone on the other team has too much fun. I think people need to remind themselves that this is a game at the end of the day
@John Kelly: I’m sure you will get over it.
@John Kelly: I’m from Connacht and I can speak for some Connacht fans I know. We think he’s a great player and would be a brilliant asset to Ireland. We were only on about him yesterday the fact he reminds us of Aki. Similar personality, similar controlled aggression on the ball. Can’t wait to see him in green. I think only fans begrudging Leinster success don’t like this guy
@John Kelly: how should he conduct himself? Like Conway who was clearly trying to rile players up during the semi final?
@Sam Harms: If it’s based purely on perceived personalities on the pitch, I think it’s fair to say Conway comes across as one of the most dislikable miserable characters whereas Lowe plays with a smile on his face and brings positive energy. I know which one I think most prefer to play with.
@John Kelly: you’re speaking for the other three provinces are you John? Funny I missed the announcement by each supporters group that you were taking over their comms. I’m a Connacht supporter, and the many that I know like Lowe as a person and have great respect for him as a player. We do of course think our wing options on their day are better mind…
@Andrew H: it’s funny because if Lowe did play for Ireland all the people who claim to dislike him would be cheering him on.
@John Kelly: He’s the most unlikable and unsporting player in Irish rugby, the idea of him wearing green is horrifying. I don’t think he represents the values of Irish rugby and he’s not liked at all outside of Dublin.
@Anthony: He reminds me of Chris Ashton personally. A very talented player, seemingly very well respected off the pitch but with an horrendously disrespectful gamesmanship sort of attitude on it.
@Rudiger McMonihan: The big difference here is Zebo is Irish and Lowe isn’t so they cant really be compared. I think he is a truly great player and it doesn’t really matter if he upsets other fans in my opinion. In the past we have had lots of opinions on here about foreign players playing for Ireland. Guys such as Stander and Aki. And saying because they were not born here they shouldn’t play for Ireland. Has that changed now for certain contributors here? Not you Rudiger by the way
@Sam Harms: Your constant jibes about Munster players is getting silly now. Can you stop about Murray and Conway please
Ah Rochelle – he’s Leinster so you won’t like him!!
@Rochelle:
@John Kelly: don’t get the dislike from the minority at all, just because he plays with a smile on his face? Always comes across brilliantly in interviews, confident without ever seeming arrogant and a top class player who plays hard but always as part of the team. We’d be lucky to have him in green.
@Andrew H: it’s a bit like Timmy and Andy. Happy Timmy; Miserable Andy
@Decko49: I was commenting on the recent complaints about Lowe’s behavior and comparing it to people complaining about Zebo. I still don’t like the way the IRFU encourage the provinces to sign players that can play for Ireland. I’m perfectly happy to have players decide on their own that they want to represent Ireland. It feels a bit dirty when the national team is actively poaching players from nation’s that can’t pay as well as we can
@Sam Harms: And when Conway and Murray I assume you cheer them on too?
@Decko49: Play for Ireland I meant
@Andrew H: I’d be pretty miserable too if someone could’ve broken my neck and didn’t apologise.
@Rudiger McMonihan: as a Leinster fan, I like Zebo as a player, he was not bolt on starter for Ireland, if he was the irfu would have done everything to keep him. I think he is an ejeet on social, sure plenty may think that of me. However I like watching him carve teams up. Personally I love if a Irish born player was on the pitch instead of Lowe but if Lowe is the better player, he is entitled and wants to play for the green, let him get on with it. Most rugby fans, regardless of their allegiance to their province rate the player first & foremost
@A Person: how do you know he didn’t apologize……. just cos he didn’t do it on the pitch doesn’t mean he didn’t afterwards
@Rudiger McMonihan:
A very good point ::I never thought of the connection between Zebo and J Lowe :: but you are right :: gets me thinking ??
@Rochelle: not liked at all outside of Dublin? I’m from Laois and I think he’s fücking great.
Just dry your big salty tears and get over it.
@Rochelle: Ha ha ha are you sure you’re not talking about Conway there?
I can see how some rival fan bases don’t like him on the field. For one he’s brilliant and not Irish so they’ve no vested interest in his success and he loves getting involved but I can guarantee if they met him in person their minds would change. Lovely bloke with an infectious personality who doesn’t take himself seriously at all
@Eddie Hekenui: He comes across as a very infectious positive character that is very liked by his teammates. Conway’s behavior towards him was bizarre last week.
@Andrew H: They were both winding each other up. Lowe just does it with a smile on his face while Conway does it with a scowl. Neither’s behaviour was bizarre.
@Eddie Hekenui: Andrew wouldn’t understand the tactic of trying to get inside someone’s head. He hasn’t read about that yet
@Eddie Hekenui: I’d have a scowl on my face if i was faced with someone who nearly broke my neck and didnt apologise. Lowe was even shocked he got a red in that game its as if he thought he did nothing wrong i’d say thats a huge reason why other provinces dont like him.
@A Person: where is this evidence to back up the statement that other provinces don’t like him? The fact that numerous posters from other provinces have stated how they do, in fact, like him on this article alone kinda disproves what you’re saying.
@A Person: Tried to break my neck!!! You’ve some neck spouting that shïte!
@Ravensburger: To be fair he said nearly broke his neck not tried to break his neck
Great guy and a powerful winger. Would bring a different dynamic to Ireland.
He is a bit special, reminds me of the Honey Badger, plays the game with a smile on his face. Would love to see him and Zebo ib the same Irish back line.
Unpopular opinion Lowe is overrated
@A Person:
Well we know how you feel after 3 anti-posts but man that is your right and your opinion. A lot of Red in your Twitter acc
@A Person: inaccurate opinion
I really like the guy but starting to get tired of these lads depriving our young up and coming players game time and experience. Similar to fardy, who is a serious quality player but look at all the superb 2nd rows Leinster have that are not getting game time. I know others will argue if they are good enough….they wont improve sitting in their suits in the stand
@Pol O’Broin: Who are Fardy and Lowe blocking?
@Eddie Hekenui: come off it Eddie
@Pol O’Broin: What’s the answer?
@Pol O’Broin: In terms of Fardy I would say he’s having the opposite effect on the young sr’s at Leinster. To have a experienced international from Australia teaching them the ropes he can give them insights that a northern hemisphere international lock like Dev can’t, the likes of Dunne, Dowling, Baird and C Ryan are getting educated by two top class locks from both hemispheres and that’s a massive plus for their development.
In terms of young wingers there’s not a whole lot coming through at Leinster right now. Kelly hasn’t been offered a senior contract, Keenan looks to have been molded into a 15. Lowe is ahead of D Kearney and Daly right now. As good as those two are they’re not at Lowe’s level.
@Ian Verdon: Lack of reply says it all. Sounds good on paper when he says they’re blocking youngsters but facts don’t back it up. Also worth noting that since they arrived Ryan and Larmour have become key members of the Leinster and Irish squads despite playing the same positions.
@Eddie Hekenui: There’s a multitude of factors that go towards the development of the younger players, game time is one but learning off experienced internationals especially off those that have experienced different playing styles etc can often aid in a younger players development more than getting more game time. It would be the same if we got D Ryan in for a season or two he would be a major educational and developmental tool for the younger lads. If the younger lads are good enough they’ll get the game time over the experienced players ie J Ryan and Larmour.