BACK IN NOVEMBER when Australia visited Ireland for the autumn tests, Wallaby head coach Michael Cheika said that there appeared to be a ‘moratorium’ on tackling Brumbies wing Henry Speight, such was the destructive manner with which the afroed flyer was going about his business.
That decision appears to have been lifted and transferred to Waratahs wing Taqele Naiyaravoro. The Fijian scored a try of such immense power against the Western Force last weekend that FOX Sports branded him the ‘Lomu clone’.
It’s not hard to see why they cranked the hyperbole dial all the way up to the ‘Sky Sports’ setting…
And we could be seeing a lot of of this guy next season, as according to ESPN he has signed a contract to play for Edinburgh in the PRO12. There still looks to be a bit of ambiguity of whether Naiyaravoro will definitely be joining the Scottish side, but it would be great for the league to have this sort of talent playing every week.
And if the ‘Tahs man does arrive as a replacement for Tim Visser, who is joining Harlequins, he will have a similarly bulldozing colleague in the pack. Highlanders back row Nasi Manu has already agreed to join the Challenge Cup finalists.
He may well be the offspring of a wrecking ball and a battering ram.
Even when on the bench he didn’t get game time. The coach doesn’t like or trust him. Saturday once again showed just how wrong O’connor has been all season
O’Connor is just all wrong for Leinster.
He has a very big chance next season with Leinster during the World Cup, midfield won’t be as competitive so he should get a good run of matches.
Mark if Darcy doesn’t make the World Cup squad, he’ll play 12 with t’eo at 13. Then Madigan and sexton will be back so the midfield won’t be as easy to get into as you may think
That pop pass from O’Brien
Battle between him and Madigan for the 12 jersey next season.
It’s always to easy to see who coaches ‘just like/don’t like’. When Gopperth played badly it was ignored whereas when Madigan played mediocre or even if Reid played well decisions went against them.
It creates such a poisonous culture as some players start to feel entitled to spots and others feel it doesn’t matter how well they play they won’t get picked. Cody and Fergusson were masters at disregarding players identities and judging on match performance alone. MOC is such a stink manager.