LEINSTER COACH MATT O’CONNOR told TheScore.ie this week that Fitzgerald’s versatility made him a definite option in the centre.
The Australian will also be looking to Brendan Macken to step up to the mark and prove he can take the Heineken Cup heat.
The departures of Isa Nacewa, Fionn Carr and Andrew Conway mean Fitzgerald’s skills may be needed in the back three but it must not be forgotten that Munster dangled the ‘centre’ carrot at the Wicklow native. With Fergus McFadden stressing his desire to play on the wing last season and Eoin O’Malley forced to retire at 25, O’Connor will hope Macken can draw some heat off the Brian O’Driscoll legacy debate.
Macken featured 12 times for Leinster last season and scored three tries. He was given a chance to impress in the early months but, like other young teammates, paid the price of the hefty away defeat to Connacht. Joe Schmidt dipped back into the ‘A’ side to give him run-outs over the festive and Six Nations periods.
O’Connor started Macken in the 13 jersey against Ulster on Friday and the Dubliner is hoping to feature against Northampton Saints next weekend.
He told TheScore.ie, “Eoin’s retirement hit the squad hard because he was such a leader. He’s a couple of years younger than me and is a centre so he would have helped me a lot. He’s a huge loss to the squad.
“Every game and every training session is an opportunity to impress Matt and the other coaches. That’s the same as every season. He is a new coach and new into our system but this is the time where you can impress him.”
Brendan Macken wants to make his mark in Europe this season. ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne
Macken was part of the Leinster A’s British & Irish Cup-winning squad but declares he is targeting glitzier away days destinations than St Peter’s [Jersey] and and Sardis Road [Pontypridd].
“It’s time to break into the side more,” he said. “I haven’t played Heineken Cup rugby yet so that’s definitely a major goal, and to become a regular in the team.”
Despite the fact that a versatile and in-form Fitzgerald can bump him down the pecking order, Macken is delighted to see his senior colleague back and close to full fitness. He said, “It’s great to see Lukey back and playing. He’s a terribly competitive guy so that’s great to see in the squad.”
Here’s another challenge for you, Roy: Is it possible for you to Captain you country to a World Cup finals and actually bother turning up for the matches? Just a thought.
And here’s a challenge for you figure out the results for our qualifying for that world cup and then realise we would never have made it without Roy to get us there in the first place
Or without Shay Given, Damien Duff or Robbie Keane. How did a “one man team” manage to draw with the eventual finalists and get out of the group? Where was Roy in Tehran when Ireland needed their best player and captain?
Reading triggs. Ill give ya the reason for your question when i get to that part.
Colm- what’s that got to do with anything? Never said he wasn’t a great player. Just a terrible Irishman.
Jesus Kevin are you still bitter!!
Yawn.
Writing a book??
Kevin. Yes it is. I think someone feels a little threatened by Roy.
Jason. And what did duff, given, robbie keane do when roy was gone. Answer – not much.
Apart from the initial rally at the start of the World Cup they wussied out.
And then the next campaign was a joke. They flopped like the wussies they are.
God bless Roy
Sorry I forgot loosing to Spain on penalties was the sign of a team woosing out.
After Roy left the three players mentioned went on to win 100+ caps for their country. I presume you thought Roy Keane was the major driving force behind Manchester United aswel? They seem to have done alright since they decided Roy wasn’t worth the hassle any longer.
Roy was back for the following campaign when Brian Kerr was manager. Germany 2006. Finished 4th in the Group.
Put a sock in it Kevin,Roy was the reason we got to that World Cup
One reason. Many other top players there as well at that time.
Dems were the days ( how much did Jack pocket?? )
I thought jack had a stake in it,maybe thats were i got the idea from
No no, he had a steak in it Shane. Medium rare
There was a Harry Ramsdons on the mass road?
Yes, where Woodies is now
Sorry lads does it not say that he had Haddock not steak !
Keano Keano
Typical inane supporter of the traitor
Judging by the title, I thought it was Roy talking about something other than himself.
How silly of me ……
Roy Keane single handedly got us to the World Cup Finals in 2002. I was very confident of a good placing in those finals. But then Saipan happened. Niall Quinn (mother teresa) and staunton proved Roy had been wronged when they asked him back. It was a huge disapointment that he didnt return. But as he said himself the damage was done.
He may not be the most diplomatic person in the world but he was and is a LEGEND.
God bless Roy.
Roy threw the rattler out of the pram and let his country down. Great player, poor judgement. Try giving out about your boss to a journalist and see what happens.
agh hughie come on, the FAI couldn’t afford the rattle or organise the pram for it to be thrown out of! ha!
Remember the game well was in a foul humour for a month after
Strewth Sheila, Win lose or draw there’ll be no shortage of shrimps on the barbie in Temple Bar tonight
At least the boys played. They didn’t go home. Keane’s legs often went in the pub after the game.
Will Austria bring another non-Irish managers reign to an end. I remember these games, Austria had a team full of guys with eighties hair-cuts, mullets were laughed at in the nineties making these defeats were even more bad. Ireland battered them for the whole game, missing sitters, then finally when we scored our guys just fell apart. Keane blames Harry Ramsdens but what was the excuse for the 3-1 defeat in Austria for the next game. Also we only got a play-off because Northern Ireland ended up hammering Austria in the final series of matches (could have done with a united Ireland in 95). We were in serious decline that year anyway so I dont think many of the players other than Keane would regret the Ramsdens incident.
Dave the amount of thumbs on your comment are 3 down and one up…. the score listed in the article above… and the thumbs down are red and the thumbs up are green…. oh god!!!
I was at that game in the east stand. I remember it well. Couldn’t believe we lost on the day.