A little from column A, a little from column B.
Leinster coach Matt O’Connor will have Johnny Sexton, Mick Kearney and now Isa Nacewa to pick from next season.
The three-time European Cup champions were Ireland’s best province in the Champions Cup this season but floundered in the league. O’Connor is hoping to bring ‘one or two’ new players in for 2015/16. If Leinster have worked out an agreement with the IRFU, Nacewa may not even take up an Non-Irish Qualified spot.
To help the Aussie out, we have put together a handy shopping list that covers some key positions.
Scrum-half
With the very real possibility of Isaac Boss and Eoin Reddan heading to the World Cup, Leinster need scrum-half cover.
Two of the best, young, Southern Hemisphere options are Brad Weber, who is ticking along nicely for Waikato Chiefs, and 21-year-old Mitchell Drummond has just made his Super Rugby breakthrough for Crusaders.
O’Connor has previously said he would not rule out a move for Munster veteran Peter Stringer, but there are better Irish options. Kieran Marmion is contracted to Connacht until June 2016 but failure, for the western province, to clinch a Champions Cup spot could damage their long-term prospects of hanging onto the Ireland international.
Marmion already has a history of inflicting damage upon Leinster:
Former Leinster under-age player James Hart had a fantastic 2013/14 with Grenoble but now finds himself behind South African Charl McLeod at Bernard Jackman’s Grenoble. The goal-kicking No.9 would has several points to prove if welcomed back by the club that cut him lose four years ago.
Centre
If Leinster want an Irish qualified centre in the door, who has proven himself at the top level and allayed injury concerns, they can ask Grenoble about Chris Farrell. The Tyrone native sought a move away from Ulster, last summer, and has impressed in France.
Melbourne Rebels centre Sefa Naivalu has signed a new contract, until 2017, but we remain in Australia for our next pick. Kyle Godwin of Western Force has shown signs of serious talent, over the past two seasons, and may be convinced to build a reputation in Europe before returning home to concentrate on Super Rugby and a crack, with the Wallabies, at World Cup 2019.
Leinster would surely like to sign Robbie Henshaw up but that may have to wait until 2016/17, after his current Connacht contract expires.
Fullback/Wing
Behind the scenes negotiations are ongoing, in France, to secure the services of former Auckland Blues man David Smith from Toulon but it is not to late for Leinster. Smith is the leading scorer in this season’s Top 14 and can cover all back three positions. Another option, to cover/challenge Rob Kearney, is James Lowe of the Chiefs. The 22-year-old has seven tries in 18 Super Rugby games and has two New Zealand Maori appearances to his name.
Lowe is a young man capable of pure magic:
Back row
This is a touch of wishful thinking, and a hark back to the inspirational Rocky Elsom signing in 2008.
David Pocock is one of the world’s best, on his day, and has returned to sensational Super Rugby form. Only last weekend he registered a first-half hat-trick against Otago Highlanders. A backline of Sean O’Brien, Pocock and Jamie Heaslip could do some damage.
While we are at it, a call to Richie McCaw would not go amiss.
The All Blacks captain insists he will not be tempted to Europe – to finish out his playing days – by cash. McCaw is a keen pilot so perhaps Leinster can hook him up with his own plane at a Baldonnell hangar.
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