Leinster Rugby Confirm Signing of Ben Te'o

[simonokeeffe]

silver lining is if he is banned for (most of the) rest of the season he arrives out to us nice and fresh

[johng]

If he appeals and gets an extra week then it's season over for him.

[nc6000]

That looks bad on first viewing

Not too good on the second or third viewings either.

[ichabodscrane]

Idiot! That will be his third ban this season..

[Andrew097]

Strange signing a rugby league second row for the centre. Not impressed with the idea that Leinsters game is going to be big lad running back to the pack and out halfs kicking up and unders. Hull Kingston Rovers here we go.

[simonokeeffe]

hopefully change of scenery/(rugby) culture will calm him down a bit

main reason he's moving (hemisphere) is over stress/abuse around a false allegation against him in his personal life

[blockhead]

TEO, TEO, TEO!
At last, a new chant for the blue army.
Best of luck Ben.

[johng]

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/n ... c4c8627fa8

Out until the 2nd week of the finals. (When they won't have a game, if they win the first week, so it could be the 3rd week)

Mad system they have there with the top 8 teams in the playoffs. 1 and 2 are at home to 4 and 3. winners get a week off.

5 and 6 are at home to 8 and 7. losers are out.

Then the losers of the top 4 play the winners of the bottom 4. (confused yet)

And you are into proper semi finals in week 3. Final in week 4. (5th of October)

So even if he plays in the last 3 weeks, he will be well rested.

He will then need serious reprogramming before he plays union.

[simonokeeffe]

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/n ... c4c8627fa8

Out until the 2nd week of the finals. (When they won't have a game, if they win the first week, so it could be the 3rd week)

Mad system they have there with the top 8 teams in the playoffs. 1 and 2 are at home to 4 and 3. winners get a week off.

5 and 6 are at home to 8 and 7. losers are out.

Then the losers of the top 4 play the winners of the bottom 4. (confused yet)

And you are into proper semi finals in week 3. Final in week 4. (5th of October)

So even if he plays in the last 3 weeks, he will be well rested.

He will then need serious reprogramming before he plays union.

just a thought but maybe he's been signed to replace Leo Auva'a?

[johng]

There is an Auva'a on the Rabitohs team ok......

[JB1973]

Always a gamble signing a rugby league player, not one I would personally take. Good luck to the guy hope it works out for you

[artaneboy]

Strange signing a rugby league second row for the centre. Not impressed with the idea that Leinsters game is going to be big lad running back to the pack and out halfs kicking up and unders. Hull Kingston Rovers here we go.

That's your second effort in a page to reignite a simmering row that has resonance of other more divisive arguments last season. Which it only takes you to scroll back a page to see was implicitly parked until we have evidence of 3 things:
1. how we actually play with him- as opposed to the blind assumptions offered.
2. how good he is at playing for us.
3. how successful it is as a playing style.

Maybe we can wait until we see what happens- eh?

[ceemec]

Strange signing a rugby league second row for the centre.

A league second row bears no resemblance to a union second row. Sonny Bill Williams, Andy Farrell, Wendell Sailor, Gareth Thomas...all significant game time as rugby league second rows.

[Tricky Dicky]

Strange signing a rugby league second row for the centre.

A league second row bears no resemblance to a union second row. Sonny Bill Williams, Andy Farrell, Wendell Sailor, Gareth Thomas...all significant game time as rugby league second rows.

SBW operates further out from the ruck than Te'o usually does, though, which would equip him better to play centre/wing in union. Body shapes are generally a bit more uniform in league but it's a concern that Te'o hasn't played centre (to my knowledge) in league, as centre would be fairly similar in both codes. MOC's obviously desperate to get a Manu Tuilagi-like 13 on board but it's a pretty big ask of Te'o, and you'd have to wonder will he be able to become accustomed to union quickly enough to challenge for starts in Europe. If he ends up playing PRO12 for the first season, would it have been better to promote the likes of Tom Daly, and then see where we stand post-World Cup? I thought wing was actually Sonny Bill's best position in union, and I don't think he ever played wing in league, so hopefully Te'o will turn out to be one of the forward converts who makes a good back

[Alternative Ulster]

They have rucks in rugby league now?

[offshorerules]

They have rucks in rugby league now?

No they don't but you knew that already. Just watched the tackle he got banned for and I doubt it would even get picked up in a union match to be honest.

[ceemec]

It probably wouldn't be picked up but it should be. It's an issue in league due to the tackle, release, recycle approach and a lot more upper body tackles so wouldn't be seen as regularly in union. It's essentially an arm bar and is very dangerous play.

[AdamK]

Ah it's hardly the Clarke end of the scale. He could've been trying to roll him in fairness. I wouldn't really let it bother me. If he starts picking up yellows or reds for us then it could be a worry.

[offshorerules]

I think it only gets noticed because of the attention the tackle area gets in league as they try to keep up the tempo of the game. It's not nearly as bad as blows to the head in a ruck, tip tackles or gouging.

[offshorerules]

In fact when I think about it are 'chicken wing' tackles even illegal in the union code? I've never heard of any incident being described as one.