As far as I remember Pinky around the time of the injury it was he was expected to be out for the season- I may be wrong but I think that is what I recall.

What's the story with Darragh Leader these days? Is he still out with that had injury he picked up in the Arms Park or did he do something else to himself since?

pinky wrote:

pronounced fit to play again on April 1

But no game for Lions this Week-end:(

pronounced fit to play again on April 1

Kent Brockman wrote: He was then transferred to a better hospital where his condition was upgraded to 'alive.'

Ummmm.......forget what I wrote six hours a go; they've got a second opinion and the news now is that not only did jantjies not break his wrist but he won't require surgery and is available for selection this weekend. One of those doctors has got it very very wrong.

Accidentally Onside wrote: Elton Jantjies broke his wrist at the weekend playing for the Lions. Going for surgery but no estimate on return time, you'd hope that means our boy Marnitz will see some game time.

He could be back playing for the 'Boks against us if their tens keep getting injured:
www.supersport.com/rugby/super-rugby/new...s_Bok_flyhalf_crisis
Another interestingly vague comment at the end of this one:

But Boshoff’s recent signing with Irish club Connacht and talk in rugby circles that he asked for an immediate release to play for another franchise may make it a difficult decision for coach Johan Ackermann.

Elton Jantjies broke his wrist at the weekend playing for the Lions. Going for surgery but no estimate on return time, you'd hope that means our boy Marnitz will see some game time.

The registration deadline to be eligible for the Pro12 for the current season is next Tuesday the 22nd. I didn't get the impression that this was ever on the cards but mightn't be the craziest idea in the world.
Wouldn't be great to have him arriving having not played any meaningful rugby for nearly a year.

Seen that. Hopefully he gets here sooner than later and start fresh.

No place for Marnitz on Saturday: www.superxv.com/lions-make-four-changes-cheetahs/

Just passed the sportsground. The lads out training. That's the spirit lads. They won't risk letting this slip

Boshoff makes good restarts too, new for Connacht

81% carreer kicking success rate in August

About Boshoff It's time to stop basing judgement only on positive/negative reputation and apparences on teamsheets, I base mine on the several most recent game he played with Golden Lions this autumn.

1) Sadly, no, he's not at all a good defender, that's not just about "recovery", one and a half years after his injury. Often sent back in the 2nd line of defence, and missed a lot of tackles the few times he had to be sollicitated

2) No, his kicking to the post isn't that great, missed most conversions when they were close to the touchline

3) His decision making isn't great all the time. Stupid chip over the top whereas Lions were in possession in the opponent 22. Impossible offload straight in the opponent hands.

4) Goes back in the impacts.

5) But yes he always tries to offload and often does it well

6) Has good kicking distance (to the post and in open play)

7) Variation in his animation of the attacking line, inside passes in the best timing I've ever seen

8 ) So much at east with drop goal

9) Good running orientation.

That's an analysis based on recent facts, from what can be seen, simple as that. Of course, it could change a bit, only for the best, under Lam coaching staff...

pinky wrote:

Moy wrote: I would be very surprised if AJ left for a US team. I'm basing that mostly on a timing issue rather than my complete doubt about the stability of the league; which is a different discussion altogether.

I only found the league website after reading your post Moy ( www.prorugby.org/ ). I didn't know they had even confirmed details of the season yet.
The fact that there are only 5 teams and the website says "Teams will be announced on an ongoing basis!" doesn't inspire confidence.
And when a professional league has an online form you fill in if you want to play, well, eh ...

Pinky, I think you underestimate starting a new pro league from scratch on what could be termed a very tight budget by European terms and a miniscule budget in US terms, in a country that is only starting to take to rugby. The league is centrally owned, so all teams belong to PRO and all players are contracted centrally to PRO. Plan is for 5 teams year 1, expansion in yr 2/3/etc - which happens in the other US leagues as they grow - I'd expect to see cities tendering to have a team once season #1 goes successfully. There is no shortage of rugby in the south (Texas, Florida etc) or on the East coast (North Carolina up to Boston), never mind Canada which already has "provincial" type teams - the only real issue is finding the right stadia.

Can't emphasise how similar rugby in the USA is to rugby development happening in GAA areas and the opposition it encounters - the last ten years saw a lot of effort by clubs just trying to get field access locally - that's now happening at this pro/elite level, and regardless of issues with 3G/4G astroturf fields, and field dimensions - any stadium probably already has soccer/american football/lacrosse fighting tooth and nail not to let rugby in. The owner of the league (Schoninger) is taking the risk with his own money, so fair play to the guy, it;s frankly a lot more than USA Rugby have done, or any of the other bluffers.

As for the online form - it was only for players that were applying from overseas and makes complete sense - any agent worth his salt would be plugged into what is going on and submit via that, and it allows the league director of rugby and his staff centralize the applications and triage them (would be big issues with work visas, the league was not sponsoring visas - although maybe they bend that rule for people like Bergamasco & Wannenburg). All the US-based players were identified either through inclusion on the US national team pathway, or elite development academies, scouting of the American and Pacific rugby premierships, and they even held "combines" (try-outs) for interested players who weren't identified. Plus Canadians of course.

While it won't be Pro12/Top14/SuperRugby - it'll be pretty fantastic to see. Lets not forget the celtic league had it's own issues for many years at the start.

pinky wrote: Based on the league schedule (April to July) it might be an idea to extend Aj's contract til the end of the Euro pool stages, if USA is his intended destination and the IRFU are OK with it., etc.

Back to the point of this thread - agree completely. AJ playing in Europe until the Americas Rugby Championship, and preferably with Connacht, is probably the best deal for all parties including USA Rugby.

Linley's article today (can't find proper link but you can see it in the ePaper version) says Boshoff may be here for preseason if released from his current contract.
Also doesn't seem to suggest Aj departure is a foregone conclusion.