The IRB as usual made a ruling and never thought it through. Now that they've painted themselves into a corner instead of going gee maybe we should rethink this they are instead getting all belligerent about it. It's tough on Shingler but the real losers are gonna be the South Pacific nations like Samoa etc when NZers are gonna be stuck as ineligible to those countries if they persist in this stupidity.

I gather the Jarvis/Loxton ruling made a lot of people look silly, as it was a bit of a fudge. We got what we wanted and if the lads ever end up being in contention, they'll be Welsh at the drop of a hat. There's a reason why Shingler's been all over the headlines but it was all hush hush with Jarvis/Loxton.

Decadence wrote: Sorry to drag this one up again but noticed this in the Irish Times website today:

Scotland head coach Andy Robinson has expressed disappointment for Steven Shingler after the International Rugby Board ruled the London Irish back is eligible only for Wales. The IRB council ruled unanimously that Shingler is <strong>ineligible</strong> to play Test rugby for Scotland having been “captured” by Wales after playing in an <strong>under-20 international</strong> against France in 2011.

Wasn't Jarvis declared eligible for Ireland under the same conditions? Surely that would have set a precedent.

I believe the main difference was that Shingler was informed by the WRU that playing for the U20s committed him to Wales, whereas Jarvis and Loxton were not.

Sorry to drag this one up again but noticed this in the Irish Times website today:

Scotland head coach Andy Robinson has expressed disappointment for Steven Shingler after the International Rugby Board ruled the London Irish back is eligible only for Wales. The IRB council ruled unanimously that Shingler is ineligible to play Test rugby for Scotland having been “captured” by Wales after playing in an under-20 international against France in 2011.

Wasn't Jarvis declared eligible for Ireland under the same conditions? Surely that would have set a precedent.

Ball reported to have landed in tokyo, tsunami alert ....

I think he could be a good 12 alright. But he could be a revelation at 10 for us.

Jarvis could be a James Hook type player at 10 if he is imbued with the confidence he needs to be sure of himself.

I'd like Jarvis to be on the bench for most of next season if only for his versatility that he can cover 3 positions makes him a very useful super sub but overall I think 12 might be his position.

I agree with Rossie about giving him a shot at 12 especially when off the bench and we're chasing a game. Our backline can be very pedestrian at times and the last day lost all shape altogether for long periods and were very easy to defend against, the quality of Jarvis' passing can help create the split second for the likes of Griffin and O'Halloran to get us in behind.

I think this is a project for the management team that will tell a lot. Jarvis has the raw materials to be a very good player in the next couple of seasons but needs work.

It was no surprise he was getting calls to start ahead of O'Connor during our poor spell as O'Connor wasn't kicking his goals or creating anything for us at that stage so a change was right.

At worst Jarvis offers a good utility option off the bench for next season.

After NOC got injured, I would have been one of the people calling for Jarvis to be given another shot, but in reality Nikora had been the one that probably hadn't gotten a fair crack of the whip this season. Up until that point he only started 4 games I think it is. I would have liked to have seen Jarvis get some time at 10 over the past 5 games, but other than the Scarlets game they have all been close and considering his history with the boot it's no surprise he hasn't featured then (though certainly ironic that said boot won the Aironi game).

imo jarvis will play a lot at 12 next season and has the pace, physique and passing ability to be a very good 12. I dont know much about him defensively but that can be worked on in preseason. he will prob share 12 with mcsharry and tonetti will share 13 with griffin.

Think Jarvis can play 10 , 15 and even (in my opinion) 12.

Bags of ability. More un-tapped potential than anyone else at the club. Always plays on the forward foot.

Maybe his attitiude is on the lazy side (certainly looks like he needs a kick up the behind when he is warming up on the sidelines).

Think he will benefit more than anyone having a seasoned campaigned like Parks around next year.

I had a bit of a laugh with Mul and Swifty after the game on about the kick. They all wanted him to go for it as he has the big boot capable of such a kick. None of them were sure though that it'd go through the posts. Mul said he was jumping up and down "like a little girl" after haha

is it just me or has there been a noticable improvement in our placekicking since the announcement of the signing of one dan parks for next season?

If the announcement can focus players minds what will his presence do?

i heard few of connachts injured players having the crack on bohermore terrace when jarvis stepped up for the kick and one said that with a success rate of 48% he must be mad! they celebrated wildly with the rest of us as they didnt believe he could do it either and to be fair nothing that happened previously in the season wud lead you to believe he could.

shows fellow players pay attention to those stats just as much as us.

Has he, though?

We won 3 of our first 5 games in the season, and we've won 3 of our last 5 games, Jarvis and Nikora started the majority of those games. NOC was in charge for most of the middle of the season and that wasn't particularly comfortable.

Just to go back to topic here for a second - im sorry but you can not say the boy has not been given opportunities this season.

I can't remember which game it was now but he fluffed a pen / conversion from infront of the posts and on one particular kick from hand he pea rolled it along the floor sideways.

Yes he shows a lot of potential but is far from the polished diamond to be making demands of first team rugby.

EE stuck with NOC when many were shouting change at 10 and i think with the benefit of hindsight EE has been fully vindicated in making that decision.

sea_point wrote:

ConnachtCows wrote: Right, it was just me so. Nevermind.
Thats what I get when I dont get the Advertiser in Drogheda :woohoo:

Tsk, tsk no excuse... :pinch:

I'm across the water and I get it every Thursday online...

edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk//la...bf-aca1-00bedf4bde35

Haha, I do look at it sometimes, but I rarely go there for my Connacht news. Thats usually found on here, or twitter