Thanks Isa.....again! He is an advert for the truly great ones to take a career break a la Richie McCaw.
Someone should ask Donal Lenihan for a comment after this article in 2015: https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/ ... 87822.html "Great players retire. It doesn't mean they can come back after two years, not having played a match, and be as good as they were." well done Donal.
Nice memory from Isa Mark 1 versus Sarries in RDS. Scroll forward to 3.40 mins (as a matter of interest one of Dominic Ryans best games in blue...2 tries). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqziLOgwwgg
Both Isa eras will be fondly remembered. Undoubtedly Irish (and not just Leinster) rugby's greatest acquisition from abroad. Hopefully he will stay on in some capacity.
The best of luck, Isa, whatever path you may travel.
Thank you Isa, the best, most valuable overseas player to play in Ireland.
In my shaky memory, Isa played a very early game in his first season (at 10 I think) and either broke or seriously injured his arm, was this the Ospreys game in Sept ember'08?
I only ask because I think I thought at the time that this guy wasn't going to work out for us!
Finally, I think it is entirely appropriate that his position on the Leinster website isn't given as "Utility back" but "Universal Back"- that would have been a great addition on his Legends shirt!
Thank you Isa, the best, most valuable overseas player to play in Ireland.
In my shaky memory, Isa played a very early game in his first season (at 10 I think) and either broke or seriously injured his arm, was this the Ospreys game in Sept ember'08?
I only ask because I think I thought at the time that this guy wasn't going to work out for us!
Finally, I think it is entirely appropriate that his position on the Leinster website isn't given as "Utility back" but "Universal Back"- that would have been a great addition on his Legends shirt!
Isa played European and Magners' knock-out games in one Season (possibly 2012) with a stress fracture in his tibia. I think he played 8 games (in nine weeks) with that non-disclosed injury.
You didn't, well before that in 08 i think is when you're thinking of. He broke his arm and played on for quite a while. One of his first games with us. Trapper mentions it further up the thread too.
I remember going for a pint with some friends in The Chophouse after the Leicester match in 2011. They were showing a replay of the match and when Isa's wundertry was shown the whole pub applauded. Bear in mind this was 2 hours after it had actually happened.
Fireworks wrote:If he is going back to Auckland then I hope he has to deal with the weight of two more medals in his luggage.
I think we need to create a hall of fame just so he can be inducted into it.
In fairness, if there were a hall of fame for every position on the pitch there could well be 15 Isa's in it!
Might not work but I would be interested in a hall of fame that sets a slightly higher standard of entry that our southern cousins set for allocating the Ligind title. Mostly thinking of it as a way of recognising what Isa has given to Leinster.
Peg Leg wrote:Just realised that we're going to have to retire a lot of jersey numbers when he goes... 11, 12, 14 & 15
Lad's don't be retiring anything. I've seen this movie before.
Two years off...a bit of R&R for the body......and bam...... Good ole 'Dancing man Isa' is back in the game!
Another comeback at 38. You heard it hear first
Can you imagine!
One of my favourite Isa performances quite a recent one. I felt like he really took the team by the scruff of the neck and gave a true captains performance in comeback in the home game against Exeter last December. Scored all the points aside from McGrath's try if i remember? What a man
An incredible player for us, will be sadly missed (again!), hopefully we haven't seen the last of him in some capacity. The double would be a fitting end!
And he only goes an scores the points that win us our 4th Star!
What a man, legend, hero, inspiration, rolemodel, giant.
We will never see the like of him again.
You know I'm going to lose,
And gambling's for fools,
But that's the way I like it baby, I don't want to live FOREVER!
well done Donal.
