Zane Kirchner signs for Leinster

by UlstermaninGlasgow Mon 22 Apr 2013, 10:37 am

Currently being reported on twitter by multiple sources that Zane Kirchner of the Bulls has signed for Leinster. So that's the SA rumour that was kicking around. What do you think guys? A good enough replacement for the Iceman?

by Mickado Mon 22 Apr 2013, 10:51 am

Hmmm, kinda dissappointed. Never really rated him, but I'll hold fire and give the lad a chance.

by **LondonTiger** Mon 22 Apr 2013, 11:03 am

Perhaps he will shine in Dublin - but like Mick, never really seen what others rave about.

by Golden Mon 22 Apr 2013, 11:04 am

Disappointed as well, never been that impressed with him but if Joe was behind the signing then there must be something im not seeing.

by Mickado Mon 22 Apr 2013, 11:04 am

LondonTiger wrote:Perhaps he will shine in Dublin - but like Mick, never really seen what others rave about.

I didn’t think anybody really rated him that highly, even in SA.

Is he just a fullback or is he versatile?

by Jenifer McLadyboy Mon 22 Apr 2013, 11:07 am

http://www.sarugbymag.co.za/blog/details/kirchner-confirms-leinster-move

by Golden Mon 22 Apr 2013, 11:15 am

Is he going to be the only back 3 player we sign? With Nacewa and Conway off I still think were short here especially as Luke is so unlucky with injuries.

by Standulstermen Mon 22 Apr 2013, 11:16 am

Versatility is the issue IMO. He isn't as adaptable as nacewa

by Golden Mon 22 Apr 2013, 11:19 am

It says on Wikipedia he can play full back or centre but im sure hell primarily be a winger for us

by GunsGerms Mon 22 Apr 2013, 11:49 am

Oh noooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!! He is no good. Why does Leinster insist in signing useless South Africans?

by fa0019 Mon 22 Apr 2013, 11:51 am

Meyer rates him as the best 15 in SA... most of us would disagree but they love him up north.

He's not a bad player, decent test player but not sure if he has the game to be a prolific winger.

I'm quite happy with him leaving to be honest... frees up better players for SA forcing Meyer's hand. I think you should have gone for Joe Pietersen myself... Meyer has never rated him and he's yet to make a bok squad but his kicking is superb, he has loads of gas and is a standout performer for the stormers..and has been for the last 2 seasons. Really underrated.

by **Biltong** Mon 22 Apr 2013, 11:53 am

erm....... Good luck Leinster, hope you got plenty of soft landing strips for Old Zessna, err I mean Zane

by **Biltong** Mon 22 Apr 2013, 11:54 am

LondonTiger wrote:Perhaps he will shine in Dublin - but like Mick, never really seen what others rave about.

You know people who raved about him? Shocked

by fa0019 Mon 22 Apr 2013, 11:55 am

Biltong wrote:
LondonTiger wrote:Perhaps he will shine in Dublin - but like Mick, never really seen what others rave about.
You know people who raved about him?

Best mate of Frans perhaps?

by Mickado Mon 22 Apr 2013, 12:00 pm

fa0019 wrote:Meyer rates him as the best 15 in SA... most of us would disagree but they love him up north.

He's not a bad player, decent test player but not sure if he has the game to be a prolific winger.

I'm quite happy with him leaving to be honest... frees up better players for SA forcing Meyer's hand. I think you should have gone for Joe Pietersen myself... Meyer has never rated him and he's yet to make a bok squad but his kicking is superb, he has loads of gas and is a standout performer for the stormers..and has been for the last 2 seasons. Really underrated.

There was some talk that we were looking at Willie le Roux at the Cheetahs too, think the consensus among Leinster fans is that he would be the preferred option over ZK.

by **Biltong** Mon 22 Apr 2013, 12:00 pm

Look, Zane Kirchner is athletic and has good skills, but sadly no rugby brain and no vision.

He is decent unde a high ball, nowhere close to the skills Kearney has though, he has a good boot on him, but when he gets the ball in depth he does one of two things.

He either kicks it and then doesn't chase it, even if he does, he kicks to long to put pressure on or regain posession. If he runs, he does this little goose step thing that only brings him to lose speed and he doesn't like to pass, when he does it can be effective, but he doesn't do that all that often.

When he runs you better have support runners or forwards near where he is going to ground, because he is prone to be caught in posession often, and then it is either lost posession in way of a turnover, or penalty.

He is definitely not someone I would fear from an opposition point of view.

by **Biltong** Mon 22 Apr 2013, 12:03 pm

Mickado wrote:
fa0019 wrote:Meyer rates him as the best 15 in SA... most of us would disagree but they love him up north.

He's not a bad player, decent test player but not sure if he has the game to be a prolific winger.

I'm quite happy with him leaving to be honest... frees up better players for SA forcing Meyer's hand. I think you should have gone for Joe Pietersen myself... Meyer has never rated him and he's yet to make a bok squad but his kicking is superb, he has loads of gas and is a standout performer for the stormers..and has been for the last 2 seasons. Really underrated.

There was some talk that we were looking at Willie le Roux at the Cheetahs too, think the consensus among Leinster fans is that he would be the preferred option over ZK.

For my own sanity I hope Willie le Roux remains in SA, there are certain players where it really p57473ss me off when we lose them and Willie will be one of those, he is a highly skilled, highly versatile and talented player. He is only 23, and like CJ Stander and potentially Arno Botha the future of SA rugby.

by Golden Mon 22 Apr 2013, 12:06 pm

Has Kirchner played wing often Biltong? and is he any use in the centre?

by **Biltong** Mon 22 Apr 2013, 12:09 pm

Golden, he might have played centre a few times, can't really recall whether he did or not though.

by Golden Mon 22 Apr 2013, 12:11 pm

Ah right was just going off wiki. Trying to find the silver lining.

Bit disappointing to go from Adam Ashley Cooper to Drew Mitchell and then get Kirchner instead.

by **Biltong** Mon 22 Apr 2013, 12:11 pm

Checked, he played one match at centre and one at wing in 2010 for SA.

He is strong and big enough to be a centre, but I wouldn't think anyone will utulise him there on a regular basis though.

by **Notch** Mon 22 Apr 2013, 12:12 pm

Biltong wrote: like CJ Stander ... the future of ~~SA rugby~~ Irish Rugby

by **Biltong** Mon 22 Apr 2013, 12:13 pm

Notch wrote:
Biltong wrote: like CJ Stander ... the future of ~~SA rugby~~ Irish Rugby

I often wonder what BS his agent was feeding him to fall for that one. Whistle

by Golden Mon 22 Apr 2013, 12:14 pm

Well hes doing a good job sitting on the bench for Munster

by **Notch** Mon 22 Apr 2013, 12:16 pm

Biltong wrote:
Notch wrote:
Biltong wrote: like CJ Stander ... the future of ~~SA rugby~~ Irish Rugby

I often wonder what BS his agent was feeding him to fall for that one.

Spoiler:

by **Biltong** Mon 22 Apr 2013, 12:17 pm

Notch wrote:
Biltong wrote:
Notch wrote:
Biltong wrote: like CJ Stander ... the future of ~~SA rugby~~ Irish Rugby

I often wonder what BS his agent was feeding him to fall for that one.

Spoiler:

How much is he actually getting?

by GunsGerms Mon 22 Apr 2013, 12:18 pm

Leinster dont really pay massive wages by NH standards.

by **Notch** Mon 22 Apr 2013, 12:18 pm

No idea. I don't think if he thought he had a realistic shot at the Boks he would have left though. All the indications where he was 'too small' when he was back home.

by Mickado Mon 22 Apr 2013, 12:22 pm

GunsGerms wrote:Leinster dont really pay massive wages by NH standards.

250k per year is what I'm hearing. Fairly feckin good..

by GunsGerms Mon 22 Apr 2013, 12:27 pm

Mickado wrote:
GunsGerms wrote:Leinster dont really pay massive wages by NH standards.

250k per year is what I'm hearing. Fairly feckin good..

Thats waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much for Kirchner. Id rather play Dave Kearney or Fitzgerald as backup at 15 than Kirchener.

by LeinsterFan4life Mon 22 Apr 2013, 12:39 pm

What a truely awful signing. Id rather take a punt Adam Byrne than pay 250k for this guy. Absolutely raging

by Hookisms and Hyperbole Mon 22 Apr 2013, 12:45 pm

Isn't the fact that so many Souh African fans semi delighted about this deal tell you all you need to know about it?

That said you would have struggled to find too many Ulster fans happy about the signing of Nick Williams. Maybe he can turn perceptions of him around. His wage is absolutely astonishing though

by Hookisms and Hyperbole Mon 22 Apr 2013, 12:46 pm

By semi I mean seem. I was thinking about those damn Oreo cones again

by LeinsterFan4life Mon 22 Apr 2013, 12:52 pm

250K is not confirmed though. Thats only a rumour. Also he won't be here until November.

by Golden Mon 22 Apr 2013, 12:56 pm

Would he even start if everyones fit?

Hes not going to replace kearney at FB, the way McFaddens been playing id rather have him on the wing and if Fitz is fit i think he offers more.

by Jenifer McLadyboy Mon 22 Apr 2013, 12:59 pm

LeinsterFan4life wrote:250K is not confirmed though. Thats only a rumour. Also he won't be here until November.

That's not confirmed either. He could be released early and get here for the start of the season.

by **Notch** Mon 22 Apr 2013, 1:11 pm

GunsGerms wrote:
Mickado wrote:
GunsGerms wrote:Leinster dont really pay massive wages by NH standards.

250k per year is what I'm hearing. Fairly feckin good..

Thats waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much for Kirchner. Id rather play Dave Kearney or Fitzgerald as backup at 15 than Kirchener.

Why didn't they just keep Conway, use him and Kearney Jnr. as back up to Rob at 15 and invest the money in a top class winger or lock?

by GunsGerms Mon 22 Apr 2013, 1:16 pm

Notch wrote:
Why didn't they just keep Conway, use him and Kearney Jnr. as back up to Rob at 15 and invest the money in a top class winger or lock?

Exactly. Even Jarod Payne might look world class playing against Leinster now if Kirchner starts at 15.

by Artful_Dodger Mon 22 Apr 2013, 1:17 pm

Even Jared Payne might look world class?? He is world class and 15 probably isn't even his best position.

by **rodders** Mon 22 Apr 2013, 1:29 pm

Leinster are way to reliant on Saffers if you ask me.

by GunsGerms Mon 22 Apr 2013, 1:37 pm

rodders wrote:Leinster are way to reliant on Saffers if you ask me.

You wish. If Kirchner was signed by Ulster they would probably make him captain and stick him in at out half or something.

by debaters1 Mon 22 Apr 2013, 1:50 pm

Artful, falling for such an obvious wind up.....

As for the players and supposed figures being paid. Wow. There has to be better value out there for €250K.

As for Stander, he just got hugely unlucky with injuries and the timing of them that he isn't in the HC squad. And now with POM & TOD playing so well and Coughlan being as solid as ever, he'll have to properly earn his place in the side, which is god for everyone (except the accountants watching his salary leave the A/C every month if he isnt playing) but TOD has been excellent since Christmas, let us see if he mainatains these standards. Not to mention POM too. What is Stander's best position?

by Artful_Dodger Mon 22 Apr 2013, 2:00 pm

debaters1 wrote:Artful, falling for such an obvious wind up.....

As for the players and supposed figures being paid. Wow. There has to be better value out there for €250K.

As for Stander, he just got hugely unlucky with injuries and the timing of them that he isn't in the HC squad. And now with POM & TOD playing so well and Coughlan being as solid as ever, he'll have to properly earn his place in the side, which is god for everyone (except the accountants watching his salary leave the A/C every month if he isnt playing) but TOD has been excellent since Christmas, let us see if he mainatains these standards. Not to mention POM too. What is Stander's best position?

by Intotouch Mon 22 Apr 2013, 2:02 pm

Why him? Why anyone actually? The last time I looked there was such a traffic jam of talented backs at Leinster that many wanted to leave just so that they could play a few minutes of rugby.

by red_stag Mon 22 Apr 2013, 2:05 pm

I suspect that Stander will have a good year next year after a good preseason behind him. He looks to be carrying a bit too much weight at the minute (maybe post injury) and I would say is probably finding this a very difficult season.

Plays a Super Rugby season, then moves from South Africa to Ireland and has to contend with a few untimely injuries.

He has shown glimpses of what he can do and clearly has an eye for the tryline (has got 4 tries in the league despite just 3 starts).

With Coughlan turning 33 this year I can see him targetting that #8 shirt for next season. Coughlan is Mr Dependable but I'd hope that when the rest of the team are another year older and wiser than the need for Mr Dependable is lessened and we can look at big ball carrying CJ.

by red_stag Mon 22 Apr 2013, 2:06 pm

Regarding Kirchner it seems a bit of a panic purchase.

by **rodders** Mon 22 Apr 2013, 2:09 pm

Stander would be my pick to captain Ireland in the next RWC. Cracking player.

by GunsGerms Mon 22 Apr 2013, 2:11 pm

red_stag wrote:Regarding Kirchner it seems a bit of a panic purchase.

It does alright though I see no real reason for panic.

by GunsGerms Mon 22 Apr 2013, 2:11 pm

rodders wrote:Stander would be my pick to captain Ireland in the next RWC. Cracking player.

Is that a joke? Why dont we just ask Jan Serfontein if he wants to captain Ireland at the next world cup?

by Artful_Dodger Mon 22 Apr 2013, 2:12 pm

red_stag wrote:Regarding Kirchner it seems a bit of a panic purchase.

I think so to. After the deals on Adam Ashley Cooper and Drew Mitchell fell through I think they started to worry they could end up not bringing anyone in.

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