Jimmy Gopperth
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@gollum yeah i think so. It was s Schmidt choice before he moved to the Ireland gig. Local hero Madigan was supposed to step up with jimmy providing bench support. Turned out Jimmy was a tad better than Madigan and the roles were reversed. Leinster fans, some of them, just had it in for him after that. I went to a few Leinster games when I was living in Dublin and there was some fair shit thrown jimmys way.
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Have been really pleased that sponge-bob square shoulders has gone so well in the UK. Really good player and always came across as a solid team man and GC.
Bit sad he didn't get better treatment at Leinster, wasn't he a big part of them doing well/better?? Guess that position as coming in and bumping a local guy adds a bit of tension for fans.
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He's the Jeetan Patel of rugby.
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hmmm wonder if that does him a disservice though NQ? Don't know how JG would have gone at international level but anything below he's done well.
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@No-Quarter said in Jimmy Gopperth:
He's the Jeetan Patel of rugby.
Although the national selectors never came knocking on Jimmy's door.....
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@ACT-Crusader he did manage a game or two for the jr abs didn't he?
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Yep, the article says he did...a quick check of his Wiki page says he got 1 cap in 2004-2005...?
I guess he'd likely have been picked for England if he hadnt?
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nah, JABs are our 2nd team, capped for them, 1 min or 50 mins, you are tied to NZ...
Maori caps dont count for eligibility.
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@jegga he did. @taniwharugby it was more 2006ish I think. The days when Henry was selecting massive AB squads and then the JABs were also running around.
I guess the comparison with Jeets is that the Blackcaps wanted Jeets to tour as a front line spinner but he chose to stay in the UK. Fair play to him as he was already settled in for Warwickshire at the time.
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@ACT-Crusader I did say it was Wiki
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@Billy-Tell said in Jimmy Gopperth:
@gollum yeah i think so. It was s Schmidt choice before he moved to the Ireland gig. Local hero Madigan was supposed to step up with jimmy providing bench support. Turned out Jimmy was a tad better than Madigan and the roles were reversed. Leinster fans, some of them, just had it in for him after that. I went to a few Leinster games when I was living in Dublin and there was some fair shit thrown jimmys way.
Another reason why Ireland are my hatiest team
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@TeWaio said in Jimmy Gopperth:
@Billy-Tell said in Jimmy Gopperth:
@gollum yeah i think so. It was s Schmidt choice before he moved to the Ireland gig. Local hero Madigan was supposed to step up with jimmy providing bench support. Turned out Jimmy was a tad better than Madigan and the roles were reversed. Leinster fans, some of them, just had it in for him after that. I went to a few Leinster games when I was living in Dublin and there was some fair shit thrown jimmys way.
Another reason why Ireland are my hatiest team
Reason #367(and counting ) for me, how about you.
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Almost certain Gopperth played in the 2005 probables vs possibles game?
Always thought he was pretty average and should have been moved past by the Canes earlier but it's mighty impressive to have a run at the not-quite-the-top-but-the-top-the-rung-below for this long despite his limitations.
You look at guys like Donald and Brett with similar limitations and they couldn't be difference makers up north.
Evans could but he was an actual talent.
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@Billy-Tell said in Jimmy Gopperth:
@gollum yeah i think so. It was s Schmidt choice before he moved to the Ireland gig. Local hero Madigan was supposed to step up with jimmy providing bench support. Turned out Jimmy was a tad better than Madigan and the roles were reversed. Leinster fans, some of them, just had it in for him after that. I went to a few Leinster games when I was living in Dublin and there was some fair shit thrown jimmys way.
You're correct in that Madigan was supposed to be the Leinster no1 but Matt O'Connor had other ideas. Going against the IRFU, Matt O'Connor didn't last long before he got the sack.
Leinster fans didn't take to Gopperth because he was - how should I describe it - a bit robotic. I don't think he was treated badly though.
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I think Madigan was one of the most over-rated players for a while there. He had one very good Pro 12 season, and after that he was seen as the next big thing. It never materialised, but Leinster fans were still clinging to the dream when Gopperth arrived. Interestingly the next big flyhalf-hope for Leinster is also Kiwi-born (Joey Carbery)...but I'll be fair and point out to Irish parents.
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@rotated said in Jimmy Gopperth:
Almost certain Gopperth played in the 2005 probables vs possibles game?
Always thought he was pretty average and should have been moved past by the Canes earlier but it's mighty impressive to have a run at the not-quite-the-top-but-the-top-the-rung-below for this long despite his limitations.
You look at guys like Donald and Brett with similar limitations and they couldn't be difference makers up north.
Evans could but he was an actual talent.
I do recall him getting a run in that game. That was a cast of thousands and I remember on the fern, back when the masses would fire up about selections, there was plenty of "outrage" at some of the players that made it. Here are the team lists
Probables
Anesi, Howlett, Laulala, Mapusua, Sivivatu, Evans, Kelleher, Bates (c), Newby, Lauaki, A Williams, Ryan, Johnstone, Witcombe, WoodcockBench players used - So'oialo, Mehrtens, Mika, Dermody, Cowan
Possibles
Atiga, Hamilton, Smith, Nonu, Ward, Donald, Devine, N Williams, Blackie, Masoe, O'Neill, Donnelly, Afoa, Hore (c), TaumoepeauBench players used - Tu'ipolotu, Gopperth, Nutbrown, B Williams, Kopelani
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@rotated said in Jimmy Gopperth:
Almost certain Gopperth played in the 2005 probables vs possibles game?
Always thought he was pretty average and should have been moved past by the Canes earlier but it's mighty impressive to have a run at the not-quite-the-top-but-the-top-the-rung-below for this long despite his limitations.
You look at guys like Donald and Brett with similar limitations and they couldn't be difference makers up north.
Evans could but he was an actual talent.
Yeah, Donald is a Saint on here but he was woeful at Bath, in contrast the far more maligned Gopperth & Glen Jackson have been 2 of the top first fives in the Prem during their time. Heaviliy in demand & really well paid - thats a pretty solid guide to how well guys are going.
Folks will try make that a dig at the prem, but in that case why was Donald not able to impose himself? Piri was shithouse too, but lets face it, he was only in it to sample the different countries flavours of KFC.
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@gollum One of the U.K press called David Howell the best out half in Europe in about 2008 . I never saw him play there but that's pretty high praise for someone who didn't make it further than nza .
I didn't realise Donald didn't go that well in the Nh . -
I remember someone (Billy Tell? Stargazer?) warning us not to expect much from Donald's NZ return because he hadn't done well up north but then he came back and was awesome for the Chiefs (when fit).
Seems like Gopperth's style of play just really suits NH rugby, while Donald's didn't? And the opposite was true at Super level?
