IT IS now a case of when, not if, Brad Thorn will join Leinster. assistant coach Richie Murphy yesterday stated: “We are close to finalising the deal” for the 37-year-old, which gives the former All Black lock the opportunity to play in the Heineken Cup in the winter of an already epic career.
Thorn has already won the World Cup and a Super Rugby title with the Canterbury Crusaders, while also representing Australia in Rugby League and Queensland in the State of Origin series. He retired from the Test arena last October, signing a two-year deal with Japanese club Fukuoka Sanix Blues.
However, the current Japanese off-season allows Thorn to solve Leinster’s chronic secondrow problem, further highlighted by Damien Browne’s enforced withdrawal with a recurring shoulder injury during last Friday’s 42-8 defeat of Treviso.
“Really exciting,” was how stand-in Leinster captain Kevin McLaughlin described Thorn’s imminent arrival to Dublin.
“We’ve a bit of a crisis in the secondrow this season, especially now Leo has got the surgery (Achilles). I’ve had to go in there a bit, which I’m happy to do, but we’re getting a specialist secondrow in who’s won the World Cup, he’s done everything there is to be done in rugby. It is going to be a huge lift for the squad.”
Thorn is not expected to arrive ahead of Friday’s Pro12 game against the Scarlets and may not make the trip to Glasgow on February 25th, but the March 2nd match in Aironi would be the ideal opportunity to integrate him into the squad.Leinster forwards coach Jono Gibbs never played in the same All Blacks pack as Thorn, who returned for a second stint in the league with the Brisbane Broncos between 2005 and 2007, although the pair would have faced off on numerous occasions.
Until the Six Nations Council confirm the rescheduled date for the France match in Paris, it is unclear how many Irish players Declan Kidney will release for Friday’s game, although Eoin Reddan was togged out for Leinster training yesterday.
Meanwhile, the Super 15, which starts next week, will introduce a “white” card for referees to brandish when they suspect foul play but cannot identify the culprit. A citing commissioner will then review the footage.
