Galarza signs for Leinster
Mariano Galarza has signed on a short-term deal for Leinster as the club cover injuries to key players.
Leo Cullen and Kevin McLaughlin will not be fit to start the new season and this has prompted the club to bring in the Argentine international to start in the lock position for the new domestic campaign.
Galarza will have his work cut out to increase his fitness and be ready to play for Leinster as soon as they need him to. It is not ideal preparation for the club and could set them back a little bit on their ambitions for the season.
Galarza is not a bad player by any means and has a number of key attributes that should see him do well during his time at the club. However, with the squad already stretched thin, Leinster will have to protect key players if they have any desire to do well this season.
Playing attributes
Galarza is a very fit individual and it should not take him much time to adapt to the pace of British rugby. He has played some international games against the home nations and he will have some experience of the sort of rugby that British sides play.
This experience will be key because he will have to settle in very quickly. Leinster need him to do so and a lot will be expected from him even though he is just 23 years of age.
Galarza is a very good challenger for the ball in the middle of the pitch. He will add weight to the Leinster pack and scrums and this will allow the team to grind forward and gain territorial advantages in matches. He can pass over a long distance and this will be important in terms of releasing pressure and setting up counter attacks.
Leinster manager Guy Easterby said: "Mariano has made a real impression for Argentina since his senior international debut and we are pleased to have secured his signature as cover until the end of January."
A stretched squad
Leinster already have a very stretched squad and this means that if Galarza gets injured then the club will be in deep trouble. This could mean having to throw a youth team player into the first team, which is hardly ideal when the pressures and expectations in the Magners League are huge.
Further injuries would cause this to happen on a regular basis. It is obvious that teenagers do not have the same physical benefits and advantages that more developed adults have. This will mean mistakes during important games and ultimately more losses for the side.
Easterby added: "Obviously both Leo and Kevin will each miss a significant part of the early half of the season so it is great that we have been able to cover them with a quality player.
Betting advice
The best way to approach Leinster during the season is to view them on a match by match basis. If you back them now to win anything and then injuries develop you could quickly see your money go down the drain.
Match by match will let you see how the team start the season, if they can carry that momentum forward and if they have any players who look as though they will score a lot of points over a high number of games.
Avoid any bets on Galarza because he plays in a more defensive position. He will not get forward as much as other players and will always look to pass the ball onto someone else before making an attacking run himself.
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