Tigers Prop Discussion.

bwightman · Post by **bwightman** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 11:18 am

Apologies if this thread is a touch disjointed; these are my thoughts on all things prop at Welford Road.

Good old Julian is 35 now, has he made any indication about whether he will carry on next year? He rarely plays a full 80 anymore, plus the fact that he's not the force he used to be. Don't get me wrong - I'm a huge fan of Jools and will be sorry to see him go!

With Dave Youngs and Alex Moreno leaving and only Bonorino coming in (so far) can we afford to lose him this year?

On the subject of Bonorino I'm perplexed. Why tell Moreno that he can leave (presumably due to him being 35/6) and then hire a 32 year old in his place? We always seem to grab players in the twilight of their careers.

Next: do we think Dan Coles will get his chance to make his mark on the front row next season?

Hopefully Castro will be fit and ready for the new season too!

Are the chances of Ayerza getting EU citizenship this summer good?

Lastly, CJ van der Linde has admitted he's coming north this summer - do we know where he's going? I'm going to assume he's heading to France for the contract money, but he'd be a fantastic addition to our front row selection.
1.CJ, 2.Chuter/Kayser, 3.Castro would be a mouthwatering proposition!

salcombe bob · Post by **salcombe bob** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 11:50 am

I spoke with him at length yesterday in the street outside my office. I though how young and fit he looked! I didn't touch on the future but I would have thought he will continue one more season anyway.

alex_111 · Post by **alex_111** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 11:54 am

i'd heard that ayerza was getting eu citizenship this summer because he was marrying a spanish woman. taking one for the team there!

Bad Wolf · Post by **Bad Wolf** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 12:48 pm

alex_111 wrote:i'd heard that ayerza was getting eu citizenship this summer because he was marrying a spanish woman. taking one for the team there!

It's a filthy job but I guess someone has to do it.

tigerfeet13 · Post by **tigerfeet13** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 1:29 pm

Bad Wolf wrote:
It's a filthy job but I guess someone has to do it.

I'd call that job satisfaction!

adamv6 · Post by **adamv6** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 2:38 pm

I would like to see Adam Parkins named in the first team. (But I doubt it will happen as he is only 18)

Currently weighing in at 137kg (301lbs!!! or 21st 5lbs) and 196cm (6"4'), he makes Sheridan look like Danny Care!

A complete menace round the park when I have seen him play and his obvious size make him an interesting scrummaging force. Give him some decent technical training and unleash the beast!!!

KingKong(2.15) · Post by **KingKong(2.15)** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 3:11 pm

I don't think weight is at all an issue now. Look at Julian White. Hes not the biggest prop, but he is one of the best scrummagers (I bet Os duRant is still having nightmares about him). Props these days seem to be slimming a bit as the rest of the field bulks up. What people seem to really want is a prop that not only scrums well but gets around like a flanker, or at least an old fashioned lock.

Also, what is concerning me is the number of foreign props if White does go. Is this not going to be an issue with the player laws? Eespecially now Dave Young is off to Glaws.

tigerben · Post by **tigerben** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 3:23 pm

alex_111 wrote:i'd heard that ayerza was getting eu citizenship this summer because he was marrying a spanish woman. taking one for the team there!

as i understand it, he can apply for a spanish passport (after the wedding) which would make him an eu player, similar to mauger who counts as an eu player as he has a french passport (something to do with an aunt)

mol2 · Post by **mol2** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 3:37 pm

[quote="KingKong(2.15)"]I don't think weight is at all an issue now. Look at Julian White. Hes not the biggest prop, but he is one of the best scrummagers (I bet Os duRant is still having nightmares about him). Props these days seem to be slimming a bit as the rest of the field bulks up. What people seem to really want is a prop that not only scrums well but gets around like a flanker, or at least an old fashioned lock.

quote]

A prop is there to scrummage first & foremost & if you can't do that how mobile you are is almost irrelevant -remembering this is that's what turned the current All Blacks from flash losers into a formidable side.

That's also why Mears & Titterall aren't ever going to be top international hookers.

Easty · Post by **Easty** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 4:23 pm

I have a sneaking suspicion that there are specific age limits surrounding front rows which are a little tighter than other positions. Which may prevent Adam P from playing next season or until he hits the right age.

Has he had nay games in the A squad, as this will prove my suspicion incorrect

Dave Angel · Post by **Dave Angel** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 5:17 pm

adamv6 wrote:I would like to see Adam Parkins named in the first team. (But I doubt it will happen as he is only 18)

Currently weighing in at 137kg (301lbs!!! or 21st 5lbs) and 196cm (6"4'), he makes Sheridan look like Danny Care!

A complete menace round the park when I have seen him play and his obvious size make him an interesting scrummaging force. Give him some decent technical training and unleash the beast!!!

I believe that Adam will be on a season-long loan for 08/09, probably at Bedford.

dailywaffle · Post by **dailywaffle** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 8:31 am

Talking of props, does anyone have any further news on Pierre Correia? Since hearing that he was close to being a 'done deal' I've heard nothing, despite Albi's implosion / demotion.

FrontRowUnionMember · Post by **FrontRowUnionMember** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 9:44 am

dailywaffle wrote:Talking of props, does anyone have any further news on Pierre Correia? Since hearing that he was close to being a 'done deal' I've heard nothing, despite Albi's implosion / demotion.

I assume following the arrival of Bonorino we have our full compliment of propping options. Two Loose Head specialists in Ayerza (international) and Stankovich, and two Tight Head specialists in White (international) and Bonorino (international), and Castrogiovanni (international) who is comfortable playing either side of the scrum, all experienced players and solid scrummagers too. Add Dan Coles into the mix for some depth and we have 6 props. We also have Matt Parr who spent last season on loan at Nottingham unless he's been released?
May be too soon for this young lad people are commenting on, Perkins. Another years rugby development and maturing physically and mentally should see him start to emerge next season, maybe.

FrontRowUnionMember · Post by **FrontRowUnionMember** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 9:54 am

bwightman wrote:With Dave Youngs and Alex Moreno leaving and only Bonorino coming in (so far) can we afford to lose him this year?

On the subject of Bonorino I'm perplexed. Why tell Moreno that he can leave (presumably due to him being 35/6) and then hire a 32 year old in his place? We always seem to grab players in the twilight of their careers.

I think Coles is being promoted to fill Young's squad place, and Bonorino bought in to replace Moreno. I get the impression Bonorino is a stop gap, even at 32 he still has 2-3 good years, time for Coles to progress suitably as Ayerza, Stankovich and Castro are all approaching/in their prime. Gives us two experienced scrummagers in Bonorino and White to cover Castro, as quality tight heads are a lot rarer these days than loose heads (two of the most dominant tight heads in the GP are Rautenbach and Visage who are still key players for ther clubs even allowing for their advancing years, and performing at the setpiece is still a props primary function). On that basis I'd have expected the club to persist with Young but I assume they felt he wasn't going to progress as well as Coles being as they let him leave for Gloucs and kept Coles.

nenes · Post by **nenes** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 11:09 am

Pierre Correia has signed for Stade Français.

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