strawclearer wrote:I wonder if Alex Corbisiero is enjoying his sabbatical? I wonder if he's starting to think of when he might come back? I wonder if he's looking for a club with another really good loosehead with whom he can 'rotate'? I wonder where he's living now?
Just wondering!
It should certainly be considered at the appropriate price.
Agreed! I think Corbisiero deserves a serious amount of credit for taking a sabbatical - he's quite clearly committed to the game and feels that his game will be better served if he takes some time away from the field. He said himself that he wants to come back stronger and in a better frame of mind - that combined with his unquestionable ability to play rugby and I think it would be daft not to at least open discussions with him when he's ready to return.
We rightly stuck by Croft through all his injury woes, so I think Corbisiero would be worth a punt (as you say, provided the price was right )
fortysix wrote:If you have ever been involved in professional Sport, injury prone players nearly always are-----injury prone !
There are many reasons, medical and genetically, however it is possible to reverse.
By balancing and nutrienting the Body Cells
English Sport is years behind America in this regard
But as far as I know----and the England Rugby Nutritionist knows-------- apart from AFC Bournemouth, there are no top level Sportsmen in the UK with any knowledge or taking the products, , and certainly not yet at the Tigers....
fortysix wrote:If you have ever been involved in professional Sport, injury prone players nearly always are-----injury prone !
There are many reasons, medical and genetically, however it is possible to reverse.
By balancing and nutrienting the Body Cells
English Sport is years behind America in this regard
But as far as I know----and the England Rugby Nutritionist knows-------- apart from AFC Bournemouth, there are no top level Sportsmen in the UK with any knowledge or taking the products, , and certainly not yet at the Tigers....
I have also heard it from a very close source to Cipriani he is close to signing for Wasps. He is trying to get his mate Dom Waldouck a deal with Wasps as well.
Did anyone see Marler's tweet about Cipriani? Was a little odd stating he is gutted that Cipriani is going to Quins with a big pic of Pinocchio https://twitter.com/JoeMarler
Does Marler not like him I take it?
Question marks have got to be over
Brugnara - Honestly trust him or he needs to play elsewhere like to learn trade - Would replace with Hills ATM
Tiz - As above - Would bring up Hogan I like Tiz but he needs to play and if Bateman is preferred than he needs to go elsewhere (although he might well be injured which changes things)
Loamanu - Just isn't what the coaches are wanting by the looks of it
Camacho - I don't think he is Math fit so hard to judge but he is off pace ATM
Roberts - TBF he was one of the few backs (bar Betham) who was direct and took it at speed at the line against Falcons his passing isn't up to standard though yet, honestly I think I would try to keep him personally.
In terms of currently injured players out of contract
Rizzo - Would try and sign to 1 year deal I he is alright, adds an experienced buffer.
Goneva - IMO he is off anyway and JPP is a replacement for him cap wise.
JDV - if he gets a good run of games who knows Toomua and Smith makes it less key.
Benjamin - I am a fan of his he has flaws but he is a very very good attacking runner.
Bai - Rumours he might be given a coaching job somewhere which I think would be a good move - I would promote Bryant as a replacement.
Rory Scholes is def in talks with us but also Ulster, Exter and Saracens he would be a great signing to pull off.
Personally my team for next season would like like
1) Ayerza, Logo, Rizzo, Hills
2) Youngs, McGuigan, Bateman, Thacker (Maybe if Thacker gets moved a senior hooker for a year).
3) Cole, Balmain, Hohneck (or similar), Hogan
4) Slater, Barrow, Fitzgerald
5) Kitchener, De Chaves
6) Williams, Croft, Slater, McCaffrey
7) O'Connor, McCaffrey, Owen, Thacker (maybe if Owen and Thacker @7 isn't rated a new project 7).
8) New 8, Fonua, Crane/Pearce, McCaffrey, Milne
9) Youngs, Kitto, Harrison
10) Williams, Burns, Toomua, Bryant
11) Betham, Morris, Thompstone
12) Toomua, Manu, Smith, Bryant
13) Manu, JPP, Tait, Betham, Catchpole, Roberts
14) JPP, Scholes (or similar), Veainu, Benjamin
15) Veainu, Morris, Tait, JPP, Brtham
They need to decide where Thacker is going to play in the future, I know he is keen to continue to play at hooker but I'm not convinced this is the best option for him. If Thacker is not moving to the back-row then it starts to look rather thin. There is so much attrition with back-row players that Tigers need better cover.
Fonua is a big lump but I'm not sure he has the workrate needed in a top level No8, I guess the coaches will have seen him in training and be in a better place to judge.
Not convinced by Roberts, would he be better moving to wing?
Might be better to consider Tait only for back-three positions and bring in another 12/13?
I notice you don't include Camacho in your final listing, you don't think he will be retained?
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