LEICESTER TIGERS 2020/21 SQUAD/TRANSFERS/CONTRACT THREAD Part 2

[FrontRowUnionMember]

If Enever is the only addition at lock, on the face of it it’s a little underwhelming, however you’d assume Borthwick should be a good judge of what we require in a second row and we perhaps need to see him in actions first. If there is a follow up addition in the second row, then we suddenly look a little heavy there, 5 senior players (Lavanini, Green, Wells, Enever plus one more) and 4 development options (Martin, Manz, Henderson plus Chessum).
One assumption here is there will be no replacement beyond Brink for Kalamafomi and Thompson, one of the locks will be utilised as a flank and the development players will pick up the additional minutes.
If the Argentinian is Montoya, then really we are overloaded there too, big maybe it’s a necessity to secure a long term target who has become available earlier than planned.
Still going for a return for Mulipola and maybe Lewington too.

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I've no idea what Enever is like as a player but if the strength in depth and the competition for places brings out the best in Green and Wells then i'll be happy.

[sk 88]

If Enever is the only addition at lock, on the face of it it’s a little underwhelming, however you’d assume Borthwick should be a good judge of what we require in a second row and we perhaps need to see him in actions first. If there is a follow up addition in the second row, then we suddenly look a little heavy there, 5 senior players (Lavanini, Green, Wells, Enever plus one more) and 4 development options (Martin, Manz, Henderson plus Chessum).
One assumption here is there will be no replacement beyond Brink for Kalamafomi and Thompson, one of the locks will be utilised as a flank and the development players will pick up the additional minutes.
If the Argentinian is Montoya, then really we are overloaded there too, big maybe it’s a necessity to secure a long term target who has become available earlier than planned.
Still going for a return for Mulipola and maybe Lewington too.

I don't think that would be overloading the locks, we always end up using 5 senior locks (plus development players plus utility stand ins). It is a specialist position, you need 3 per matchday squad and it has a relatively high attrition rate.

[Wayne Richardson Fan Club]

Do we know if Rob Taylor is in the country?

Player wise we are looking at smaller squads so the younger players are going to be used more, not overly worried by that it's when you end up with more than you would want playing together, especially in the pack.

[sapajo]

Seems to me to be another off the wall Tigers signing, rehabbing from a major injury that kept him out for a whole season when some folks thought a fit international was going to be announced. Still lack that destructive ball carrying number 8.

[CrumblingTerrace]

Enever... meh.

[RichieB]

Twitter source claims Tigers signed another Puma but can't reveal name yet. Sorry, don't know how to copy link, but that is all it says.

[RichieB]

Sorry - already spotted on previous page. Must be the heat. Or the excitement. Or my age.......

[JP14]

He seems more Fitzgerald-esq than a Mike Williams type player.

[Dr H Flashman MBE]

I am more than happy with both signings. I have come to the conclusion that you cannot have a team of International stars without being Sarries and cheating the cap. There is not one message that i have read on this board that was in favour of losing Slater. He played the odd game for England but never shone, however was amazing in a Tigers shirt and was never missing except for injuries. That is what we need, i feel, more true club players, like Exeter, with a sprinkling of star dust.
Gone are the days of a team of Internationals or Tigers winning the World cup for England (made me feel good saying that!!).

If both are hard working and put a proper shift and have some ability about them then good signings. Also as a few have mentioned, is Borthwick going to allow us to buy some second rate lock??

Maybe a little to happy clapper for some but its been a long few months so this is some good news.

[sam16111986]

Seems to me to be another off the wall Tigers signing, rehabbing from a major injury that kept him out for a whole season when some folks thought a fit international was going to be announced. Still lack that destructive ball carrying number 8.

We've been saying we need a destructive number 8 for how many seasons now? Kalamafoni was supposed to be that but he was more attritional than explosive. Waldron was explosive ball in hand but his work rate was pretty poor. Crane see Kalamafoni description also knee injuries held him back after some real early promise. It's one of our problem positions.

At the minute I'd guess Brink or Taufua are going to take the job on. Taufua played 8 this season fine. Reffell and Lewis plus Liebenburg, Taufua and Brink mean that area of the squad has some cover before we have to borrow Wells or use one of the development players. Plus I think Coghlan is still here as well. Keep forgetting about him. Not sure we've got the budget to spend big there. Particularly as we still need another prop.

Enever I'll wait to see what he does in a Tigers shirt. There was obviously something about him that got him some caps a couple of years back. As others have said we don't need a star signing we need someone that can organise the lineout, push hard in the scrum and smash some breakdowns. We do have some good carrying ability elsewhere in the pack. Hopefully a fully fit Green will make more impact under Borthwick as well.

[Dangerous4]

Enever, eh. I know nothing about him.

[ABClub]

Prior to coronovirus I was really hoping for that type of back row. The Moriarty rumours were welcome, he'd have fitted into the back row great.

As things stand the back row is the least of my concerns though. Taufua, Liebenberg, Brink and Reffell are all excellent players. Lewis is a good project and Coghlan a reliable performer across the back row. Then there's a lot of talent coming through the development and academy squads in both positions.

Second row really concerns me. It's been a weakness for years now. If Lavanini leaves due to covid and Enever is the international quality lock we've waited on then we will struggle.

If Enever and Potter had been added in addition to a lock such as Alemanno or Marvin Orie and a wing such as Lewington then I'd be happy with both signings. Potter seems a talented project player on the wing and Enever would add second row depth well and presumably without taking up much cap space.

As a depth signing - similar to Cortes in the front row for instance - I'd view Enever as a shrewd, good value signing. The sort that Tigers haven't made enough of in recent years as we've often overpaid for players who wouldn't challenge the starting XVs at playoff teams but cost too much to be here for squad depth. Enever is actually precisely the sort of signing I hoped McGinity would make more of. I just hope he hasn't been signed as a starting XV lock and lineout leader.

[RagingBull]

Marcos Kremer heavily linked to Stade.
Would that be helpful to Lavanini rumours?

[Leicestertinytiger]

Really hope that Alemanno is still coming in as the rumoured Puma signing. Would give us good strength in depth in the pack.

4. Lavanini, Enever
5. Alemanno, Green
6. Liebenberg, Wells, Lewis

We already have 4 senior hookers so really wouldn’t be any point in adding another.