Darc Tiger wrote: ↑Mon Jul 20, 2020 12:27 pm
A much needed moral boost. Still think we could do with another loosehead and lock, but I think we've done some tidy business.
The potential backline is mouthwatering!
I do agree in an ideal world, but there is strength there, 4 locks, 5 props, with plenty of young talent coming through in both positions
At a guess I would imagine that a couple of the development lads will be given a run in the finish to this season, Possibly Whitcombe given a game with Youngs and Cole to partner him, and Henderson partnering Lavanini in a game.
Versatility seems to be the name of the game with the signings.
Especially with the players who can play outside centre.
This is really useful RB. Lots to ponder in terms of who is going to play where and what the first choice line-up could potentially be, which is good in that we have options. Assuming Van Wyk, Nadolo, Murimurivalu and Moroni fire on all cylinders and Potter & Porter step up to the mark, add this to what we've already got and it's promising.
I don't have a problem with the forwards. I think Borthwick will have them ready and they won't feature if they drop below the required standard in terms of effort and commitment. It really feels like a new dawn, after all of the false ones of recent seasons, where there's going to be some serious competition for places. Assuming we add Montoya to that squad, it has the potentially to really take off I think.
More importantly, I think there will be a few of the other teams looking at us thinking.....Tigers could be on the way back.
Tiglon wrote: ↑Mon Jul 20, 2020 2:19 pm
I'm just looking forward to Nemani Han Solo coming to the rescue. If only Castro was still here to be the Chewbacca lookalike...
Versatility seems to be the name of the game with the signings.
Especially with the players who can play outside centre.
I had a look back through some of the signings made before McGinity joined thanks to the useful opening posts by RagingBull. Sadly, there were just too many unsuccessful signings brought in by the previous regime. Thankfully, McGinity is turning it around and his recruitment appears to be significantly increasing the quality of our squad ahead of next season.
2017/18
George Ford
Sione Kalamafoni
Jonah Holmes
Joe Ford
Valentino Mapapalangi
Gareth Owen
Nick Malouf
Jonny May
Chris Beaumann
2018/19
Guy Thompson
Will Spencer
David Denton
James Voss
Sam Aspland-Robinson
Gaston Cortes
Jimmy Stevens
Fantastic day for us. A Phoenix risen from the ashes! Now is the dawn of hope and glory for us all. The team will need time to gel of course, and there will be bumps along the way. All in all, so much to be positive about.
Today’s signings have significantly improved the back line which bearing in mind we won’t lose so many to England , should give us more options to cover for injuries.
If the coaching clicks we should be aiming for top six all imo of course
Really pleased with the backs, good balance of experience and youth, speed and strength, lots of depth too.
I'm by no means playing hard-to-please, but I still have a feeling that a big, strong ball-carrying forward was implied by Jan McGinity the other week. Still, we seem to have options now all around the squad which as others have said feels like an upgrade on the previous squad.
RichieB wrote: ↑Mon Jul 20, 2020 4:32 pm
Really pleased with the backs, good balance of experience and youth, speed and strength, lots of depth too.
I'm by no means playing hard-to-please, but I still have a feeling that a big, strong ball-carrying forward was implied by Jan McGinity the other week. Still, we seem to have options now all around the squad which as others have said feels like an upgrade on the previous squad.
I think we are now at the 'would love to have' rather than 'need to have' stage.
We have a good set of versatile players which should be enough to play some winning rugby. I'd also guess, via fag packet maths, that there's significant cap wiggle room to add some finishing touches if impact players become available. I'd imagine a wrecking ball forward and one more light footed back would be priorities in those circumstances.
duffers wrote: ↑Mon Jul 20, 2020 2:55 pm
I had a look back through some of the signings made before McGinity joined thanks to the useful opening posts by RagingBull. Sadly, there were just too many unsuccessful signings brought in by the previous regime. Thankfully, McGinity is turning it around and his recruitment appears to be significantly increasing the quality of our squad ahead of next season.
McGinity has really stepped up in the quality of signings, fantastic day and hopefully with the new coaches in place everything should click together nicely.
The "restart season" and the threat of relegation taken away has given us a number of free pre season matches to get things together.
Playing Devils Advocate slightly, McGinity suggested we needed some direct ball carriers and that South Africa was where he’d be looking. None of these are joining from South Africa. Van Wyk is the only South African there, and he’s coming from NZ technically.
