Wigglesworth in!

[strawclearer]

Borthwick's job is revolution - not evolution. I reckon it's getting pretty hot in the Oval Park kitchen - evidently too hot for some - and he'll want people who can show the others how to thrive in the heat.

[TA30]

[/quote]

Bowyer was innocent in a court of law, like Jackson, it's not a direct comparison its part of the lack of empathy between club & fan, being a lover of free speech, we are all entitled to our own opinion.

I dont want Tigers to win at any cost, one thing that can't be denied is the bad timing to announce this particular signing.
[/quote]

Bad in terms of the justified bad press he and others have had. Great timing in terms of adding rugby intellect and high training standards in the same week we've lost our attack coach just before the season starts. Tbh I couldn't be happier with this news and at same time fully agree with any punishment he gets.

[Robespierre]

A shrewd signing, in my opinion, as he's been one of the best - if not the best - Premiership scrum half for a while.
He's got a shed-load of experience which will surely be a plus for the likes of White and van Poortvliet, but a possible downside is will these younger players get much game time?

[Jimmy Skitz]

A shrewd signing, in my opinion, as he's been one of the best - if not the best - Premiership scrum half for a while.
He's got a shed-load of experience which will surely be a plus for the likes of White and van Poortvliet, but a possible downside is will these younger players get much game time?

they'll get slightly less then they got this season but still get plenty, you just won't have a situation where they are both in the match day squad

[wellstiger]

For some -No Wiggle room.
For others - Wiggle room.
For me there's no Wiggling out.

Wigglesworth has to prove his critics wrong. On field - a great signing. Off Field needs to keep his head down.
I'm going with his on field capabilities. So I welcome him to Tigers, but he's not getting a free pass.

[anz3001]

Curious about his role within the team....not interested in the background noise.

[mol2]

A shrewd signing, in my opinion, as he's been one of the best - if not the best - Premiership scrum half for a while.
He's got a shed-load of experience which will surely be a plus for the likes of White and van Poortvliet, but a possible downside is will these younger players get much game time?

Really?

Faf De Clerk and Cobus Reinach spring to mind, not to mention our own Ben Young’s.

He is a steady, experienced player who has demonstrated that he can play at the top level over a number of years.

Our problems have looked to be related to scrum half dithering at times when in reality there was no runners to pass to. Thus box kicking was the only option and the lack of chasers again rendered that ineffective. We had Jonny May but aside from him there has been a significant lack of gas in our backs. Vianu at full back couldn’t be the one to chase from there and the other wings lacked gas. The back rows until recently have been utility second row - back row utility players rather than wing forwards on the flanks.

What options does that give a scrum half?

The arrival of a senior experienced scrum half will mean that when he barks orders to the potential receivers means he will be listened to which is difficult for the young scrum halves who have come through internally.

Things had to change. Too many of our senior players seemed weighed down by failure. The money isn’t there to bring in stars so a few canny signings have the be made.

[Noggs]

I don't think he is the best SH in the Premiership to this is not important as he is a good SH with a bucket load of experience which is exactly what was needed. He will be able to bring new ideas from the cheats into the mix and should be able to pass a lots on to the young bloods who will no doubt get game time off the bench.

At 37 he is not likely to be playing for much longer which is no doubt why he sees this new role as a good route to a coaching position.

On balance I welcome his arrival and time will tell whether or not it was a good call from SB and GM.

[sam16111986]

A shrewd signing, in my opinion, as he's been one of the best - if not the best - Premiership scrum half for a while.
He's got a shed-load of experience which will surely be a plus for the likes of White and van Poortvliet, but a possible downside is will these younger players get much game time?

they'll get slightly less then they got this season but still get plenty, you just won't have a situation where they are both in the match day squad

I think the big concern would have been if Ben White gets injured and you've got JVP and Simmonds as the options at 9 with Benny away. If Simmonds is moving into the back three full time then it's JVP and Law. We did need some experience in there but experience that's shouldn't hamper the development of the young guys.

[Louis]

As hinted at on The Other Thread, my only minor cavil would be "is this where the money needs spending?".

Do we need a SH coach? Quite probably - it’s a highly specialised, pivotal position.

Can we recruit one having just made one redundant? Probably not. It would not sit well, or possibly even be legal.

This comes out of a different budget and is possibly the next best thing.

Good point.

I freely confess my ignorance of what is *actually* needed, as opposed to my opinion of what I (a non-top flight rugby coach) think is needed!

My (slightly panicked) instincts are for a top drawer Boris replacement, however see caveat above.

[BFG]

I'm not surprised that another 9 has been brought in.
It hasn't even been close to being good enough in recent seasons.
Youngs has talent, but needs seriously challenging to perform.
Just my opinion.

[jgriffin]

The club has some form in picking dubious characters - Digby Jones and Yodel (Barclay brothers, staggering losses in last two years, failure to file accounts until past the final hour, poor rep).
Wigglesworth is a Saint in comparison.

[TigerFeetSteve]

The club has some form in picking dubious characters - Digby Jones and Yodel (Barclay brothers, staggering losses in last two years, failure to file accounts until past the final hour, poor rep).
Wigglesworth is a Saint in comparison.

Since McGinty has arrived our recruitment has been good, with only Enever (so far but he can turn it round) being the only disappointment, that is an excellent hit rate for recruitment. Therefore in Jan I trust!

[jgriffin]

The club has some form in picking dubious characters - Digby Jones and Yodel (Barclay brothers, staggering losses in last two years, failure to file accounts until past the final hour, poor rep).
Wigglesworth is a Saint in comparison.

Since McGinty has arrived our recruitment has been good, with only Enever (so far but he can turn it round) being the only disappointment, that is an excellent hit rate for recruitment. Therefore in Jan I trust!

Agree entirely. An impressive character.

[mol2]

I'm not surprised that another 9 has been brought in.
It hasn't even been close to being good enough in recent seasons.
Youngs has talent, but needs seriously challenging to perform.
Just my opinion.

Young’s has bucket loads of talent but his enthusiasm for club rugby seems dulled, perhaps by knowing or feeling there is diddly squat he do do at club level or what his role is.
Lat week against Italy he was t outstanding England player.

Perhaps a rugby equivalent of David Gower in cricket?