LEICESTER TIGERS 2021/22 SQUAD/TRANSFERS/CONTRACTS: Lord of the Mauls
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Re: LEICESTER TIGERS 2021/22 SQUAD/TRANSFERS/CONTRACTS: Lord of the Mauls
Kelly got capped last summer having played for Ireland under 20s previously.
If we invest in any backs this off season I'd expect them to be versatile, next season isn't the season for positional specialisation. Perhaps mining the Championship for some cheap talent.
If we invest in any backs this off season I'd expect them to be versatile, next season isn't the season for positional specialisation. Perhaps mining the Championship for some cheap talent.
Re: LEICESTER TIGERS 2021/22 SQUAD/TRANSFERS/CONTRACTS: Lord of the Mauls
Yes he's capped,my mistake. Same game as Wells wasn't it?
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Re: LEICESTER TIGERS 2021/22 SQUAD/TRANSFERS/CONTRACTS: Lord of the Mauls
So with the knowledge that Steward, Martin and JVP seem to be tied up (Granted clauses are a thing) for another 2 years it makes things a bit more interesting.
Re: LEICESTER TIGERS 2021/22 SQUAD/TRANSFERS/CONTRACTS: Lord of the Mauls
TL;DR - we need more centre cover for Kelly, regardless of Taute, Socino and KvW, or whether it's feasible to also keep Moroni and Scott.
Kelly will definitely play a part for England over the next 2 years - I do think he's class, but more to the point, there's a complete dearth of alternatives for England.
EJ's preferred options, one way or the other, are Farrell (shoehorned in, personally wouldn't currently have him in my England 23*), Manu (injury risk as we know) and Slade (to me, his single best option except... if players need vaccinations to play in the Six Nations...). All three have question marks over them for the 6N anyway.
So unless EJ goes back to any of his previous discards, that literally leaves you with Kelly, Atkinson, Lawrence and Marchant, and Odogwu if we're being generous. Marchant will be in the 6N squad for sure but Kelly has a higher ceiling than Atkinson. Odogwu literally just got back from injury and EJ basically buried Lawrence in his book... so there's a good chance we lose Kelly for the Spring, and a better chance he goes to Australia for the tour.
*Smith and Ford as the 10s, Slade and Manu as the centres and a utility back on the bench, if you're asking...
Kelly will definitely play a part for England over the next 2 years - I do think he's class, but more to the point, there's a complete dearth of alternatives for England.
EJ's preferred options, one way or the other, are Farrell (shoehorned in, personally wouldn't currently have him in my England 23*), Manu (injury risk as we know) and Slade (to me, his single best option except... if players need vaccinations to play in the Six Nations...). All three have question marks over them for the 6N anyway.
So unless EJ goes back to any of his previous discards, that literally leaves you with Kelly, Atkinson, Lawrence and Marchant, and Odogwu if we're being generous. Marchant will be in the 6N squad for sure but Kelly has a higher ceiling than Atkinson. Odogwu literally just got back from injury and EJ basically buried Lawrence in his book... so there's a good chance we lose Kelly for the Spring, and a better chance he goes to Australia for the tour.
*Smith and Ford as the 10s, Slade and Manu as the centres and a utility back on the bench, if you're asking...
Re: LEICESTER TIGERS 2021/22 SQUAD/TRANSFERS/CONTRACTS: Lord of the Mauls
I do not see Taute having a future at Tigers as a player. He was signed after sustaining a ACL and his injury record at Tigers is very poor and not a luxury we can afford going forward. I see him retiring at the end of his Tigers contract.
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Re: LEICESTER TIGERS 2021/22 SQUAD/TRANSFERS/CONTRACTS: Lord of the Mauls
when did Jaco last actually play?
Re: LEICESTER TIGERS 2021/22 SQUAD/TRANSFERS/CONTRACTS: Lord of the Mauls
13 Feb last year away to Quins. He had surgery on the knee injury last year but I'd guess he's had set-back(s) rehabbing given he didn't even feature in the PRC.
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Re: LEICESTER TIGERS 2021/22 SQUAD/TRANSFERS/CONTRACTS: Lord of the Mauls
I assume it will get to a point when its not worth playing him and saving the cap space for any emergencies/early releases that might happen in the last few months of the season.
Re: LEICESTER TIGERS 2021/22 SQUAD/TRANSFERS/CONTRACTS: Lord of the Mauls
I'd guess Taute's best chance to keep playing if he wished were to go down the Richard Kahui route of signing a smaller contract in Japan, using the shorter and less physical season there to try to string some games together, then hope to get a bigger deal if he can prove himself.
Kahui's career looked over in his twenties after what I think was the sixth serious injury to his left shoulder. Nearly 10 years after it looked like his career was over he's still going, now at Western Force, having managed his work load.
It is possible but very difficult and takes a fair share of luck. I can see Jaco joining the coaching staff here full time. He's got a lot of experience of rugby in different environments and seems a bright player. Could definitely be a good guy to keep around.
Kahui's career looked over in his twenties after what I think was the sixth serious injury to his left shoulder. Nearly 10 years after it looked like his career was over he's still going, now at Western Force, having managed his work load.
It is possible but very difficult and takes a fair share of luck. I can see Jaco joining the coaching staff here full time. He's got a lot of experience of rugby in different environments and seems a bright player. Could definitely be a good guy to keep around.
Re: LEICESTER TIGERS 2021/22 SQUAD/TRANSFERS/CONTRACTS: Lord of the Mauls
Could Ben Morgan be an option to replace Brink if he moves on from Gloucester with Tuisue joining?
He wont cost what he once did as an international but he's still a good player and would offer another ball carrying option in the back row. We really suffered against Wasps with our carriers missing.
He wont cost what he once did as an international but he's still a good player and would offer another ball carrying option in the back row. We really suffered against Wasps with our carriers missing.
Re: LEICESTER TIGERS 2021/22 SQUAD/TRANSFERS/CONTRACTS: Lord of the Mauls
Loved him at his peak,he was superb in his England heyday! Good shout if he’s cheap and fully fitABClub wrote: ↑Mon Jan 17, 2022 1:03 pm Could Ben Morgan be an option to replace Brink if he moves on from Gloucester with Tuisue joining?
He wont cost what he once did as an international but he's still a good player and would offer another ball carrying option in the back row. We really suffered against Wasps with our carriers missing.
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Re: LEICESTER TIGERS 2021/22 SQUAD/TRANSFERS/CONTRACTS: Lord of the Mauls
…and there’s the crux…..his injury record.Scott1 wrote: ↑Mon Jan 17, 2022 1:04 pmLoved him at his peak,he was superb in his England heyday! Good shout if he’s cheap and fully fitABClub wrote: ↑Mon Jan 17, 2022 1:03 pm Could Ben Morgan be an option to replace Brink if he moves on from Gloucester with Tuisue joining?
He wont cost what he once did as an international but he's still a good player and would offer another ball carrying option in the back row. We really suffered against Wasps with our carriers missing.
Re: LEICESTER TIGERS 2021/22 SQUAD/TRANSFERS/CONTRACTS: Lord of the Mauls
Bit of a gamble with someone like Morgan, still playing really good rugby this season, but currently injured again, about to turn 33 and rarely fit for even half a season.
Probably depends on his salary more than anything.
Probably depends on his salary more than anything.
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Re: LEICESTER TIGERS 2021/22 SQUAD/TRANSFERS/CONTRACTS: Lord of the Mauls
with Clarke now more a second row could be Slater who is off.