LEICESTER TIGERS 2018/19 SQUAD/TRANSFERS/CONTRACT THREAD PART 7

[strawclearer]

What happened to popcorn Monday anyway? Any whispers?

The tweet from SammW reads:

"There’s a long time between now and kick off in the next season.

What’s the rush? Plenty of time to eat popcorn.

Enjoy some doughnuts and coffee this bank holiday."

[Leicestertinytiger]

I wonder if the awful season has made us re-think some of our signings and we’re still trying to get some over the line for next season, hence the delay in any announcements.

Also I noted that some NZ commentators were saying that Taufua made a pretty good openside. Maybe not in the mould of a ground hog traditionally, but Haskell style openside smashing players and rucks. Looks pretty mobile.

[Mark62]

I wonder if the awful season has made us re-think some of our signings and we’re still trying to get some over the line for next season, hence the delay in any announcements.

Also I noted that some NZ commentators were saying that Taufua made a pretty good openside. Maybe not in the mould of a ground hog traditionally, but Haskell style openside smashing players and rucks. Looks pretty mobile.

He can play across the back row he has started at 8 for the crusaders this season prefers 6 though I think

[BG01]

Taufua is pretty similar to Guy Thompson.

They're both sub-190cm, sub-110kg players who play across the backrow. They both carry well but mostly through power and determination rather than size. They're both energetic players with high workrate. And they both like to stand on the wing and run with the ball a bit (both quite quick), and both have a good offload often to the winger after they're broken through out wide.

I think it would be pretty good to see them as our alternating 7s, which should allow us to have a style of play that incorporates it, rather than shoehorn them both in.

[kpj tiger]

I can see us going for a backrow of 6. Taufua, 7. Thompson 8. Leibenberg/Denton with Taufua and Thompson playing on each 15m, very similar to how we played when Mauger was coach

[fentiger]

I can see us going for a backrow of 6. Taufua, 7. Thompson 8. Leibenberg/Denton with Taufua and Thompson playing on each 15m, very similar to how we played when Mauger was coach

Ooh, reminds me of Steeeve!

[Kent Tiger]

Purdy if he is available would be a great option as can cover wing and 13 too

Odogwu should be playing in the championship if not lower

Gloucester have released Purdy

https://www.gloucesterrugby.co.uk/2019/ ... ter-rugby/

[Leicestertinytiger]

So Craig Newby is back at Welford Road teaching kids in defence and breakdown classes. Any chance we could sign him up to coach the senior squad

[Scott1]

Sorry but Taufua is nothing like Guy Thompson! Not saying he can't play out wider but Guy is more Kieran Read,Jordan is a more souped up Kalamafoni. Playing him at openside would be ridiculous imo of course. We've been messing about trying to shoehorn players in at the expense of a balanced backrow for years,time to stop!

[Leicestertinytiger]

If we want balance then we 100% need another openside. Hopefully Wallace is coming our way, he seems in great shape back from injury. Would imagine he’s the sort of character with something to prove too.

[Scott1]

If we want balance then we 100% need another openside. Hopefully Wallace is coming our way, he seems in great shape back from injury. Would imagine he’s the sort of character with something to prove too.

Yes we do. All the 8s can play 6 and vice versa and Thompson can play 8 very well too. But none of our first choice back rows are opensides bar Thompson unless we are fast tracking Reffell and Gough.

[sam16111986]

If we want balance then we 100% need another openside. Hopefully Wallace is coming our way, he seems in great shape back from injury. Would imagine he’s the sort of character with something to prove too.

Yes we do. All the 8s can play 6 and vice versa and Thompson can play 8 very well too. But none of our first choice back rows are opensides bar Thompson unless we are fast tracking Reffell and Gough.

I don't think that would be fast tracking in Reffell's case. In the limited chances he got this season he looked physically up to the challenge and played well. Can't see a problem with him being rotated into the backrow to start gaining experience.

Having another experienced openside would free up Thompson to cover 6 and 8 a bit as well which given the attrition rate of backrowers in the modern game and the uncertainty over Denton might be useful. I like the look of Richard Hardwick at the Rebels. Under the radar a little as Hooper and Pocock grab the headlines. At 24 be a good age to sign him up as Thompson is now 32 and our lads coming through are all quite young still, would potentially work well in terms of succession planning.

[RagingBull]

Reffell will be 20/21 next season.
He should be ready to step up without calling it rushing.
The Curry twins and Earl are only a year older and I would have them all at Tigers in a heartbeat.

I like when other do it it's called using the academy but if Tigers look to play a 20 year old it's called fast tracking/Rushing

[kpj tiger]

Reffell will be 20/21 next season.
He should be ready to step up without calling it rushing.
The Curry twins and Earl are only a year older and I would have them all at Tigers in a heartbeat.

I like when other do it it's called using the academy but if Tigers look to play a 20 year old it's called fast tracking/Rushing

Agreed, Reffell and Thompson should be the 7's next season with Gough providing backup

[Scott1]

I meant fast tracking him in the sense of making him our second choice 7 instead of buying one. He performed well but was always behind Thompson,BoC and the occasional 6 who was played there! Is he ready to be that player? Say for instance,God forbid, there's an early long term injury to Guy and he's our first choice 7,is it too soon?