Not really seen much of him. Think he's got one cap for SA and is another tall, mobile monster of the like SA seem to manage to produce on a regular basis. The lock/6 combination of RG Snyman, Beirne and Jenkins in whatever order they line up will be pretty fearsome for Munster. Add in POM and one other and that is some serious power.
And Jean Kleyn
Like us and Sale they are using a bit of SA assistance.
Teddy Thomas of Racing and France has signed for Munakata Sanix Blues in Japan, which I was not expecting, having thought he was on his way down here to Toulouse.
Should Sale follow up on Alex Sanderson's (quite correct, from a team or on field perspective) desire to hold onto Manu beyond the initial seasons contract, past experience would suggest some serious and long negotiations could well be the order of the day : https://www.rugbypass.com/news/why-woul ... sanderson/
Seemingly heading rapidly toward senility .....Not long or far to go now , in fact, getting worse daily.....
Just glad it's not us that has too do the Manu gamble anymore.
First time in a while we have had 5 Centres that don't make me feel uneasy (Well Taute at 12 doesn't)
Speaking of Centres
Laumape in talks with Stade
Bird apparently leaving Racing
Also talk of Kremer joining Racing (guess Bird's replacement?)
RagingBull wrote: ↑Sat Apr 03, 2021 1:58 pm
Just glad it's not us that has too do the Manu gamble anymore.
First time in a while we have had 5 Centres that don't make me feel uneasy (Well Taute at 12 doesn't)
Speaking of Centres
Laumape in talks with Stade
Bird apparently leaving Racing
Also talk of Kremer joining Racing (guess Bird's replacement?)
Laumape is the one player I have wondered whether Borthwick might be prepared to splash the cash on to replace the physicality we have lost in the midfield since Manu's departure. I am delighted manu has gone but we do lack penetration after going through a couple of phases. Laumape would improve that and him & kelly (who is fast improving and would learn a lot from him) as our key options at 12 and Moroni & Scott at 13, with Porter and Taute (if still here) covering would be great.
No real idea on spare cap, but even with it being reduced it does feel like we have a fair chunk available. Given the pack's improvement and expected further growth given age profile in the locks particularly and arrival of van Staden, it would not surprise me if a big name 12 arrived to have the impact we are seeing esterhuizen have at quins.
Damn right Sam, Kelly is earning that shirt but I'm being greedy for a second.
Plus when Kelly is in the England squad, laumape would be adequate cover.
Big money for a top centre is what £350k? Big money for a lock is considerably more so wondering if Eli snyman signing at lock allows for such a move. Anyway, Scott n Moroni were great again tonight
TA30 wrote: ↑Sat Apr 03, 2021 11:33 pm
Damn right Sam, Kelly is earning that shirt but I'm being greedy for a second.
Plus when Kelly is in the England squad, laumape would be adequate cover.
Big money for a top centre is what £350k? Big money for a lock is considerably more so wondering if Eli snyman signing at lock allows for such a move. Anyway, Scott n Moroni were great again tonight
Sorry to disappoint you but Kelly is Irish. Sadly that means we’ll lose him if he develops to a level whereby playing for Ireland is a possibility.
TA30 wrote: ↑Sat Apr 03, 2021 11:33 pm
Damn right Sam, Kelly is earning that shirt but I'm being greedy for a second.
Plus when Kelly is in the England squad, laumape would be adequate cover.
Big money for a top centre is what £350k? Big money for a lock is considerably more so wondering if Eli snyman signing at lock allows for such a move. Anyway, Scott n Moroni were great again tonight
Sorry to disappoint you but Kelly is Irish. Sadly that means we’ll lose him if he develops to a level whereby playing for Ireland is a possibility.
Kelly is Manchester born and raised. He qualifies for Ireland through his grandparents. He could easily switch over to England as I think I'm right in saying he's only had one junior 6 nations campaign with Ireland under 20s after he moved to Loughborough University and had already agreed to join us.
Would Eddie pick an actual inside centre though? That's the bigger question.
What Sam said. His international future appears to be up for grabs. His physicality at such a young age does differentiate him from Eddie's other options, less so Ireland's.
My original comment was somewhat tongue in cheek, but his progress has been rapid and physically his upper body seem to get bigger each week
