Rugbygramps wrote: ↑Sat Mar 12, 2022 11:02 am
At the end of the day as long as the team is balanced, follows the tactics and has enough players to do all the basics well it really doesn’t matter what number they have on their back
Agreed. We still see the situation where the 9 is trapped and it takes a while for someone to pick the ball up at the back of a ruck. Less often nowadays, but it still happens - much to my frustration. When I played it was perfectly understandable if a front 5 player didn't touch it - it was only for hooking in scrums and catching in lineouts; after that.. who knew??
Rugbygramps wrote: ↑Sat Mar 12, 2022 11:02 am
At the end of the day as long as the team is balanced, follows the tactics and has enough players to do all the basics well it really doesn’t matter what number they have on their back
Agreed. We still see the situation where the 9 is trapped and it takes a while for someone to pick the ball up at the back of a ruck. Less often nowadays, but it still happens - much to my frustration. When I played it was perfectly understandable if a front 5 player didn't touch it - it was only for hooking in scrums and catching in lineouts; after that.. who knew??
I believe the girls in the backs were supposed to do something with it, but they usually dropped it or kicked
Having a back row player who is a snaffler is important.
When Refell is on the pitch we look more likely to make turnovers than when he isn't. (Yes there is an expectation that clamping over the ball is a skill required of most players including centres.) It comes at a real risk of injury in the current era where too often refs do nothing about players coming in to clear out without binding - effectively launching themselves at the head and arms of the player trying to turn the ball over, rather than driving them back off the ball.
Sadly we haven't had much opportunity to see MVS at 7 because of the injury, which we all hope isn't career threatening, but we do need players with the skill set we traditionally refer to as a 7. it's a high risk position.
Utility back rowers have their role but we shouldn't forget one of the things that blighted us pre-Borthwick was the limitations of our pack behind the front row, made worse by having second row cum back rows who lacked the speed/snaffling prowess of dedicated back rows or engine room grunt of a second row. Some players can do both well enough- Itoje, Laws and Martin.
The same could have been said about England in the era of the 6.5s.
Playing Liebenberg at 7 is probably not the best use of his abilities. He's a quality 6.
Pre Backy it was quite common for Flankers to be left and right rather than specialist open or blind side. I agree with Wayne Richardson F C that we should dangle a big carrot in front of Tommy Reffell to persuade him to commit to a long contract with us. Matera, an excellent player was just a kid when previously with us, his potential was obvious but he was at that time not good enough to earn more game time. We did offer him an extended contract but he declined signing as Argentina were saying you had to play there to be selected for the national team, he incurred a long term shoulder injury and contacted Tigers to say he would sign the offered contract but due to his injury that was no longer on the table. Obviously he would be an asset to any team but do we have the money to buy him out of his contract and also then to pay him a salary within the cap to the level he could earn in France?.
johnthegriff wrote: ↑Sat Mar 12, 2022 11:55 am
Pre Backy it was quite common for Flankers to be left and right rather than specialist open or blind side. I agree with Wayne Richardson F C that we should dangle a big carrot in front of Tommy Reffell to persuade him to commit to a long contract with us. Matera, an excellent player was just a kid when previously with us, his potential was obvious but he was at that time not good enough to earn more game time. We did offer him an extended contract but he declined signing as Argentina were saying you had to play there to be selected for the national team, he incurred a long term shoulder injury and contacted Tigers to say he would sign the offered contract but due to his injury that was no longer on the table. Obviously he would be an asset to any team but do we have the money to buy him out of his contract and also then to pay him a salary within the cap to the level he could earn in France?.
Obviously very much ifs and buts at present. I believe the situation has changed in France concerning the number of non French players in each side, I’m sure someone could enlighten us. Also having his test captain, and I assume friend in the side may be a draw. Who knows
So we know one out of that top 3 has a dual nationality (based on today's 23), however signing Matera may also suggest that one of them (likely Moroni is off)?
Used to run around with an 11, 14 or 15 on my back.
Rugbygramps wrote: ↑Sat Mar 12, 2022 12:55 pm
Would I be right in saying a number of Argentinian players have dual nationality with Italy or have I made that up
Very true, but knowing which ones is the trick
Used to run around with an 11, 14 or 15 on my back.
Rugbygramps wrote: ↑Sat Mar 12, 2022 12:55 pm
Would I be right in saying a number of Argentinian players have dual nationality with Italy or have I made that up
Very true, but knowing which ones is the trick
I might have read somewhere that it was Moroni, but I cannot be certain.
Wasn't one of the main reason's for Gigenga's departure to Irish because he is classed as 'overseas'?
If Tigers occasionally juggle with this, I am always bemused by how many of the LI teams are non-epq players, and how many at least appear as if they are from Aus/Argentina/NZ.
On another tack - watch for Henry Arundel today - he has been one of the standout players in the U20s , with some serious speed. Will be interesting to see how he goes at this level.
MurphysLaw wrote: ↑Sat Mar 12, 2022 3:14 pm
Wasn't one of the main reason's for Gigenga's departure to Irish because he is classed as 'overseas'?
If Tigers occasionally juggle with this, I am always bemused by how many of the LI teams are non-epq players, and how many at least appear as if they are from Aus/Argentina/NZ.
On another tack - watch for Henry Arundel today - he has been one of the standout players in the U20s , with some serious speed. Will be interesting to see how he goes at this level.
MurphysLaw wrote: ↑Sat Mar 12, 2022 3:14 pmWasn't one of the main reason's for Gigenga's departure to Irish because he is classed as 'overseas'? If Tigers occasionally juggle with this, I am always bemused by how many of the LI teams are non-epq players, and how many at least appear as if they are from Aus/Argentina/NZ.
On another tack - watch for Henry Arundel today - he has been one of the standout players in the U20s , with some serious speed. Will be interesting to see how he goes at this level.
From what I heard he wasn't a fan of Borthwick and Borthwick him.
