LEICESTER TIGERS 2022/23 - Prisoner of Oadby Pre-Season
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Re: LEICESTER TIGERS 2022/23 - Prisoner of Oadby Pre-Season
He came back from Australia and has been at the Dragons this season
Re: LEICESTER TIGERS 2022/23 - Prisoner of Oadby Pre-Season
We are all still wiating on the final list of leavers this year and I suspect that they may well be on the list when the club releases it.Pellsey wrote: ↑Fri Jun 24, 2022 12:30 pm They are listed in RB's first post, but why are Olowofela and Aspland-Robinson still in the squad? I can't see them being selected, even if available or being much use in training... Did we just give them both silly long contracts?! Are they both still on loan somewhere? I thought Olowofela was loaned out to an Australian team, but just for one year but this is now over? Can anybody enlighten me?
Re: LEICESTER TIGERS 2022/23 - Prisoner of Oadby Pre-Season
Thank you both!
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Re: LEICESTER TIGERS 2022/23 - Prisoner of Oadby Pre-Season
Really gutted that Moroni is going. Like Genge he is a irreplaceable, and I feel we will not be as good next season, as a result. I truly hope I am wrong, and probably will be.
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Re: LEICESTER TIGERS 2022/23 - Prisoner of Oadby Pre-Season
Feel like this season we massively missed some pace on the wing - something Watson brings. Whereas Porter and Scott can replace Moroni with not much drop in quality. Feel overall we have a better backline next season in.
9. Youngs
10. Pollard
11. Potter
12. Kelly
13. Porter
14. Watson
15. Steward
The pack is pretty much the same. Obviously Genge is irreplaceable, especially as a carrier. But Cronin is the better defensive player and adds a threat at the breakdown. So swings and roundabouts. MVS will be like a new signing too. Cracknell I think could surprise a few people too.
9. Youngs
10. Pollard
11. Potter
12. Kelly
13. Porter
14. Watson
15. Steward
The pack is pretty much the same. Obviously Genge is irreplaceable, especially as a carrier. But Cronin is the better defensive player and adds a threat at the breakdown. So swings and roundabouts. MVS will be like a new signing too. Cracknell I think could surprise a few people too.
Re: LEICESTER TIGERS 2022/23 - Prisoner of Oadby Pre-Season
Olowofela walked through the Final Whistle at the Semi match v Saints. Not in kit but still around ATM.
As Good As It Gets
Re: LEICESTER TIGERS 2022/23 - Prisoner of Oadby Pre-Season
I understand finances are tight under the salary cap restrictions so wishlists for players/positions have to be tempered by the reality of having enough strength in depth.
Overall, I'm very happy with the revamp of the squad. While we await confirmation of any departures, my main area of concern is the depth in the front row. A lot depends on how ready young players are to step up. Unlike other roles, 1-3 are highly specialist jobs with big physical demands and usually the toughest to adapt from junior/Championship rugby.
Loosehead: Cronin is a solid recruit with Whitcombe waiting in the wings. Leatigaga can deputise on both sides but questions remain over his future. Ditto for van Wyk and Richardson who have not had a run of games.
Hooker: Dolly injury looks serious so when Montoya is away on international duty, it leaves us with the dependable Clare and the promise of Vanes. Someone like Cowan Dickie can give us continuity in our set piece so we may have to rely on another loan signing.
Tighthead: Cole and Heyes neck and neck. If Joe is called up by England, we'll be looking to the likes of Hurd or Hoyt to step up potentially. Again it's balancing the need to develop young talent against getting results in the present. Leatigaga's versatility on both sides of the scrum is valuable.
Behind that, we have a quartet of young 4/6s: Ollie Chessum, Martin, Henderson, Snyman plus the ever reliable Green/Wells at 5 and Liebenberg/Cracknell at 6 with Manz and Lewis Chessum on the fringes.
At 7/8, there's Wiese (26), Reffell (23) and a (hopefully recovered) Van Staden (26) as well as the youth of Jansen, Agbongbon, Illione, Owen and Koroiyadi in the wings.
Scrum half and fly half is sorted with 2 internationals in each role as well as JVP and Gopperth then Edwards/Woodward or Simmonds/Hegarty if needs must.
Centres remain strong with Kelly/Porter or Scott/Cokanasiga with Pollard and Murimurivalu able deputies too. Cusick and Loose can learn from them and/or gain experience on loan.
As things stand, Back 3 has amazing depth with backlines of Watson/Ashton/Steward, Nadolo*/Potter/Hegarty or Saumaki/Simmonds/Murimurivalu.
*Porter can cover in the event Nadolo leaves early.
Overall, I'm very happy with the revamp of the squad. While we await confirmation of any departures, my main area of concern is the depth in the front row. A lot depends on how ready young players are to step up. Unlike other roles, 1-3 are highly specialist jobs with big physical demands and usually the toughest to adapt from junior/Championship rugby.
Loosehead: Cronin is a solid recruit with Whitcombe waiting in the wings. Leatigaga can deputise on both sides but questions remain over his future. Ditto for van Wyk and Richardson who have not had a run of games.
Hooker: Dolly injury looks serious so when Montoya is away on international duty, it leaves us with the dependable Clare and the promise of Vanes. Someone like Cowan Dickie can give us continuity in our set piece so we may have to rely on another loan signing.
Tighthead: Cole and Heyes neck and neck. If Joe is called up by England, we'll be looking to the likes of Hurd or Hoyt to step up potentially. Again it's balancing the need to develop young talent against getting results in the present. Leatigaga's versatility on both sides of the scrum is valuable.
Behind that, we have a quartet of young 4/6s: Ollie Chessum, Martin, Henderson, Snyman plus the ever reliable Green/Wells at 5 and Liebenberg/Cracknell at 6 with Manz and Lewis Chessum on the fringes.
At 7/8, there's Wiese (26), Reffell (23) and a (hopefully recovered) Van Staden (26) as well as the youth of Jansen, Agbongbon, Illione, Owen and Koroiyadi in the wings.
Scrum half and fly half is sorted with 2 internationals in each role as well as JVP and Gopperth then Edwards/Woodward or Simmonds/Hegarty if needs must.
Centres remain strong with Kelly/Porter or Scott/Cokanasiga with Pollard and Murimurivalu able deputies too. Cusick and Loose can learn from them and/or gain experience on loan.
As things stand, Back 3 has amazing depth with backlines of Watson/Ashton/Steward, Nadolo*/Potter/Hegarty or Saumaki/Simmonds/Murimurivalu.
*Porter can cover in the event Nadolo leaves early.
Re: LEICESTER TIGERS 2022/23 - Prisoner of Oadby Pre-Season
I'm not sure it will necessarily be better, just different....Leicestertinytiger wrote: ↑Fri Jun 24, 2022 1:09 pm Feel like this season we massively missed some pace on the wing - something Watson brings. Whereas Porter and Scott can replace Moroni with not much drop in quality. Feel overall we have a better backline next season in.
9. Youngs
10. Pollard
11. Potter
12. Kelly
13. Porter
14. Watson
15. Steward
The pack is pretty much the same. Obviously Genge is irreplaceable, especially as a carrier. But Cronin is the better defensive player and adds a threat at the breakdown. So swings and roundabouts. MVS will be like a new signing too. Cracknell I think could surprise a few people too.
Defensively we gain Pollard (better than Ford), and lose Moroni (defensively better than anybody in his position IMHO).
In attack, we lose Ford's distribution and guile.I think Pollard is a better goal kicker, but we could miss Ford's "spiral bomb". Pollard can also score drop goals from anywhere in the half. Pollard is a stronger runner.
I think next year, Watson (if fit) will be an upgrade to Nadolo, especially in terms of pace, as you said. Nothing against Nadolo especially last year. I just think he will have lost too much pace and agility. We will miss our 9th forward though!!
I think Kelly, Steward, and Porter are just going to continue to get better.
I just cannot wait!
Re: LEICESTER TIGERS 2022/23 - Prisoner of Oadby Pre-Season
I think we have lost some bigger names to gain greater depth. Realistically we could lose most of our back line during the autumn internationals and so maybe we had to lost Moroni (who we would have lost as well) to ensure some depth and not have the problems we had when this happened previously. Can see us losing Kelly, Porter, Steward, Watson, Pollard and perhaps even still Youngs (and Potter deserves a try out somewhere and even Scott could get a call) and so having depth was essential
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Re: LEICESTER TIGERS 2022/23 - Prisoner of Oadby Pre-Season
These are our back 3 options for next season:
Ashton
Browning
Burns
Hegarty
Murimurivalu
Nadolo (part of the season?)
Porter
Potter
Saumaki
Simmons
Steward
Plus Cusick who played there in the PRC, and not sure if Cokanasiga covers wing too?
With all those options, especially since Browning and Simmons extended in May. I cannot see either Aspland-Robinson or Olowafela staying on.
Ashton
Browning
Burns
Hegarty
Murimurivalu
Nadolo (part of the season?)
Porter
Potter
Saumaki
Simmons
Steward
Plus Cusick who played there in the PRC, and not sure if Cokanasiga covers wing too?
With all those options, especially since Browning and Simmons extended in May. I cannot see either Aspland-Robinson or Olowafela staying on.
Used to run around with an 11, 14 or 15 on my back.
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Re: LEICESTER TIGERS 2022/23 - Prisoner of Oadby Pre-Season
Honestly can’t see us losing Kelly and Porter, and would be unlucky to loose both Watson and Steward. I think Eddies first choice midfield will be Smith Farrell and either Slade or Marchant, though he will be desperate to have Tuilagi in the mix too. Think Scott’s time is now past and Potter a bit too far down the list.GB72 wrote: ↑Fri Jun 24, 2022 1:58 pm I think we have lost some bigger names to gain greater depth. Realistically we could lose most of our back line during the autumn internationals and so maybe we had to lost Moroni (who we would have lost as well) to ensure some depth and not have the problems we had when this happened previously. Can see us losing Kelly, Porter, Steward, Watson, Pollard and perhaps even still Youngs (and Potter deserves a try out somewhere and even Scott could get a call) and so having depth was essential
Worse case scenario losing everyone you say would be JVP, Burns, Potter, Gopperth Scott, Ashton, Heagarty
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Re: LEICESTER TIGERS 2022/23 - Prisoner of Oadby Pre-Season
If Watson is fit and firing then he'll be on the right wing for England. Steward at 15 should be a fixture.Rugbygramps wrote: ↑Fri Jun 24, 2022 2:10 pmHonestly can’t see us losing Kelly and Porter, and would be unlucky to lose both Watson and Steward. I think Eddies first choice midfield will be Smith Farrell and either Slade or Marchant, though he will be desperate to have Tuilagi in the mix too. Think Scott’s time is now past and Potter a bit too far down the list.GB72 wrote: ↑Fri Jun 24, 2022 1:58 pm I think we have lost some bigger names to gain greater depth. Realistically we could lose most of our back line during the autumn internationals and so maybe we had to lost Moroni (who we would have lost as well) to ensure some depth and not have the problems we had when this happened previously. Can see us losing Kelly, Porter, Steward, Watson, Pollard and perhaps even still Youngs (and Potter deserves a try out somewhere and even Scott could get a call) and so having depth was essential
Worse case scenario losing everyone you say would be JVP, Burns, Potter, Gopperth Scott, Ashton, Heagarty
Porter has an opportunity this summer to stake a claim but he'll have to go some to become a squad regular. Kelly probably won't be looked at again until after the world cup as Eddie will go with Farrell or Slade at 12. New England head coach post world cup might want a different midfield makeup
Re: LEICESTER TIGERS 2022/23 - Prisoner of Oadby Pre-Season
Watson and Steward are nailed on for Englamd if fit,and if Porter is a hit down under he solves a lot of problems in the 23 shirt
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Re: LEICESTER TIGERS 2022/23 - Prisoner of Oadby Pre-Season
Watson will IMO only potentially miss the 6N's time.
Unless he is amazing from the start of season I don't think he is nailed on for the AI's.
I feel like next season we should have potentially better attacking options.
Espcially with the young lads getting even another year filling out.
Chessum, Martin and Henderson especially will look stronger next season imo, and all 3 already looked strong.
Chessum carrying in that final v his first game this season v Sarries was such a big difference in getting front foot ball.
Unless he is amazing from the start of season I don't think he is nailed on for the AI's.
I feel like next season we should have potentially better attacking options.
Espcially with the young lads getting even another year filling out.
Chessum, Martin and Henderson especially will look stronger next season imo, and all 3 already looked strong.
Chessum carrying in that final v his first game this season v Sarries was such a big difference in getting front foot ball.
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Re: LEICESTER TIGERS 2022/23 - Prisoner of Oadby Pre-Season
Itoje anonymity was down a lot to the performance of Chessum imo. Would love to see that as Englands second row pairRagingBull wrote: ↑Fri Jun 24, 2022 2:40 pm Watson will IMO only potentially miss the 6N's time.
Unless he is amazing from the start of season I don't think he is nailed on for the AI's.
I feel like next season we should have potentially better attacking options.
Espcially with the young lads getting even another year filling out.
Chessum, Martin and Henderson especially will look stronger next season imo, and all 3 already looked strong.
Chessum carrying in that final v his first game this season v Sarries was such a big difference in getting front foot ball.