LEICESTER TIGERS 2023/24 - Crocodile McKeller: Men at Work

[TigerFeetSteve]

OHC could soon be Welsh!

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union ... er-stalls/

I'd suspect that's more of a shot across the bows of Borthwick not to keep ignoring him for too long.

Edit: Even if not, we have plenty of time to get him on a rolling contract that means he won't leave

[sam16111986]

That's not entirely true.

Last season Hanro played the first 4 games at 8. The next 4 where Wiese was missing we had Cracknell at 8. Hanro played one more game at 8 that season, when Cracknell was injured.

The season before, again, he was cover at 8 for the first 4 matches, then Van Staden, then Martin and Chessum (both when we had most of the back row injured including Hanro), then finally Sean Jansen was preferred to Hanro at 8.

Before that, the likes of Guy Thompson and Kalamafoni were played at 8 ahead of Hanro.

I'm not saying Hanro has been poor at 8, he is decent, but he's exceptional at 6 so I'd rather see him stay there.

So you agree as a back up 8 Liebenburg has been decent for us.

As I said we couldn't use him as a like for like Weise replacement but if we were to introduce a big number 6 like say Dave Ewers ,who is rumoured to be leaving Ulster, then across the two of them you could make it work. The big 6 taking on Weise's hard carrying work whilst Liebenburg is athletic enough to come off the base of the scrum and continue being a regular carrier for us around the park (which he does already).

I'm not saying we should sign Dave Ewers it was just an example. We could use a ball carrying lock there, potentially Martin though I think his work at scrum time could be valuable to our set piece. We could potentially replace Carter with a big tough 6/lock type.

Completely agree he's decent at 8, but he's exceptional at 6, so I'd rather keep him there.

Lots of players are decent in secondary positions, but I think we're aiming for more than decent.

If we sign a big carrying 6, why not play them at 8 and leave Hanro where he is.

Having a powerful 8 for the first time since Tuilagi was, I believe, a key element of the return to having a successful team.

I suppose it depends who is available to bring in.

Purely because Liebenburg controls the ball well at the back of a scrum, if the ball carrying 6 does it better fine if not move Big Hanro back. The actual number doesn't force a player to play a certain way. The backrow is all about balance. It's why Liebenburg, Reffell and Weise works so well for us. The balance there is excellent they really compliment each other.

[Tiglon]

So you agree as a back up 8 Liebenburg has been decent for us.

As I said we couldn't use him as a like for like Weise replacement but if we were to introduce a big number 6 like say Dave Ewers ,who is rumoured to be leaving Ulster, then across the two of them you could make it work. The big 6 taking on Weise's hard carrying work whilst Liebenburg is athletic enough to come off the base of the scrum and continue being a regular carrier for us around the park (which he does already).

I'm not saying we should sign Dave Ewers it was just an example. We could use a ball carrying lock there, potentially Martin though I think his work at scrum time could be valuable to our set piece. We could potentially replace Carter with a big tough 6/lock type.

Completely agree he's decent at 8, but he's exceptional at 6, so I'd rather keep him there.

Lots of players are decent in secondary positions, but I think we're aiming for more than decent.

If we sign a big carrying 6, why not play them at 8 and leave Hanro where he is.

Having a powerful 8 for the first time since Tuilagi was, I believe, a key element of the return to having a successful team.

I suppose it depends who is available to bring in.

Purely because Liebenburg controls the ball well at the back of a scrum, if the ball carrying 6 does it better fine if not move Big Hanro back. The actual number doesn't force a player to play a certain way. The backrow is all about balance. It's why Liebenburg, Reffell and Weise works so well for us. The balance there is excellent they really compliment each other.

I do agree with you. There are only marginal positional differences as to why you want certain players to have 6, 7 or 8 on their back. You can have your jackaller at 8 and your big carrier at 7, although defensively you might want more athleticism on the flanks than at 8.

The other reason that trio works so well is because, IMO, they are all very comfortable in their roles and our clear specialists. Maybe that only has a small benefit, but margins at this level are small.

If that trio works well then I would prefer to keep some continuity there, and not move Hanro or Reffell unless necessary. If it is necessary, because for some reason we can only find a ball carrying 6 and not a ball carrying 8, even though I would estimate that there are more of the latter than the former, then fine.

[Rugbygramps]

I too agree the balance of Liebenburg Reffell and Wiese works really well, they have different strengths and compliment each other.
If you were to move Liebenberg to 8 a 6 with similar strengths to Wiese would be required to maintain the balance

[TigerFeetSteve]

https://archive.is/lhF0a

Telegraph article on Sam Spink has Sarries not us as favorites to sign him

[AViewFromLe2]

https://archive.is/lhF0a

Telegraph article on Sam Spink has Sarries not us as favorites to sign him

Unfortunately he wanted to live in London which put us out of the running.

Wonder where that leaves Olly Hartley who is currently at Sarries as a centre. He seems to be highly rated, and came off the bench for England A on Sunday.

[sam16111986]

https://archive.is/lhF0a

Telegraph article on Sam Spink has Sarries not us as favorites to sign him

Unfortunately he wanted to live in London which put us out of the running.

Wonder where that leaves Olly Hartley who is currently at Sarries as a centre. He seems to be highly rated, and came off the bench for England A on Sunday.

London isn't that far on the train.

Hartley looks to be the long term option for them at 12, he'll surpass Tompkins sooner rather than later. Spink could come in at 13 and compete with Lozowski keeping Daly out on the wing. Josh Hallett and Dom Morris would be likely heading towards the exit if that were come to pass mind Morris is already out on loan at the Ospreys.

[AViewFromLe2]

https://archive.is/lhF0a

Telegraph article on Sam Spink has Sarries not us as favorites to sign him

Unfortunately he wanted to live in London which put us out of the running.

Wonder where that leaves Olly Hartley who is currently at Sarries as a centre. He seems to be highly rated, and came off the bench for England A on Sunday.

London isn't that far on the train.

Hartley looks to be the long term option for them at 12, he'll surpass Tompkins sooner rather than later. Spink could come in at 13 and compete with Lozowski keeping Daly out on the wing. Josh Hallett and Dom Morris would be likely heading towards the exit if that were come to pass mind Morris is already out on loan at the Ospreys.

It is not, but sadly like in football, players do want the London lifestyle and want to live in the capital. It is another thing we have to contend with, and it is one of the reasons we lost out on Spink.

Over to Richard Wilks and the Recruitment team to find another option., whoever that will be.

[Rugbygramps]

https://archive.is/lhF0a

Telegraph article on Sam Spink has Sarries not us as favorites to sign him

Unfortunately he wanted to live in London which put us out of the running.

Wonder where that leaves Olly Hartley who is currently at Sarries as a centre. He seems to be highly rated, and came off the bench for England A on Sunday.

London isn't that far on the train.

Hartley looks to be the long term option for them at 12, he'll surpass Tompkins sooner rather than later. Spink could come in at 13 and compete with Lozowski keeping Daly out on the wing. Josh Hallett and Dom Morris would be likely heading towards the exit if that were come to pass mind Morris is already out on loan at the Ospreys.

There was a suggestion that Lozowski would move to 10 to replace Farrell

[anz3001]

Unfortunately he wanted to live in London which put us out of the running.

Wonder where that leaves Olly Hartley who is currently at Sarries as a centre. He seems to be highly rated, and came off the bench for England A on Sunday.

London isn't that far on the train.

Hartley looks to be the long term option for them at 12, he'll surpass Tompkins sooner rather than later. Spink could come in at 13 and compete with Lozowski keeping Daly out on the wing. Josh Hallett and Dom Morris would be likely heading towards the exit if that were come to pass mind Morris is already out on loan at the Ospreys.

It is not, but sadly like in football, players do want the London lifestyle and want to live in the capital. It is another thing we have to contend with, and it is one of the reasons we lost out on Spink.

Over to Richard Wilks and the Recruitment team to find another option., whoever that will be.

Has it been announced then?

[Tiglon]

Unfortunately he wanted to live in London which put us out of the running.

Wonder where that leaves Olly Hartley who is currently at Sarries as a centre. He seems to be highly rated, and came off the bench for England A on Sunday.

London isn't that far on the train.

Hartley looks to be the long term option for them at 12, he'll surpass Tompkins sooner rather than later. Spink could come in at 13 and compete with Lozowski keeping Daly out on the wing. Josh Hallett and Dom Morris would be likely heading towards the exit if that were come to pass mind Morris is already out on loan at the Ospreys.

It is not, but sadly like in football, players do want the London lifestyle and want to live in the capital. It is another thing we have to contend with, and it is one of the reasons we lost out on Spink.

Over to Richard Wilks and the Recruitment team to find another option., whoever that will be.

Has to be said, there are few top rugby clubs in a less attractive destination than Leicester!

[sam16111986]

Unfortunately he wanted to live in London which put us out of the running.

Wonder where that leaves Olly Hartley who is currently at Sarries as a centre. He seems to be highly rated, and came off the bench for England A on Sunday.

London isn't that far on the train.

Hartley looks to be the long term option for them at 12, he'll surpass Tompkins sooner rather than later. Spink could come in at 13 and compete with Lozowski keeping Daly out on the wing. Josh Hallett and Dom Morris would be likely heading towards the exit if that were come to pass mind Morris is already out on loan at the Ospreys.

There was a suggestion that Lozowski would move to 10 to replace Farrell

He might cover that position more with Farrell and Manu Vunipola both going in the summer (or least rumoured to be). They've been linked with Louis Johnson at Falcons who's got a lot of potential and has looked decent in the Prem. Having Lozowski and Goode as experienced options that can drop into 10 to help him just makes sense.

[longlivethecrumbie]

London isn't that far on the train.

Hartley looks to be the long term option for them at 12, he'll surpass Tompkins sooner rather than later. Spink could come in at 13 and compete with Lozowski keeping Daly out on the wing. Josh Hallett and Dom Morris would be likely heading towards the exit if that were come to pass mind Morris is already out on loan at the Ospreys.

It is not, but sadly like in football, players do want the London lifestyle and want to live in the capital. It is another thing we have to contend with, and it is one of the reasons we lost out on Spink.

Over to Richard Wilks and the Recruitment team to find another option., whoever that will be.

Has to be said, there are few top rugby clubs in a less attractive destination than Leicester!

Does make you wonder what some of the French and Italian players we've signed over the years have made of it!

[johnthegriff]

Leicestershire and Rutland have many areas of beauty, plenty of decent restaurants and pubs. The only thing we do not have is proximity to the coast. Our house prices are considerably lower than in the London area. As a rugby club we have a fine tradition, large crowds and we play on grass. Our training facilities are excellent any player would consider the opportunity of joining us but of course many other clubs can make their own case and each player will.have different priorities not least the wage on offer and the chance of trophies.

[sam16111986]

Leicestershire and Rutland have many areas of beauty, plenty of decent restaurants and pubs. The only thing we do not have is proximity to the coast. Our house prices are considerably lower than in the London area. As a rugby club we have a fine tradition, large crowds and we play on grass. Our training facilities are excellent any player would consider the opportunity of joining us but of course many other clubs can make their own case and each player will.have different priorities not least the wage on offer and the chance of trophies.

If you want big city living then we don't offer the same draw as London though. The Leicestershire draw is more in the shire than the city, even if the Clarendon Park bit is pretty nice. Spink is a London boy so he might also want to be back in London to be closer to family having spent two years living thousands of miles away.