Rugbygramps wrote: ↑Tue Mar 29, 2022 11:11 am
Mentioned it before and wasn’t popular but it wouldn’t surprise me if someone came in and made an offer for Martin. I really hope not but as things currently stand he’s 4 or 5th choice lock and 3rd choice 6, if everyone is available
Second choice 6 and under contract at his boyhood club. Given the other players in the squad and Borthwick's rotation policy he has had and will get plenty of game time. He's still 20 and seems to have his head screwed on. 34 games is more than his contemporaries probably have and he's been in England squads.
Can't see him going back to playing lock anytime soon personally. He suits what we and England want at 6.
Rugbygramps wrote: ↑Tue Mar 29, 2022 11:11 am
Mentioned it before and wasn’t popular but it wouldn’t surprise me if someone came in and made an offer for Martin. I really hope not but as things currently stand he’s 4 or 5th choice lock and 3rd choice 6, if everyone is available
Second choice 6 and under contract at his boyhood club. Given the other players in the squad and Borthwick's rotation policy he has had and will get plenty of game time. He's still 20 and seems to have his head screwed on. 34 games is more than his contemporaries probably have and he's been in England squads.
Can't see him going back to playing lock anytime soon personally. He suits what we and England want at 6.
Would put both Chessum and Liebenberg ahead of him and as you say he has been in England squads. Just my opinion of course
I think that the difference now is that we have a set up and a team that is worth fighting for a place in. Should make a huge difference from being a place that people were desperate to get out of it they wanted any shot at winning honours.
Rugbygramps wrote: ↑Tue Mar 29, 2022 11:11 am
Mentioned it before and wasn’t popular but it wouldn’t surprise me if someone came in and made an offer for Martin. I really hope not but as things currently stand he’s 4 or 5th choice lock and 3rd choice 6, if everyone is available
Second choice 6 and under contract at his boyhood club. Given the other players in the squad and Borthwick's rotation policy he has had and will get plenty of game time. He's still 20 and seems to have his head screwed on. 34 games is more than his contemporaries probably have and he's been in England squads.
Can't see him going back to playing lock anytime soon personally. He suits what we and England want at 6.
Would put both Chessum and Liebenberg ahead of him and as you say he has been in England squads. Just my opinion of course
Chessum is a lock that can cover 6. If Martin is fit I'd expect him to start at 6 over Chessum.
I'm very much hoping to see a Chessum and Wells lock combination in the run in to the end of the season.
It’s difficult. Most players, amazingly, just want to play. If you’re training hard and not getting a look in, you could be playing for the best club in the world, but it’s not great. Martin, as has been said, has time on his side. Another 2 years and if he’s still down the pecking order, that would be the time to rethink. I’m guessing he’s riding the wave at the moment with his mates, and double-taking occasionally when he sees Nadolo etc is on the same training pitch as him. I know I would be.
I suspect the coaching combination of Borthwick, Aled and Sinfield would be enough to keep you going !
I'd imagine that Martin is pretty pleased with how his career is going at the moment. Personally I think the England call up so early was a bit unrealistic but, luckily, it doesn't seem to have affected his expectations.
I would imagine (although I may be completely wrong) that SB is a very direct communicator when it comes to players' development and Martin will know exactly what he needs to work on to fight for a more regular starting journey. His career has sky rocketed since SB came on board and I would also imagine that there is a fair bit of loyalty there.
Most of the squad are in and out of the first XV, it's how SB does things. One of the many positives of that is that players know they will have an opportunity to prove themselves on the pitch.
Obviously I don't know George Martin, and people can have their heads turned, but I would be very surprised if he wasn't committed to Tigers right now. Fingers crossed anyway!
As Westwinds says above, if he hasn't established himself fully in a couple of years then maybe it's a different story.
Personally don't know of which other team he would be considered starting material at 6 yet and it would be a punt to gamble on him as a starting lock currently.
1. George Ford after going off injured vs Exeter
"He continues to be really positive. Whilst he did not train with the team today we are still many days out from the game."
To me not training on the Tuesday before the game suggests he likely won't be starting at very least this weekend.
2. Dan Cole
"His return is getting closer"
Again unlikely to see him this weekend, possibly the 2nd leg or return of the Prem at a guess from me...
3. Jaco Taute
"He's seeing a specialist today, and getting some treatment on that elsewhere offsite. We'll get a report back to fully understand what the prognosis is"
To me that's bleak, after over 2 weeks since the injury to then be seeing specialists and getting prognosis reports doesn't sound great tbh...
Not heard on any others
Used to run around with an 11, 14 or 15 on my back.
westwinds31 wrote: ↑Tue Mar 29, 2022 12:00 pm
It’s difficult. Most players, amazingly, just want to play. If you’re training hard and not getting a look in, you could be playing for the best club in the world, but it’s not great. Martin, as has been said, has time on his side. Another 2 years and if he’s still down the pecking order, that would be the time to rethink. I’m guessing he’s riding the wave at the moment with his mates, and double-taking occasionally when he sees Nadolo etc is on the same training pitch as him. I know I would be.
I suspect the coaching combination of Borthwick, Aled and Sinfield would be enough to keep you going !
He's made 17 appearances so far this season, it's not like he's not getting game time. He'll no doubt keep featuring on the run in as well so has every chance of hitting 20 games this season. That's a good amount of game time.
And one assumes he’s been injured recently or he would have at least been on the bench and had more games. I think he is very much in the minds of the coaches as this squad progresses. I have said before ..I think he brings an extra dimension in defence.. some of hits are so bone shuddering it often stops the attack in its tracks and allows others to make the flashier turnovers. Don’t write this boy off, I think we have plenty more to see from him in Tigers colours, long after many others have left
mightymouse wrote: ↑Wed Apr 06, 2022 7:06 am
And one assumes he’s been injured recently or he would have at least been on the bench and had more games. I think he is very much in the minds of the coaches as this squad progresses. I have said before ..I think he brings an extra dimension in defence.. some of hits are so bone shuddering it often stops the attack in its tracks and allows others to make the flashier turnovers. Don’t write this boy off, I think we have plenty more to see from him in Tigers colours, long after many others have left
Totally agree with this. He is a tackling machine. Always near the top or at the top of tackles made in any full game he plays. He doesn't miss many either and as has been said he tackles forcefully and within the laws of the game.
Tigers for the premiership and European Cup. Get behind the team and make some noise!!
mightymouse wrote: ↑Wed Apr 06, 2022 7:06 am
And one assumes he’s been injured recently or he would have at least been on the bench and had more games. I think he is very much in the minds of the coaches as this squad progresses. I have said before ..I think he brings an extra dimension in defence.. some of hits are so bone shuddering it often stops the attack in its tracks and allows others to make the flashier turnovers. Don’t write this boy off, I think we have plenty more to see from him in Tigers colours, long after many others have left
I've been really impressed with Martin every time he plays, as others have said he a tackling machine and his work rate is outstanding. In the last couple of games he played he was also providing more ball carrying threat.
The attrition in back-row players is such that we need multiple options because one or more will be injured.
