LEICESTER TIGERS 2021/22 SQUAD/TRANSFERS/CONTRACTS: Aled Walters and the Philosopher's Stone

[RagingBull]

Prob my favourite clip of his I have seen
https://twitter.com/ScottOtten/status/1 ... 2010097667

[fentiger]

Found this of Cracknell from a couple of years ago when he was at Ospreys:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvJK0TFAL8I

[sam16111986]

Makes lots of sense to sign a 6/8 if Martin, Chessum, MVS and Weise are all going to be in and around international squads.

Let's face it Liebenburg could still be a left field selection as well.

[Rugbygramps]

Makes lots of sense to sign a 6/8 if Martin, Chessum, MVS and Weise are all going to be in and around international squads.

Let's face it Liebenburg could still be a left field selection as well.

I would be very surprised if Jones, or who ever is in charge of England, did not look at Liebenberg when he qualifies for England

[WildGoose]

Got to say after yesterday I'm more confident in Whitcombe being capable in a no. 1 shirt without Genge.

It was also noticeable how Sarries only started getting on top of our scrum after Leatigaga came on.

We definitely need some depth at Tighthead more than Loosehead IMO...

Yes and no - Cole and Heyes are arguably the best “pair” of tight heads available to any Prem Club. Both internationals but not regularly picked by Jones, both academy grads so highly unlikely to be flight risks. And - most importantly, Tight Heads are ruinously expensive! Leatigaga, for a third choice, is decent I think. But he’s not ideal as the bench option - so a lot probably depends on Cole’s durability and Heyes’ international prospects.

Whitcombe’s development is hugely encouraging though, and would probably allow a lot more cap flexibility post Genge, for whom there probably isn’t a like for like available on the market!

[Rugbygramps]

Got to say after yesterday I'm more confident in Whitcombe being capable in a no. 1 shirt without Genge.

It was also noticeable how Sarries only started getting on top of our scrum after Leatigaga came on.

We definitely need some depth at Tighthead more than Loosehead IMO...

Yes and no - Cole and Heyes are arguably the best “pair” of tight heads available to any Prem Club. Both internationals but not regularly picked by Jones, both academy grads so highly unlikely to be flight risks. And - most importantly, Tight Heads are ruinously expensive! Leatigaga, for a third choice, is decent I think. But he’s not ideal as the bench option - so a lot probably depends on Cole’s durability and Heyes’ international prospects.

Whitcombe’s development is hugely encouraging though, and would probably allow a lot more cap flexibility post Genge, for whom there probably isn’t a like for like available on the market!

Coley 35 in May so probably has another 2 seasons in him looking at Afoa as a comparison, Heyes is 22 I think so I would say that there is no desperate rush. Hurd has looked good when I’ve seen him and Rowntree jnr coming through the ranks I believe is also a tight head.
Agree totally that Whitcombe meteoric rise has softened the blow of Genge departure. Below him Van Wyk is a more than able replacement with Richardson behind him, who I’m afraid I don’t know much about.

[sam16111986]

Got to say after yesterday I'm more confident in Whitcombe being capable in a no. 1 shirt without Genge.

It was also noticeable how Sarries only started getting on top of our scrum after Leatigaga came on.

We definitely need some depth at Tighthead more than Loosehead IMO...

Yes and no - Cole and Heyes are arguably the best “pair” of tight heads available to any Prem Club. Both internationals but not regularly picked by Jones, both academy grads so highly unlikely to be flight risks. And - most importantly, Tight Heads are ruinously expensive! Leatigaga, for a third choice, is decent I think. But he’s not ideal as the bench option - so a lot probably depends on Cole’s durability and Heyes’ international prospects.

Whitcombe’s development is hugely encouraging though, and would probably allow a lot more cap flexibility post Genge, for whom there probably isn’t a like for like available on the market!

Coley 35 in May so probably has another 2 seasons in him looking at Afoa as a comparison, Heyes is 22 I think so I would say that there is no desperate rush. Hurd has looked good when I’ve seen him and Rowntree jnr coming through the ranks I believe is also a tight head.
Agree totally that Whitcombe meteoric rise has softened the blow of Genge departure. Below him Van Wyk is a more than able replacement with Richardson behind him, who I’m afraid I don’t know much about.

https://mobile.twitter.com/nemani_nadol ... 84?lang=en

There's this lad coming through as well. He's played at various clubs for experience so far this season. That Tweet is two year old as well so he'll have kept growing.

[Rugbygramps]

Thanks Sam looks like he’s at Nottingham. 19 years of age 123 kg, just over 19 stone in old money

[WildGoose]

Got to say after yesterday I'm more confident in Whitcombe being capable in a no. 1 shirt without Genge.

It was also noticeable how Sarries only started getting on top of our scrum after Leatigaga came on.

We definitely need some depth at Tighthead more than Loosehead IMO...

Yes and no - Cole and Heyes are arguably the best “pair” of tight heads available to any Prem Club. Both internationals but not regularly picked by Jones, both academy grads so highly unlikely to be flight risks. And - most importantly, Tight Heads are ruinously expensive! Leatigaga, for a third choice, is decent I think. But he’s not ideal as the bench option - so a lot probably depends on Cole’s durability and Heyes’ international prospects.

Whitcombe’s development is hugely encouraging though, and would probably allow a lot more cap flexibility post Genge, for whom there probably isn’t a like for like available on the market!

Coley 35 in May so probably has another 2 seasons in him looking at Afoa as a comparison, Heyes is 22 I think so I would say that there is no desperate rush. Hurd has looked good when I’ve seen him and Rowntree jnr coming through the ranks I believe is also a tight head.
Agree totally that Whitcombe meteoric rise has softened the blow of Genge departure. Below him Van Wyk is a more than able replacement with Richardson behind him, who I’m afraid I don’t know much about.

Also Coley has a natural successor in Heyes, and is probably one of the best paid players in the league I imagine, excluding marquees? Expecting Heyes to be as good is probably a stretch but Coley had to play with some pretty average loose 5s over the years so there’ll be a good balance to the pack I think. Hopefully SB will help Cole finish with some trophies which he richly deserves.

[sapajo]

Whitcombe is clearly a very promising prop but as a player the only thing he has in common with Genge is the number on his shirt. Genge offers a lot more around the pitch. Hopefully it's something Whitcombe can develop but no signs of it yet.

[Rugbygramps]

Whitcombe is clearly a very promising prop but as a player the only thing he has in common with Genge is the number on his shirt. Genge offers a lot more around the pitch. Hopefully it's something Whitcombe can develop but no signs of it yet.

Welcome to the party Mr. Positive

[WildGoose]

Also Genge is basically a freak - I reckon the most talented NH prop since Jenkins, I don’t think anyone should fixate on a direct replacement because it won’t happen. Whitcombe’s “fundamentals” appear solid which means he can work on other aspects of his game. Cole wasn’t exactly a turnover king in 2009-10…

[sapajo]

Whitcombe is clearly a very promising prop but as a player the only thing he has in common with Genge is the number on his shirt. Genge offers a lot more around the pitch. Hopefully it's something Whitcombe can develop but no signs of it yet.

Welcome to the party Mr. Positive

Just stating the truth Mr Negative

[longlivethecrumbie]

Whitcombe's primary roles are to scrummage, tackle himself silly and lift at the lineout. If he can do those basics well 99.9% of the time then anything over and above that is a bonus for me at this stage in his career.

[Rugbygramps]

Whitcombe's primary roles are to scrummage, tackle himself silly and lift at the lineout. If he can do those basics well 99.9% of the time then anything over and above that is a bonus for me at this stage in his career.

This maybe Sapajo didn’t realise that his loose game can’t be compared with one of the most destructive runners at prop in the northern hemisphere