LEICESTER TIGERS 2023/24 - KANGAROO MCKELLER: Do you come from a land down under? (Squad thread pt 2)

[RagingBull]

AVDF is nominated for Nottingham player of the season
I guess him at LH and if Hoyt can progress in the off season, we are prob ok for props.

Maybe see front row options like
1. Smith, Cronin, Whitcombe, AVDF, (Miell, Kingsley-Mellowes)
2. Montoya, Clare, FTT, Vanes, (Smith, Clarke)
3. Cole, Heyes, Hurd, Hoyt, (Mountford, Maka)

Michael Stronge won it I believe - the scrum half ?

Yes though I think he also covered 10 for them (one of the reasons I think maybe Meredith may end up there is Nottingham were short on Fly Halves this season).

Van Der Flier though on loan even up for that award is a great sign!

Very impressive stats
https://x.com/nottinghamrugby/status/17 ... 14796?s=46

815 minutes
70 carries
35 dominant carries
77 tackles
3 tries

Compared to everyone else nominated his minutes played is crazy low. Next lowest is 1,205 minutes

[TigerFeetSteve]

Michael Stronge won it I believe - the scrum half ?

Yes though I think he also covered 10 for them (one of the reasons I think maybe Meredith may end up there is Nottingham were short on Fly Halves this season).

Van Der Flier though on loan even up for that award is a great sign!

Very impressive stats
https://x.com/nottinghamrugby/status/17 ... 14796?s=46

815 minutes
70 carries
35 dominant carries
77 tackles
3 tries

Compared to everyone else nominated his minutes played is crazy low. Next lowest is 1,205 minutes

Really hope he's at least on the bench this weekend

[RagingBull]

Yes though I think he also covered 10 for them (one of the reasons I think maybe Meredith may end up there is Nottingham were short on Fly Halves this season).

Van Der Flier though on loan even up for that award is a great sign!

Very impressive stats
https://x.com/nottinghamrugby/status/17 ... 14796?s=46

815 minutes
70 carries
35 dominant carries
77 tackles
3 tries

Compared to everyone else nominated his minutes played is crazy low. Next lowest is 1,205 minutes

Really hope he's at least on the bench this weekend

TBF Nottingham also have a game

[ay2oh]

I was there, the answers to questions were honest. Mr McKellar did indeed imply that Kelly was to be with us next season a d that there would be promotions from Senior Academy to Men's squad and possibly another signing.
He spoke about the difficult season and his belief in the system he wants to play when he has the players to suit the system. He was supportive of his players and appreciative of the fans passion and support.
I was glad I went and felt that all who were there shared my feeling. We are promised better things next season but will be going all out to win our remaining Premiership fixtures.

Dan probably couldn’t have picked a worse evening to hold this event after the game on Saturday. Thought he was as honest and open as he could be and it was hinted that we have at least one more signing to come.

[RichardB]

If we are worried about giving away a pen for sealing off when running down the clock we should be practicing that scenario more .

As well as going to ground, the other option is of course to try to bump the defender, then stand up in the tackle to set up a rolling maul, gain some ground, wind the clock down & try & milk a pen our way. Or is that too old school ?

Sad to see Dolly go, & with no - one seeming that bothered - he was in the England squad before he had that injury up at Newcastle

[ay2oh]

If we are worried about giving away a pen for sealing off when running down the clock we should be practicing that scenario more .

As well as going to ground, the other option is of course to try to bump the defender, then stand up in the tackle to set up a rolling maul, gain some ground, wind the clock down & try & milk a pen our way. Or is that too old school ?

Sad to see Dolly go, & with no - one seeming that bothered - he was in the England squad before he had that injury up at Newcastle

We are well stocked at hooker with Montoya, Claire, FTT and Vanes + Dolly has been injured for 2 seasons.

[PeteK]

If we are worried about giving away a pen for sealing off when running down the clock we should be practicing that scenario more .

As well as going to ground, the other option is of course to try to bump the defender, then stand up in the tackle to set up a rolling maul, gain some ground, wind the clock down & try & milk a pen our way. Or is that too old school ?

Sad to see Dolly go, & with no - one seeming that bothered - he was in the England squad before he had that injury up at Newcastle

Think in this day and age now in modern sport its almost expected that a player will be here for 3 years (2+1) then move on, myself now am no longer fussed when players move on, (last player i was gutted properly for leaving was Moody), if you don't want to play here then don't, they dont seem to be around long enough for you to care about them, which is a great shame for the younger generations as you want them to grow up supporting heros in their team.

[DeadlyDunc]

AVDF is nominated for Nottingham player of the season
I guess him at LH and if Hoyt can progress in the off season, we are prob ok for props.

Maybe see front row options like
1. Smith, Cronin, Whitcombe, AVDF, (Miell, Kingsley-Mellowes)
2. Montoya, Clare, FTT, Vanes, (Smith, Clarke)
3. Cole, Heyes, Hurd, Hoyt, (Mountford, Maka)

I worry about Hurd, he doesn't do anything for me i'm afraid - at 24 I don't think he should be smashed at the set piece like he does seemingly every week. Hopefully the scrum generally can become a real asset next season because as we've all noted the impact off the bench at the moment is pretty average at best.

Second row looks decent with Martin, Chessum, Wells, Hatherall, Chessum L etc

Back Row worries me outside our starting 6 & 7 - Liebenberg, Reffell, after which we are hoping that Carnduff, Beets, Ilione are able to step up week in week out as I don't see Cracknell offering much (maybe more as a 6 but that is where Carnduff is likely to play). Unless Beets is the signing of the century then a lack of specialist 8 is likely to bite us as I don't see Hanro being good enough in the big games - his best position is 6.

SH - JVP is great but unless YBY has an indian summer the drop off is pretty stark.

FH - Handre is world class and Shilcock is okay for the PL as a stand in.

Centres - Perese, Kelly & Kata is a good start and then we'll need Woodward to step up which isn't unreasonable but still a risk

Wingers - OHC good if we play to his strengths (as on Saturday at times) - the rest is pretty one paced unless Watson is fit

FB - well stocked with Steward, Brown & Shillcock but they'll also be covering other positions

I think the summary is that if we get a few injuries we are stretched and the drop off at 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12/13 and wingers is pretty brutal. That is quite a chunk of the squad IMO - particualrly when you have almost guaranteed call ups at 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 15 to contend with.

The reality of keeping your best 15 or 18 players fit & available for 80%+ of the season is remote so i do worry that unless the youngsters step up and hit their levels we are looking at a pretty tough season again.

Hopefully the 2 extras will be of a high quality and help build depth in these key positions that look a little light IMO

[Tiglon]

Would agree on Hurd, I think the Scotland call up got as all a bit over-excited about his potential when the reality is that he was pretty much the last professional Scottish tight head who was available to be called up.

Hopefully he still has time to progress.

[TigerFeetSteve]

Would agree on Hurd, I think the Scotland call up got as all a bit over-excited about his potential when the reality is that he was pretty much the last professional Scottish tight head who was available to be called up.

Hopefully he still has time to progress.

I think Hurd was pre-injury a better prop than post.

The question is whether he can regain his form again

[Tigers86asw]

Would agree on Hurd, I think the Scotland call up got as all a bit over-excited about his potential when the reality is that he was pretty much the last professional Scottish tight head who was available to be called up.

Hopefully he still has time to progress.

Them bringing in Smith at loosehead is a clear sign that the scrum is not good enough at the moment.

I’ve been really disappointed with Whitcombe’s development - I thought he would have improve a lot more.

[TheChild]

AVDF is nominated for Nottingham player of the season
I guess him at LH and if Hoyt can progress in the off season, we are prob ok for props.

Maybe see front row options like
1. Smith, Cronin, Whitcombe, AVDF, (Miell, Kingsley-Mellowes)
2. Montoya, Clare, FTT, Vanes, (Smith, Clarke)
3. Cole, Heyes, Hurd, Hoyt, (Mountford, Maka)

Michael Stronge won it I believe - the scrum half ?

Do you know something I don’t?! The winner will be announced at the club annual awards evening on May 17.

[LekkerTigers]

Would agree on Hurd, I think the Scotland call up got as all a bit over-excited about his potential when the reality is that he was pretty much the last professional Scottish tight head who was available to be called up.

Hopefully he still has time to progress.

Them bringing in Smith at loosehead is a clear sign that the scrum is not good enough at the moment.

I’ve been really disappointed with Whitcombe’s development - I thought he would have improve a lot more.

He’s barely been used this season. Thrown on against Newcastle with the scrum down a player or two (can’t remember which order we got the yellow cards at the end). For me, he’s a much better scrummager than Cronin has been this past season.

[TTRITH]

Them bringing in Smith at loosehead is a clear sign that the scrum is not good enough at the moment.

I’ve been really disappointed with Whitcombe’s development - I thought he would have improve a lot more.

He’s barely been used this season. Thrown on against Newcastle with the scrum down a player or two (can’t remember which order we got the yellow cards at the end). For me, he’s a much better scrummager than Cronin has been this past season.

Evidently, McKellar doesn't rate him.

He'll get less game time next season behind Smith and Cronin, who has been very disappointing this season.

Whitcombe will be another academy graduate out to pasture next season, and I think will come to bite us on the backside.

He is one, along with Ilione, who has been woefully underused this season, and who's lack of selection actually annoys me.

[ay2oh]

Them bringing in Smith at loosehead is a clear sign that the scrum is not good enough at the moment.

I’ve been really disappointed with Whitcombe’s development - I thought he would have improve a lot more.

He’s barely been used this season. Thrown on against Newcastle with the scrum down a player or two (can’t remember which order we got the yellow cards at the end). For me, he’s a much better scrummager than Cronin has been this past season.

Evidently, McKellar doesn't rate him.

He'll get less game time next season behind Smith and Cronin, who has been very disappointing this season.

Whitcombe will be another academy graduate out to pasture next season, and I think will come to bite us on the backside.

He is one, along with Ilione, who has been woefully underused this season, and who's lack of selection actually annoys me.

you don’t see these players in training or their fitness status.