2023-2024 transfers

[ALJ]

Easterbuy has done good work with Scarlets in past.

Tbh, this is why I was asking about context.

In his first season, their league placing and win ratio increased slightly over Davies' last season.
But in his second season they fell away quite significantly and then he left (although they did pick up a couple of Heineken Cup wins - no idea who against).

It's not that unusual for a team to improve for a year when a (relatively) long term coach leaves and someone else steps up from within the organisation so it's the context around the 'difficult second season' I'm unsure of - for all I know he might have performed miracles with no resources but equally he could have been found wanting.

 

[Groundhog]

Typical Munster signing big name foreigners, give your academy players a shot for once.

You joke but it's certainly a bigger name foreigner than we're used to in these parts. The guy is in his prime and getting caps, which is a weird time to move, but I suppose SA is a special case these days.

 

[munstermuffin]

Typical Munster signing big name foreigners, give your academy players a shot for once.

That's the thing our academy guys are getting chances. But not fully showing

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

That's the thing our academy guys are getting chances.

Yep. Jean Deysel, Thomas du Toit, Rhys Marhall, Jaco Taute, Te Aihe Toma and Jean Kleyn being the latest batch of Munster academy graduates following on from Tyler Bleyendaal, Gerhard van der Heever, Mark Chisholm and Francis Saili in the last couple of seasons

 

[munstermuffin]

Yep. Jean Deysel, Thomas du Toit, Rhys Marhall, Jaco Taute, Te Aihe Toma and Jean Kleyn being the latest batch of Munster academy graduates following on from Tyler Bleyendaal, Gerhard van der Heever, Mark Chisholm and Francis Saili in the last couple of seasons

I'd more say Snoop who hasn't been played. No 10 was blocked from Tyler signing, Van Den Heever never blocked any academy star. Jean Deysel never even played a game. I suppose it like Leinster with Gibson-Park for weekend that in it signing a Gopperth instead of backing academy or not trusting in Madigan. Or Triggs over youngsters there. And bringing back Isa. As I say won't go too much off topic just bit rich from some . Or better not trusting a ln academy guy instead offorcing a Connacht man to move if he wanted to get a CC. Anyway that's all I'll say as no province is near perfect and it'd be rich of me to slate off others when I'll admit yes Munster do sign some NIQs but when you compare standards and size that'd be expected. But as I say there isn't any province free from sin although some may think they are. Shane Logan put it right during the week.

FWIW
Marshall came in as 3 guys all same position had very serious injuries.
Kleyn to replace Chisholm so not really blocking anyone.
Te Aihe Toma to replace an IQ who got injured 1 day after contract signed and another academy guy who packed it in. And Lloyd is ahead.
Du Toit to replace another career threatened injury while we retrained another academy guy to be THP.

But as I say we could say it all about Munster academy but I can't as what you've said has some truth but it's rich as for size of Dublin ye do bit of it yourselves

 

[SelimNiai]

And still more Bristol recruiting

Joe Latta and Joe Batley joining from Gloucester. More depth for the pack going forwards.

Expect more ins and outs to come.

 

[ALJ]

And still more Bristol recruiting

Joe Latta and Joe Batley joining from Gloucester. More depth for the pack going forwards.

Expect more ins and outs to come.

Disappointed (and quite surprised) to see Latta leave Glocs as he's established himself as one of the top 4 locks in the club.

Haven't seen enough of Batley to comment really.

 

[Jrex]

Skelton to Saracens, 2yr contract confirmed

Good signing by them, they were really lacking ~3 international standard locks

 

[munstermuffin]

Skelton to Saracens, 2yr contract confirmed

Good signing by them, they were really lacking ~3 international standard locks

Very lazy player IMO. Can't see this being a success

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Very lazy player IMO. Can't see this being a success

Doesn't seem like a Sarries kinda player at all. Does this indicate Itoje will be used more in the back row? I wouldn't have thought Sarries would've brought in Skelton purely as a sub.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Replacement for Hamilton?
Both yellow card machines with work rates nowhere near the rear of the Sarries pack

 

[Timbo]

Given that Skelton has already spent 2 months at Sarries this season I can't see either party misjudging this. By all accounts Skelton made a very good impression on everyone when he was there, got himself fit, lost loads of weight and played well. Certainly the games I saw he didn't look out of place in their team.

 

[TheSaffycen]

He's a good impact sub. But i think a hard nosed, lineout technician is what we would want. Someone with just a bit more bulk than Itoje and Kruis. Not sure who would be available though, Etzebeth would have been great

 

[Every Time Ref]

Very lazy player IMO. Can't see this being a success

And stupid. You forgot stupid

 

[BetseyTrotwood]

Confirmed: Lee Dickson
Saints --> Bedford (Player/Coach)
http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/sport/saints-scrum-half-dickson-signs-for-bedford-1-7903104

Decent stint & good servant of the club, though strangely I never felt the Saints fanbase really took him to their hearts. Peaked about 2012-2014 IMO when he started moving the ball away from the breakdown a bit quicker, but has gone off a bit/reverted to bad habits in the last season or so. Strange decision to give him the captaincy last season, when he was far from a locked-on certainty to start (ahead of Fotuali’i) but the record will show >250 caps and a Premiership ***le, you can't argue with that.

 

[ALJ]

He's a good impact sub. But i think a hard nosed, lineout technician is what we would want. Someone with just a bit more bulk than Itoje and Kruis. Not sure who would be available though, Etzebeth would have been great ��

I think you'd be hard pushed to find a side that wouldn't want Etzebeth tbh.

 

[TheSaffycen]

I think you'd be hard pushed to find a side that wouldn't want Etzebeth tbh.

Most definitely. We can all dream though!

 

[Muse_Cubed]

I think you'd be hard pushed to find a side that wouldn't want Etzebeth tbh.

I dunno, you could definitely find a few Saints fans who'd moan about him not being an EQP.

 

[saintmaster]

I dunno, you could definitely find a few Saints fans who'd moan about him not being an EQP.

I'm a Saints fan and I can tell you we wouldn't moan might get a few moaning about how much money we're spending on a player who isn't a back but not moan about Etzebeth

 

[TRF_Olyy]

We've signed Romanian prop Alexandru Tarus from Beziers
Hoping he's more Vadim Cobilas than Shalva Mamukashvili