England 2021/22

[Mumbles119]

You remind me of that French guy who used to post on here. Yoe? He was all about the mass.

BigEwis?

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

He's played about 20mins of senior rugby at hooker and that was multiple years ago, and when he was in the u20s he was third choice
I reckon he'd have played there at some point if his fundamentals were up to scratch, especially with the injuries wasps have had at hooker the last few seasons

He might be great there, who knows, but there's zero proof he is so I'm just basing it off of what we've seen from him at the top level

Yep, this is a conundrum that needs sorting.

If his basics stack up I absolutely want him to concentrate on hooking. But only if.

If he gets into the Eng squad soon it will almost certainly be on the back of his back row exploits. Am I right in thinking he doesn't jump, in which case cue all sorts of familiar arguments.

Barbeary's a special talent with the potential to excel. What I don't want is for him to morph into an Ashley Johnson generally useful hybrid type.

 

[Geordie]

It does seem odd that Wasps themsevles havent played Barbeary at hooker, which would agree with what others have said on here...that they dont fancy him there.

Just seems such a missed oppertunity...when we have so many back row options already. A hooker like him would be unreal.....IF his core skills were strong.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

He is listed on the Pests website as just 'hooker' while others are shown as 'fly half / full back' etc.

Read into that what you will.

Pests may have thought that introducing him via the back row was less pressured plus club resources are finite - how many other hookers / back rowers were unavailable at that time?

I guess the coming season may clarify.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Pests may have thought that introducing him via the back row was less pressured plus club resources are finite - how many other hookers / back rowers were unavailable at that time?

At one point they had Cruse, Taylor and Johnson injured and they brought in a lad from the Championship instead of using Barbeary there

I believed the "Easing him into senior rugby" line when they first used it two seasons ago, but now I dunno - he's not some 16yr old shrinking violet

He was the same u20s group as Dolly (who only played hooker for Sale, then Cov, then Tigers) and Capon (who was starting for Bristol at the tailend of last season and has plenty of games at 2 under his belt now)
Same age as Ewan Ashman who was set to start at hooker for Scotland 'A' before covid struck

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

I'm inclined to agree with you, albeit his experience is still pretty limited only having started 5 senior games as far as I can see.

Unlike the others you mention he's had a lot of expectations on his shoulders from an early age. I don't know whether the others have any versatility but if they're solely 2's then there'd have been little choice but to throw them in there.

Pretty sure this season will see him nail his colours to the mast one way or the other.

 

[Which Tyler]

It does seem odd that Wasps themsevles havent played Barbeary at hooker, which would agree with what others have said on here...that they dont fancy him there.

Just seems such a missed oppertunity...when we have so many back row options already. A hooker like him would be unreal.....IF his core skills were strong.

I think it'd be odd is... it hadn't been his first season.
Wasps had plenty of hookers last year, and Barbeary was making his way into the side of the first time, and would have trained through pre-season as a backrower, and then through the season as a backrower.
If you have a plan to develop a young player, it's always best to stick with it, rather than chopping and changing the moment it becomes convenient.
To move up to hooker he will need to change the way eats, trains his body in the gym, trains on the practice pitches and be a generally different body shape - far better to do that in a preseason than in time for next week.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

To move up to hooker he will need to change the way eats, trains his body in the gym, trains on the practice pitches and be a generally different body shape - far better to do that in a preseason than in time for next week.

I'm not sure that this is true. Just in terms of body shape I'd say he currently looks more suited to hooker than to back row and he's clearly devastatingly strong. I've seen nothing to suggest that purely in terms of physicality he couldn't slot straight into the front row and think that he is probably currently lifting/eating as a hooker.

It's his skill set that's the concern.

 

[BPM]

Agreed. I think it could be telling that Wasps haven't signed an obvious replacement for Tommy Taylor.

They did sign Dan Frost from Cornish Pirates, but I'd imagine he's intended to be a squad player.

That leaves Cruse, Oghre and presumably Barbeary (as a hooker).

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

BigEwis?

That's the one. All about the mass about the mass no treble.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

England rugby boss Jones to add Cockerill to his coaching team

EXCLUSIVE BY CHRIS FOY: Sportsmail revealed that Eddie Jones had held talks with Cockerill, who had become available after leaving his post as head coach of Edinburgh after four seasons.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Sounds like him and Proudfoot will share the forwards stuff.
With Cockers focusing on lineouts and Contact work.

Reality is I could potentially see Cockers overtaking Proudfoot.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Wouldn't be mad at that, tbh
Don't think Proudfoot has had the impact many would've wanted (though how much of that is down to the whole side being a bit wonky because of poor tactics etc.?)

Think the dressing room is missing a bit of PASHUN, as well

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Money on Proudfoot staying in SA?

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Also big Cockers plus point no more saints players for England so easier to support them.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Also big Cockers plus point no more saints players for England so easier to support them.

You smell like turd.

 

[Fuzzy du Plessis]

England's front row for the next 10 years

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

I think I quite like the Cockers appointment. Obviously the potential for things to get combustible, but that's fine.

Gleeson was confirmed as attack coach a few days ago which seems to have flown a bit under the radar here.

Are we looking for another defence coach?

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Stuff

www.stuff.co.nz

So Lynagh for Aus looking like a cert?

 

[Geordie]

i agree...slight room for optimism....

Havent heard of a defence coach yet, but i assume we are looking to bring one in

 

[Geordie]

Stuff

www.stuff.co.nz

So Lynagh for Aus looking like a cert?

Interesting...that would make some good players eligable.

The likes of Will Skelton, Rory Arnold etc etc would surely bolster that pack...