Nick Evans on Chris Robshaw - "he is not an out-and-out seven"

[ratsapprentice]

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_8818283,00.html

This Nick Evans bloke is obviously out to get Chris...






:bleh!:

 

[psychic duck]

That should quieten those who think just because he's worn 7 quite a fair amount it means that he actually is a 7.

Good decision by Harlequins, moving Robshaw to 6 and promoting Luke Wallace looks a quality prospect and genuine 7 and was outstanding in helping their youngsters winning the LV Cup, whilst moving Fa'asavalu (33 years old) into an impact role.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

That should quieten those who think just because he's worn 7 quite a fair amount it means that he actually is a 7.

Good decision by Harlequins, moving Robshaw to 6 and promoting Luke Wallace looks a quality prospect and genuine 7 and was outstanding in helping their youngsters winning the LV Cup, whilst moving Fa'asavalu (33 years old) into an impact role.

Perhaps... but I don't know many people claiming Robshaw 'is a 7' - you're more likely to see people claiming that he can still be pretty effective whilst playing at 7 - which is true. And the reason people stand by that is because if you're going to start at 7 for England, you don't just need to be the best open-side flanker in England, you also need to be one of the two best flankers in England, overall. Yep Kvesic is a better open-side flanker than Robshaw - but he's not a better player yet. Over the period of games for which Robshaw has been shoe-horned into the 7 role for England, we've possibly won the most games out of any six nations side...he can't be that bad.

That's why I can't lambast Lancaster too much for playing Robshaw at 7, bearing in mind Armitage is out of the picture. Our mega loss to Wales was imo more down to the lack of an 8 to balance the back-row, and carriers anywhere else up front. This will hopefullly change as the following guys develop and stake proper claims for the 7 jersey:

Matt Kvesic, 21.
Will Fraser, 23.
Luke Wallace, 22.
Sam Jones, 21.

The first three seem quite far out in front from Sam at the moment imo, with Kvesic seemingly having the best 'current account balance' with the coaches

 

[ZeFrenchy]

That should quieten those who think just because he's worn 7 quite a fair amount it means that he actually is a 7.

Or, on the contrary, it oculd quieten those who think you can't win tournaments without a 7.

 

[j'nuh]

Good. I was hoping he'd move because I want a Robshaw and Kvesic partnership in the long term (Wood/Croft on bench).

I think Henry's right, Kvesic is the most favoured. I think it's because of the consistency in improvement in him. Played age-grade rugby at U16, 18 (and captained) and 20 level, Wuss second-string at 19. Wuss first-string at 20 (in a relative position of depth!). Then Saxons. Then England international. Gloucester was a risky move, because he's got more competition here, but if he carries on the rate of improvement, he'll be clear first choice here too (and challenges himself at HC level).

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Good. I was hoping he'd move because I want a Robshaw and Kvesic partnership in the long term (Wood/Croft on bench).

I think Henry's right, Kvesic is the most favoured. I think it's because of the consistency in improvement in him. Played age-grade rugby at U16, 18 (and captained) and 20 level, Wuss second-string at 19. Wuss first-string at 20 (in a relative position of depth!). Then Saxons. Then England international. Gloucester was a risky move, because he's got more competition here, but if he carries on the rate of improvement, he'll be clear first choice here too (and challenges himself at HC level).

That combo gets me foaming at the mouth...add in Morgan and jobs a good un'!

Who's the main competition at Gloucester besides Qera? Hazell? Cox? Got to confess I'm not sure which of those are open-sides apart from Qera.

 

[ratsapprentice]

A Robshaw/Kvesic combo would have next level workrate.

 

[j'nuh]

That combo gets me foaming at the mouth...add in Morgan and jobs a good un'!

Who's the main competition at Gloucester besides Qera? Hazell? Cox? Got to confess I'm not sure which of those are open-sides apart from Qera.

That's basically it. Hazell and Cox play 7 but I can't see them beating Kvesic for game time. Hazell will be the mentor/A team leader, and Cox makes up the depth (rumours were that he wants to go to Worcester, I wonder whether we may still see this). The problem is Qera. He was nominated for Premiership player of the season last year. He isn't a ball-winning 7, but he's fierce at hitting people on the gain line, making meters in the tight etc., definitely one of the stars at Glos. I wouldn't think Kvesic would come straight ahead of him unless Qera moved to 6 (where he has played). Problem with him moving to 6 is that you have Kalamafoni here (who won player of the year at Glos), and Savage who is tipped for captaincy (but will probably move into the second row).

Basically, one out of Qera, Kalamafoni, Kvesic and Morgan will miss out on starting.

 

[Draggs]

How dare he disrespect Robshaw and say that!

(Am I doing righteous indignation correctly? It's been a while)

 

[psychic duck]

That's basically it. Hazell and Cox play 7 but I can't see them beating Kvesic for game time. Hazell will be the mentor/A team leader, and Cox makes up the depth (rumours were that he wants to go to Worcester, I wonder whether we may still see this). The problem is Qera. He was nominated for Premiership player of the season last year. He isn't a ball-winning 7, but he's fierce at hitting people on the gain line, making meters in the tight etc., definitely one of the stars at Glos. I wouldn't think Kvesic would come straight ahead of him unless Qera moved to 6 (where he has played). Problem with him moving to 6 is that you have Kalamafoni here (who won player of the year at Glos), and Savage who is tipped for captaincy (but will probably move into the second row).

Basically, one out of Qera, Kalamafoni, Kvesic and Morgan will miss out on starting.

With modern day rugby, 80% of the time at least 1 of the 4 will be injured/international, which will solve the problem. Good depth of back row there actually, always rated Qera, capable of playing all three back row positions well and pretty consistent. Hard to know which one of those four would drop to the bench if they are all fit.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Kalamafoni on the bench as lock/back row cover? Assuming it's going to be Savage and Hudson as the starting lock pairing.

So you've got:

6. Qera
7. Ceviche
8. Morgan

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Kalamafoni on the bench as lock/back row cover? Assuming it's going to be Savage and Hudson as the starting lock pairing.

So you've got:

6. Qera
7. Ceviche
8. Morgan

See, this is why it's hard to be optimistic as a wasps fan - bath, gloucester, Saints quite clearly strengthening, leicester maturing as a squad, and Quins and Saracens are going to be thereabouts... I don't know why our recruitment process has to be so much more 'Punt-ific' than any other team - of the championship or lower league players we sign from around the place, about 1 in 4 turn out to be 'keepers'.

 

[ratsapprentice]

I think it's probably because you are crocked financially!

 

[Peat]

Pests haven't done that badly imo. There's a lot of shrewd buys from the best of the bottom feeders - Matt Mullan, Kearnan Myall, Ed Jackson and Andy Goode is a good little bevy of proven Premiership players. Some of their Championship players have serious reps. For a team in their financial position, they've done very well, and I think they'll threaten the Top 6. They're growing imo.

At least I hope so, as I think I might adopt them as my AP team.

 

[Patchey]

Don't worry Henry, at lead you've found a replacement for Billy V as a carrier, can't wait to see Andy Goode bursting through the gain line...

As Rat pointed out Robshaw/Kvesic as flankers would be obscene when it comes to work rate (not to mention the loose work of others in the pack such as Cole and Launchbury). I can't see it being the starting combo just yet though. Come the Autumn we'll see Kvesic on the bench and Wood or Croft more likely to start. How Kvesic fairs against the other Southern Hemisphere teams as well as at Glos is going I shape selection for the 6 Nations.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

thanks for the shoulder to cry on Patchey p... think you're onto something with Goode - got all the makings of a good 8!

Despite my extensive *****ing, I'm bloody excited about Guy thompson joining from Jersey - looks like a really exciting prospect at 7 or 8.. some good pace to back up his carrying... Also, great step for a back-rower..

 

[j'nuh]

Bassett is supposed to be pretty awesome too. I know Glos were after him, but eventually decided to give Monahan a new contract instead.

The strong part of Wasps is how much talent it has been developing. Many potential England players involved. I don't see a top 6 place to be completely honest, but for all the financial problems, I don't see a scrap near the bottom of the table either.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Well i was never truly happy at Robshaw playing 7 but thought he developed intot hat role a bit but not to be a top 7 though. Do we think Lancaster will still use Robshaw at 7 or move him to 6 to look at Kvesic? or maybe fraser?

6 Robshaw/ Wood
7 Kvesic/ (Wood/Robshaw as a back up knowing Lancaster)
8 Morgan/ Vunipola

That looks a very good back row although they all look young and maybe we are missing a bit of a ruthless massive hitting 6? hmm that grunt is definately missing from the english teams.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Carl Fearns could be that player if everyone stops fannying about shoving him in at 7.

Sent from my GT-I9305 using Tapatalk 2

 

[ratsapprentice]

Lancaster obviously wants Kvesic (and others in time) to play 7, it just comes down to whether he thinks he is good enough for top flight international rugby yet.
I think he'll probably make a couple of appearances from the bench... if he plays well, he'll start, if he doesn't he'll stay there.

And yes, Carl Fearns is definitely the best of that type of 6 we have. I really like him.
He should get a load of gametime for Bath this season, I just hope he can stay injury free.
I can't really see him leapfrogging Croft, Wood and Robshaw though.
He could definitely be an option if Lancaster wants someone who can cover all three back row positions, or if he just wants a *******.