Ospreys eyeing All Black centres

[Cymro]

Big-spending Welsh region the Ospreys are believed to be targeting an All Black centre in the summer.




Auckland Blues and New Zealand backs Isaia Toeava and Ben Atiga are thought to be top of their shopping list.

Toeava, who has 15 caps, was part of the New Zealand World Cup squad, while Atiga was capped once four years ago. Both can also offer cover at full-back.

Wales backs Gavin Henson and Sonny Parker are the Ospreys' first-choice centres, but top-class cover is short.

Should Toeava or Atiga arrive in west Glamorgan, they would join former All Blacks Justin Marshall, Filo Tiatia and Marty Holah in the Ospreys squad.

The regions are allowed six non-Welsh players in their squads, the Ospreys looking to boost their star-studded line-up after the disappointment of this season's Heineken Cup quarter-final exit.

Coach Lyn Jones' 2007/8 campaign is likely to be seen as a failure at the ambitious region, even if they win Saturday's EDF Energy Cup final against Leicester.



Also there are rumours of Isa Nacewa heading to the O's also!




http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_unio...eys/7341589.stm

 

[gingergenius]

Big-spending Welsh region the Ospreys are believed to be targeting an All Black centre in the summer.




Auckland Blues and New Zealand backs Isaia Toeava and Ben Atiga are thought to be top of their shopping list.

Toeava, who has 15 caps, was part of the New Zealand World Cup squad, while Atiga was capped once four years ago. Both can also offer cover at full-back.

Wales backs Gavin Henson and Sonny Parker are the Ospreys' first-choice centres, but top-class cover is short.

Should Toeava or Atiga arrive in west Glamorgan, they would join former All Blacks Justin Marshall, Filo Tiatia and Marty Holah in the Ospreys squad.

The regions are allowed six non-Welsh players in their squads, the Ospreys looking to boost their star-studded line-up after the disappointment of this season's Heineken Cup quarter-final exit.

Coach Lyn Jones' 2007/8 campaign is likely to be seen as a failure at the ambitious region, even if they win Saturday's EDF Energy Cup final against Leicester.



Also there are rumours of Isa Nacewa heading to the O's also!




http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_unio...eys/7341589.stm
[/b]

well sonny parker is the biggest flop I've ever seen since kenny logan. In fact I'm going to make a topic about it. The Ospreys definitely need a centre who can at least catch the ball, so that henson's brilliance isn't nullified by the mug outside him.

at the sarries game the ospreys had a 4 on 3, with Henson Parker Byrne Williams. 3 of those guys have torn apart 6nations defences over the past 2 months.

Henson gets the ball and straightens beautifully. All that is needed now is some good hands and Williams should have the gas to go up the touchline. But what happens? Parker gets the ball, crabs across field and delivers a bad pass. Williams ends up squashed under Richard Haughton and the Sarries back row, staring the touch-judge's bootlaces in the face. Well played Sonny Parker.

 

[Prestwick]

Is this really a good idea to buy yet more centers to a team overflowing with talent in the backs? The O's are already a very good team so maybe the money might be better saved for a rainy day or on developing grassroots rugby in the region they represent.

 

[Sir Speedy]

Perhaps they should save the money to lure a new coach rather than throwing more money away yet again on players that they don't need. They can win the Heineken Cup with their current squad, but Lyn is holding them back.

 

[dullonien]

I don't see the problem with getting a quality 13 and a backup 15. Sonny Parker is way past his best, he's lost a yard of pace and isn't very effective anymore. As for full back, a quality replacement for Lee Burne is needed when he's on international duty, injured or just needs a break. Jonny Vaughton doesn't cut it imo.

I'd like to see them producing home grown talent, but there's just no-one coming through for those particular positions. The Ospreys do develop alot of players, the likes of Henson, Hoook, Wyn-Jones, Ian Evans, Hibbard, Bennett, Aled Brew, Mustoe and with players like Gareth Owen, Biggar, Jonathan Spratt, Ben Lewis coming through the ranks.

Toeva would be a huge signing, man what a backline if they manage it! Phillps, Hook, Shane, Henson, Toeva, Bowe, Burne.

 

[Ripper]

Toeava is going nowhere - Atiga is the one who will be leaving, only reason he got gametime at all this year was due to injuries to Nacwea and Evans.

 

[Prestwick]

I'd like to see them producing home grown talent, but there's just no-one coming through for those particular positions. The Ospreys do develop alot of players, the likes of Henson, Hoook, Wyn-Jones, Ian Evans, Hibbard, Bennett, Aled Brew, Mustoe and with players like Gareth Owen, Biggar, Jonathan Spratt, Ben Lewis coming through the ranks.[/b]

Surely this is because not enough is invested in grassroots rugby in Wales? If nobody is coming through in those positions, then that belies a lack of foresight and vision in planning. Surely you'd need to co-ordinate with development staff, regional and club to make sure that you're responding to the clear and present needs of the club.

Like I said, this money could be much better spent..or saved. Maybe the Ospreys could give the money back to the WRU so they can, oh I don't know, pay off the rest of their debt?. Or maybe donate the money to the SRU or something to create a new Magners League team in the Orkney Islands. Or even fund Matt's trip to that <strike>sweatshop</strike> Youth Summer Camp he'll be administering this summer. All of those alternatives are far more beneficial than blocking yet more places to emerging Welsh talent, especially in a country as small as Wales which, despite the immense and absolute enthusiasm and popularity for the game there, will always be in a precarious position simply due to the small population size.

 

[dullonien]

Many good point there Pres, more money and time needs to be ploughed into grass roots here in Wales. The problem is and always has been, that rugby is only taken seriously down south, from Llanelli to Newport (a couple of players from Camarther aswell). Even here in Aberystwyth, some 1 1/2 hours from Llanelli, there's no scouts looking out for young talent (which there is quite alot of) and no chance of getting anywhere, unless you travel down to Llanelli for trials time and time again (where they are biased to kids from Llanelli).

One example, my cousin from up north (Dinas Mawddwy to be exact), a big strong farmer type, managed to get into the Llanelli academy as a prop. One day in training he outscrummaged their main youth prop, turned him into mincemeat aparently. Instead of congratulating him and and giving him game time, they ignored him completly, so he ended up leaving.

How can a country this small ignore 1/2 the population (probably less, as south is where are the cities are, but you get what I mean). Things despirately need to change.

Alcohol is the other main problem with Welsh grass roots rugby, if you play for a club, it revolves aroud drinking, this can't be good for the developement of players!

Anyway, rant over.

 

[Prestwick]

Alcohol is the other main problem with Welsh grass roots rugby, if you play for a club, it revolves aroud drinking, this can't be good for the developement of players! [/b]

What do you mean? Thats how Saracens work! :blink:

 

[Ripper]

There must be alot of alcohol-related development stunting if you had to resort to signing Bay of Plenty Fly Halfs.

 

[Cymro]

Many good point there Pres, more money and time needs to be ploughed into grass roots here in Wales. The problem is and always has been, that rugby is only taken seriously down south, from Llanelli to Newport (a couple of players from Camarther aswell). Even here in Aberystwyth, some 1 1/2 hours from Llanelli, there's no scouts looking out for young talent (which there is quite alot of) and no chance of getting anywhere, unless you travel down to Llanelli for trials time and time again (where they are biased to kids from Llanelli).

One example, my cousin from up north (Dinas Mawddwy to be exact), a big strong farmer type, managed to get into the Llanelli academy as a prop. One day in training he outscrummaged their main youth prop, turned him into mincemeat aparently. Instead of congratulating him and and giving him game time, they ignored him completly, so he ended up leaving.

How can a country this small ignore 1/2 the population (probably less, as south is where are the cities are, but you get what I mean). Things despirately need to change.

Alcohol is the other main problem with Welsh grass roots rugby, if you play for a club, it revolves aroud drinking, this can't be good for the developement of players!

Anyway, rant over. [/b]

Good point about the Alcohol there mate, its very ture alot of youth rugby revolvs round the drinking culture!

But for your Scarlets Scouts they are there! Ive just finished my time in the youth leagues and actually have found that there are scouts there, but they never come to Aberystwyth! They go to Pembrookshire but never up to Aber!

Saying that its actually down to the coaches (from their own and other clubs) to nominate players for trials! In Aber we currently have 2 players in the Scarlets youth setup at under 16 and one of those is in the Welsh U16!

Aber has a main problem called the 'Aberystwyth Factor' its the same in football, Aber has a wealth of talent but people often think they are better than they are and never make it! It's also true of the rugby.

However scouts do need to come up north and through the middle of Wales to look at the talent available! there is a lot of it!

 

[Prestwick]

There must be alot of alcohol-related development stunting if you had to resort to signing Bay of Plenty Fly Halfs. [/b]

Only the finest bargain basement gear for our Sarries! Especially if they can beat Wales. :bana:

 

[RC]

But for your Scarlets Scouts they are there! Ive just finished my time in the youth leagues and actually have found that there are scouts there, but they never come to Aberystwyth! They go to Pembrookshire but never up to Aber!
[/b]

You'd have thought they'd learn, wouldn't you? I mean, you go to pembrokeshire and who do you get?
The likes of Tal Selley that's who.

STAY AWAY!
Lol.

In my opinion i hope we don't sign another new zealand centre. I mean, i'm sure the guy would be an asset to the club and would play brilliantly - but i want to see more homegrown talent there as well, like all the other boys are saying.
I'm not doig anything after i'm done coaching in America...use me!

Or even fund Matt's trip to that <strike>sweatshop</strike> Youth Summer Camp he'll be administering this summer.[/b]

Hey! I'll have you know i'm fully funded by my employers and need no such dirty money from the WRU!