I think White will start the season but I'm hoping Maunder or Townsend will be first choice by the end, White's an upgrade but for me an unnecessary one.Presumably Nic White is first choice? On paper at least, he is the most experienced, test quality player.
Maunder and Townsend are still young and learning from White is better than learning from Chudley ...
Agree, with Chudley in good form as well as Maunder and Townsend both having tons of potential, the signing of White seemed hugely unnecessary and it's gonna stunt the growth of players.I think White will start the season but I'm hoping Maunder or Townsend will be first choice by the end, White's an upgrade but for me an unnecessary one.
I'd love to see a back row of Ewers, Kvesic and Simmonds in action. Such a good balance of strength, turnover ability and ball carrying. With Parling on his way out and Kvesic on his way I'm hoping that it means Baxter's looking to move Armand back to lock. A pack of Hepburn, LCD, Williams, Dennis, Armand, Ewers, Kvesic and Simmonds as well as Moon, Yeandle, Francis, Lees and Waldrom to come off the bench is a real force to be reckoned with.Sadly I 100% agree.
Still, if Baxter can pull a rabbit out of the hat with Kvesic and keep Sam Simmonds developing, I'll be happy enough.
Totally agree, that's the strongest pack available, need to keep LCD, Hepburn and Ewers fit though, Kvesic the best signing( in the league) this summer IMO, so quite happy as a Chiefs fan, only potential problem is the possibility of losing Williams and Francis for the six nation's, behind the scrum I'd like to see a bit more of Slade at 10 with Devoto at 12 and Campagnaro 13....I'd love to see a back row of Ewers, Kvesic and Simmonds in action. Such a good balance of strength, turnover ability and ball carrying. With Parling on his way out and Kvesic on his way I'm hoping that it means Baxter's looking to move Armand back to lock. A pack of Hepburn, LCD, Williams, Dennis, Armand, Ewers, Kvesic and Simmonds as well as Moon, Yeandle, Francis, Lees and Waldrom to come off the bench is a real force to be reckoned with.
Totally agree, that's the strongest pack available, need to keep LCD, Hepburn and Ewers fit though, Kvesic the best signing( in the league) this summer IMO, so quite happy as a Chiefs fan, only potential problem is the possibility of losing Williams and Francis for the six nation's, behind the scrum I'd like to see a bit more of Slade at 10 with Devoto at 12 and Campagnaro 13....
Personally I'd give Slade game time at 10 with Devoto at 12 & Hill at 13, Steenson's a club legend but he's 33 now and at some point Slade has to nail down a position, start Slade more at FH and if need be bring Steenson on and move Slade to CN/FB for the final 20 mins of games..Slade is good enough to start in either centre berth; though he's always (to me) looked most natural at 12. He's probably good enough to deserve the FH or FB shirts as well, if given an extended run there - by which I'd mean 20-30 starts there; but in either of those you'd be paying a price in performance whilst he settles in.
Wherever he ends up playing he really needs to be given a position, and to stick there; he can provide versatility for the final 20 minutes when the subs change things around, but he needs to get himself 1600-2000 minutes in one position over a season.
Then you've got to take into account the other players. If Slade becomes a 12, then Devoto will waste away and be a tragic loss to the game; if HS sticks at 13 then Campagnaro and Hill will be stupidly wasted; if at 15 then Dolman is better for the moment, and Nowell possibly a better long-term bet; and if at 10 then you'll be losing matches you would have won with Steenson there; whilst wasting the chances to develop Simmonds.
IMO Exeter's best centres are Devoto and Slade; but they don't really work as a pair, which also complicates things (Maybe they could with 10. Slade; 12 Devoto). Of course, if you have no more need of either of them, both would be more than welcome a couple of hours northwards; where they'd probably get the starting IC jersey most weeks.
I think I would as well, but I'd be thinking twice about it given how last season started; and it would take a brave coach to stick with the experiment for more than 3-4 matches when you've still got Steenson on the bench. TBH, "If I were Baxter" I'de probably put Slade on the bench, starting Steenson, Devoto and Hill (I slightly prefer Campagnaro, but Hill's far more likely to still be there in a couple of years), giving HS 20 minutes a game at FH until he's become more settled there, and I'd be expecting him to have displaced GS from the starting shirt by the end of this coming season.Personally I'd give Slade game time at 10 with Devoto at 12 & Hill at 13, Steenson's a club legend but he's 33 now and at some point Slade has to nail down a position, start Slade more at FH and if need be bring Steenson on and move Slade to CN/FB for the final 20 mins of games..
Interested to know who you would like Tigers to be in for mate? Who's def confirmed leaving?Tigers squad starting to look a bit barer.
Interested to know who you would like Tigers to be in for mate? Who's def confirmed leaving?
Didn't realise Pieterson had gone...I would take any of the players we have been linked to currently.
Didn't realise Pieterson had gone...
Yeh so far released Him and Betham.
Apparently Tait, Croft and McCaffrey to follow.