The 2014/15 pre-season general news/discussion thread

[Patchey]

I really like him, good distributor and runner of the ball and a decent boot. His form really benefits from regular game time, though, and going into a side with Cipriani, and Macleod being one of our longest serving players and also first choice 10 when he arrived, it's not something he was getting.
Looke to have overtaken Macleod as 2nd choice 10 towards the end of the season, so hopefully that continues.

Thought it would be something like that. It'll be interesting to see if he continues as regular second choice over Macleod. I guess Cips being away more with England might give him some more game time as well.

Patchey

Will Clifford get many runs out this season?
How do you think you'll cope against some of the bigger packs in the prem? Will you try to run them around or can you compete in a battle.

I really hope he does. He's been given a proper contract and hasn't gone out on loan so I'd suggest he's going to be asked to step up the way Sinkler was last season/ We've got some big boots to fill in the back row. I've said for a while now that I can see him being a bit part of both the Quins and England settup in the future so it'll be interesting to see how he takes to (hopefully) a full season of rugby in and around the 1st XV.

As for out pack, I'm not sure. A lot depends on how the back row performs without Mo and the strength of our second row partnerships. I can't see us actively going after confrontations in the forwards, that really isn't our thing, but I think we'll hold our own against most times and look to get quick ball and use the loose forwards in the backline a lot.

 

[ratsapprentice]

http://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/Bath...s-cross-code/story-22714681-detail/story.html

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I thought that was going to say cross code game - was about to say how stupid it was :lol:

A joint camp makes sense, considering the influence of league coaches on Union at the moment. Be a bit awkward for Eastmond, being a Saint, though :lol:

 

[Gavin]

I am looking forward to seeing London Welsh this season. So many signings, I do hope it works for them.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

I am looking forward to seeing London Welsh this season. So many signings, I do hope it works for them.

I don't think the squad is as good as it was last time personally.

 

[Geordie]

I am looking forward to seeing London Welsh this season. So many signings, I do hope it works for them.

You'll forgive me if i say...i hope it doesnt

 

[ratsapprentice]

A joint camp makes sense, considering the influence of league coaches on Union at the moment. Be a bit awkward for Eastmond, being a Saint, though :lol:

And Joel Tomkins being part of the Sarries side that took us apart at home last season!

Should be good - both teams looking to do somthing to break the monotony of training - could work well.
Might also make some pie-eaters wide-eyed at Farleigh.

I don't think the squad is as good as it was last time personally.

Neither do I - I have no idea how they'll go TBH... I recognise practically none of their players.

 

[Patchey]

Welsh have some good players in the backs, Weepu, Barkley, Molenaar and May (if he's still there?), its the forwards that worry me. You can't succeed in the Premiership without a consistent set piece or a pack that can, at the very least, hold its own in the loose. I don't see Welsh doing that to be honest.

I thought that was going to say cross code game - was about to say how stupid it was :lol:

A joint camp makes sense, considering the influence of league coaches on Union at the moment. Be a bit awkward for Eastmond, being a Saint, though :lol:

Maybe he's going to try an rekindle some ties so he can go back to league when Burgess is parachuted in at 12?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Hmmm, I can't see it.
Especially not for Wigan.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Why this constant suggestion that he's going back to league... as if it's inevitable?

Unless he get's absolutely ****ed over by someone in Union I can't see him going back - he's already made a big commitment, and the money in Union is significantly better - bearing in mind he has a child.

 

[Patchey]

Yeah I was half joking, I don't see him going back to Wigan.

But if Burgess is as keen to play 12 as the press says then it does beg the question. Does Eastmond move positions or does he switch clubs/codes? I can't see him happy being as a second choice but Bath are hardly going to spend a wheelbarrow full of cash on Burgess and not play him either.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Put Eastmond and Burgess in the centres together - just playing as two centres rather than specific inside/outside centre.

Would mean one (or both) of JJ and Devoto likely to move on in the nearish future, though.






Anywho:
Sale have announced their two 23s for the traditional Fylde preseason games, and thankfully Eifion Lewis-Roberts has gone back to playing tighthead, rather than Di Marchi which was rumoured before. One of our XVs has AdM, ELR, Hines and Ostrikov in the tight 5 - I feel a bit sorry for the Fylde pack they come up against, that's some serious mass there! :lol:
Also Johnny Leota is out injured currently, so looks like Addison could be our first choice 13 going into the start of the season - which is exciting.
Either that or Cueto to 13 and Ingall on the wing (Ingall finished the season as a first choice winger, so that could make sense).
Or Forsyth, but he's not in either starting XV (though I don't think that particularly says a lot considering it's against semi-pro opposition, and the seasons still a few weeks off).

 

[Patchey]

Well I guess whatever happens, someone will move on if Burgess is a sucess!

Quins have announced their team for the friendly against Pau. Marler, Care, Evans rested and Robshaw on the bench but put them in the XV and this looks much more like a first choice team.

15. Ross Chisholm
14. Marland Yarde
13. Aseli Tikoirotuma
12. Matt Hopper
11. Ollie Lindsay-Hague
10. Ben Botica
9. Karl Dickson

1. Mark Lambert
2. Joe Gray
3. Kyle Sinckler
4. George Merrick
5. Sam Twomey
6. James Chisholm
7. Luke Wallace©
8. Jack Clifford

16. Rob Buchanan
17. Darrly Marfo
18. Will Collier
19. Charlie Matthews
20. Chris Robshaw
21. Danny Care
22. Louis Grimoldby
23. Charlie Walker

Interesting to see Wallace given the armband.

 

[04perryo]

Not that anyone cares but the Worcester VS Ospreys finished worcester 23 ospreys 6 good start to the season

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Not that anyone cares but the Worcester VS Ospreys finished worcester 23 ospreys 6 good start to the season

Sssshhh don't tell cyRil ...

Welsh vs Wasps team ...

London Welsh: 15. Seb Jewell, 14. Seb Stegmann, 13. Tom May (C), 12. Tim Molenaar, 11. Nick Scott, 10. Olly Barkley, 9. Rob Lewis, 1. Nathan Trevett, 2. Koree Britton, Taione Vea, 4. Dean Schofield, 5. Matt Corker, 6. Pete Browne, 7. Richard Thorpe, 8. Ollie Stedman.

Replacements: Pablo Henn, Jack Gilding, Ben Cooper, Shane Cahill, Nathan Vella, Nathan Morris, James Down, Josh McNally, Darren Waters, Lachlan McCaffrey, Daniel Browne, Ben Pienaar, Paul Rowley, Tristan Roberts, Rhys Crane, Adam Field, James Lewis, Nic Reynolds, Chris Elder.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Leicester team vs Nottingham pres-season


1) Brigston

2) Briggs

3) Balmain

4) Wells

5) Price

6) Croft

7) Gibson

8) Crane

9) Harrison

10) Bai

11) R.Williams

12) Pohe

13) Smith

14) D.Williams

15) Morris



16) Farnworth

17) Brugnara

18) Pasquali

19) Sio

20) Barbieri

21) Owen

22) Tresidder

23) Bryant

24) C.Thacker

 

[Maverick1987]

Leicester team vs Nottingham pres-season


1) Brigston

2) Briggs

3) Balmain

4) Wells

5) Price

6) Croft

7) Gibson

8) Crane

9) Harrison

10) Bai

11) R.Williams

12) Pohe

13) Smith

14) D.Williams

15) Morris



16) Farnworth

17) Brugnara

18) Pasquali

19) Sio

20) Barbieri

21) Owen

22) Tresidder

23) Bryant

24) C.Thacker

Great to see Crofty back ...,,, again !

 

[ratsapprentice]

Looking forward to seeing the Tuilagi-Pohe centre combo at some point this season.

...And not a single pass was ma...BOSH.

 

[Thingimubob]

Cardiff Blues 17 - 24 Exeter Chiefs on Friday.

Exeter were 24 - 7 up at half time, so guess there's some positives in keeping them quiet for the second half. Blues scored very late tries (79th and 80th mins I believe) to make it look respectable at least.

 

[Patchey]

Quins drew 17-17 yesterday, disappointing and a little worrying to be honest. Apparently Jack Clifford played well though.


Is Pohe England qualified do we know?