Transfers 2015/16

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

also that signing by Wasps now means they have the lowest percentage of academy players in their senior squad in the AP.

That's my understanding, but I understood what Tigs meant. You forgot to explain to him that "Japanese" is a proper noun so should have a capital letter!

Back to the point at hand, I just read that Jaque Fourie was reported to be the world's highest player back in 2012, so maybe I'm out of touch and significantly underestimating the amount of money on offer, although if it really is that massive, I find it strange not to see more players topping up their pension pot over there.

I think it is more down to it not being very competitive.

Top 14 and European cup rugby is a big draw to alot of the higher profile players, throw in big money and it becomes more of an overall package than say Top league.

And TBF they have had
SBW
Fourie
Foley
Izzy
Kaino
Shane williams
Tuilagi
JPP
Le Roux

Thats just of the top of my head.

 

[ratsapprentice]

I think they don't actually want too many foreign players, only one or two.

 

[nickdnz]

In Japan's top league they have very strict foreign player restrictions per team.

 

[RedruthRFC]

As a Chiefs supporter I wouldn't want either of those centres to start, I'd much prefer Whitten-Campagnaro. It shows how much of a log pile Chiefs have when you think that Devoto and Hill may be fighting for a bench spot.

Whitten made the 12 shirt his own towards the end of last season, so it must be up to anyone else who wants it to take it from him. What makes you think that Campagnaro should start before Slade? Assuming Exeter still look at Slade as a 13, I would have thought that despite his impressive international performances, the pretender needs to prove that he's back to top form and show what he can do in a Chiefs shirt before he takes thee incumbent's shirt.

Unless Hill's game has changed hugely since his Pirates / England U20 days when I saw quite a bit of him play, I'd sooner see Nowell at 13 than Hill (it's happened in the past). Similarly with Dollman and Turner around, it's very unlikely that we'll see Nowell het a start at 15, although I would like to as I think his ceiling is higher there than on the wing.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Whitten made the 12 shirt his own towards the end of last season, so it must be up to anyone else who wants it to take it from him. What makes you think that Campagnaro should start before Slade? Assuming Exeter still look at Slade as a 13, I would have thought that despite his impressive international performances, the pretender needs to prove that he's back to top form and show what he can do in a Chiefs shirt before he takes thee incumbent's shirt.

Unless Hill's game has changed hugely since his Pirates / England U20 days when I saw quite a bit of him play, I'd sooner see Nowell at 13 than Hill (it's happened in the past). Similarly with Dollman and Turner around, it's very unlikely that we'll see Nowell het a start at 15, although I would like to as I think his ceiling is higher there than on the wing.

What makes me think Campagnaro should start at 13 is that hopefully Slade will now be playing more at 10, and that Campagnaro was maybe the best 13 of the 6 Nations. And has a major edge over Slade, Hill, Devoto and Nowell in that he is actually a 13. I imagine the big thing holding back Camp at Exeter is the language barrier, I thought I saw somewhere that he can barely speak English.

I agree on Nowell at FB, I'd rather he play there than wing (Both because it's his actual position and because it means Short can start) however as you said, with Dollman and Turner around I can't see it happening.

The back line I'd like to see is:
9. Chudley
10. Slade
11. Short
12. Whitten
13. Campagnaro
14. Woodburn
15. Nowell

The one I expect is:
9. Chudley
10. Steenson
11. Woodburn
12. Whitten
13. Slade
14. Nowell
15. Dollman

The pack will also be interesting to see which players Baxter starts. The optiona he's got are hard choices to make:

1. Hepburn, Moon, Holmes
2. LCD, Yeandle, Taione
3. Holmes, Francis, Low (3 international tight heads), Williams
4/5. Lees, Parling, Dennis, Welch, Atkins
6. Ewers, Armand, Dennis
7. Salvi, Armand
8. Waldrom, Dennis, Armand, Ewers

Tough calls...

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Lol M8 you're having a giggle if you think he will be on less than what he would be say last year.


God some Sexy starting back lines next season.
My top 3 in no order
Sale
9) Stringer, 10) MacGinty, 11) Edwards, 12) Leota, 13) James, 14) Addison, 15) Haley (this relies mainly on MacGinty carrying on his form, also i prefer Stringer to Phillips).
Tigers
9) Youngs, 10) Burns, 11) Betham, 12) Toomua, 13) Manu, 14) JPP, 15) Veianu
Wasps
9) Robson, 10) Cips, 11) Wade, 12) Beale, 13) Daly, 14) Halai, 15) Le Roux

exeter might be in here but have no idea what Baxter would do from an English POV would like to see this backline sometime during the season.
9) Lewis/Chudley, 10) slade, 11) Short, 12) Devoto, 13) Hill, 14) Woodburn, 15) Nowell

Northampton and Saracens also have some damn impressive potential line-ups:
9. Dickson
10. Hanrahan
11. North
12. Mallinder
13. Burrell
14. Pisi
15. Foden/Tuala

and
9. Wiggs
10. Faz
11. Maitland
12. Barritt
13. Taylor
14. Ashton
15. Goode

 

[RedruthRFC]

What makes me think Campagnaro should start at 13 is that hopefully Slade will now be playing more at 10, and that Campagnaro was maybe the best 13 of the 6 Nations. And has a major edge over Slade, Hill, Devoto and Nowell in that he is actually a 13. I imagine the big thing holding back Camp at Exeter is the language barrier, I thought I saw somewhere that he can barely speak English.

Thought that might be your thinking. I would like to see it happen from the point of view of Slade's development and to see Campagnaro back to his 6N form tearing it up for Exeter, but a lot of faith has been shown in Steeno over the years, so I can see Slade having his work cut out to make the 10 jersey his.

The more I think of it, the more frustrating I find Exeter's midfield log jam, both from the point of view of the individual players' development and as an interested onlooker not knowing what the coaches rationale is.

 

[Tony Manx]

Ben Broster had become latest to cross from Biarritz to Aviron Bayonne!

 

[BPM]

Thought that might be your thinking. I would like to see it happen from the point of view of Slade's development and to see Campagnaro back to his 6N form tearing it up for Exeter, but a lot of faith has been shown in Steeno over the years, so I can see Slade having his work cut out to make the 10 jersey his.

The more I think of it, the more frustrating I find Exeter's midfield log jam, both from the point of view of the individual players' development and as an interested onlooker not knowing what the coaches rationale is.

Same here. I really don't understand the rationale behind signing Devoto? He offers a different style of play and arguably more playmaking skill to Whitten and Hill but surely Slade could already have provided that if he had been played at 12.

With the 4 above plus Campagnaro, They have 5 very good players (4 of whom are internationals) competing for two shirts. Whitten doesn't seem to be on the radar with Ireland and unless Slade forces his way in to the England 23, Campagnaro is the only one who's likely to be away for internationals, so it's not as though they even need cover during the test windows.

If I were Bath, I'd definitely investigate whether I could prise one of them away!

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Same here. I really don't understand the rationale behind signing Devoto? He offers a different style of play and arguably more playmaking skill to Whitten and Hill but surely Slade could already have provided that if he had been played at 12.

With the 4 above plus Campagnaro, They have 5 very good players (4 of whom are internationals) competing for two shirts. Whitten doesn't seem to be on the radar with Ireland and unless Slade forces his way in to the England 23, Campagnaro is the only one who's likely to be away for internationals, so it's not as though they even need cover during the test windows.

If I were Bath, I'd definitely investigate whether I could prise one of them away!

It'd be good to see Slade, Hill and Devoto spread out more. Along with Mallinder, those 3 seem to be the best young prospects at 12, so I'd like to see them all getting game time every week. Obviously it won't happen, not for a while anyway, but I'd like to see Devoto go back to Bath. There are worse players to be in between than Ford and JJ, I think he could develop well there with Eastmond out of the equation.

With him gone the log jam is whittled down. I can't see Campagnaaro staying beyond his current contract with how little game time he's getting and how much other clubs would be willing to offer him. Which then leaves you with Slade, Hill and Whitten which seems like the right amount of centres to me. Unless Slade makes the move to 10, in which case they seem to be lacking quite a lot.

Really, the Exeter log jam isn't such a log jam after some thought.
Slade - 10 leaves you with 4 centres
Campagnaro likely leaving when his contract runs out leaves you with 3
So really, the signing of Devoto makes sense when looking to next season (Campagnaro's contact runs out after the upcoming, and if Slade isn't 10 this season, he will be by the next one)

 

[BPM]

Does it though? Campagnaro is an out and out 13. At the moment he's competing with Slade and, to a lesser extent, Nowell.

The log jam is more at 12. Most England fans want to see Slade some game time there, but it's unlikely when he's competing with Whitten, Hill and Devoto, so he'll more likely be at 13 or 10.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Does it though? Campagnaro is an out and out 13. At the moment he's competing with Slade and, to a lesser extent, Nowell.

The log jam is more at 12. Most England fans want to see Slade some game time there, but it's unlikely when he's competing with Whitten, Hill and Devoto, so he'll more likely be at 13 or 10.

Well, assuming that for the 2017/18 season Campagnaro is no longer with Exeter, you have:
Slade, 10/12/13
Hill, 12/13
Whitten, 12/13
Devoto, 12/13

So although you don't have a specialist 13, you do have 4 centres able to cover, 5 including Nowell. And with Exeter's style of play, an out and out 13 isn't really necessary. They got to the finals this season and were playing with Slade (10/12) or Whitten (12) at 13 for the whole season. For the 2017/18 season I would expect to see:

10. Slade
12. Hill
13. Whitten/Devoto

22. Steenson
23. Devoto/Whitten

Considering that Slade, Devoto or Hill could well be on international duty by then or not long after, and you always have to consider injuries, that seems like a good balance.

 

[BPM]

Possibly. Campagnaro has looked brilliant for Italy, so I wouldn't totally rule out the possibility of him having a brilliant season and being retained.

I worry for Slade. He's got so much ability and potential, but moving around from 10 to 13, to 12 and back to 10 again really isn't helping him. I don't doubt that there are some advantages to be gained from playing in different positions, but I'd sooner see him specialise in one role and really master that.

From an England point of view, I wanted to see him played at 12 but that doesn't look like it's going to happen with Chiefs so it's either 13 or 10. Arguably 10 might be the better option longer-term. Clearly Ford and Farrell are the obvious choices, but beyond that, Cipriani doesn't seem to be in favour and Burns probably lacks the consistency to be a real contender.

My frustration is that I think he could be a starter for England at 12, but not as a 10 or 13 and if he's not playing there at club level, I don't see it happening. I guess Farrell doesn't play at 12 for Sarries and has been effective enough in the role at test level so it's not impossible. However, if we do see a change at 12, I'm guessing it will be Tuilagi or Te'o with Farrell moving to 10.

Then again, he could have a brilliant start to the season and you never know what will happen with injuries.

 

[Tony Manx]

Sorry guys but thought this thread was for confirmed transfer movements?

 

[Groundhog]

Lewis Stevenson to Connacht from Ex is confirmed. Connacht could do with a bit of experience in the pack especially as they'll lose Dillane and maybe Roux during the 6 Nations.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Fonua off to Falcons

Not surprised TBH behind Hamilton and McCaffrey and saves us some cap.

 

[Duck a l'Orange]

Is the start of this season the end of Alex Corbisiero's sabbatical year?

If so, anyone know of any rumoured clubs after him? I'd have thought he'd have joined them for preseason by now but you never know I suppose.

 

[BPM]

Is the start of this season the end of Alex Corbisiero's sabbatical year?

If so, anyone know of any rumoured clubs after him? I'd have thought he'd have joined them for preseason by now but you never know I suppose.

IIRC, he was planning to come back in December/Jan and I think he was linked with Wasps (who isn't these days).

Not a confirmed transfer mind ...

 

[Duck a l'Orange]

IIRC, he was planning to come back in December/Jan and I think he was linked with Wasps (who isn't these days).

Not a confirmed transfer mind ...

Be great if he could come back in time to get into Lions contention and win a series in NZ. Could be one of the greatest sporting stories of all time. Unlikely, but...

 

[TRF_Olyy]

4 more years for Neild
Apparently the start of a "good news week", so I'm still hoping for Addison (though I think he'll re-sign much later in the season, if he does at all).