Transfers rumours

[Draggs]

You were so happy at the end of last season, with all those lads gone.
Can we get Shingler and Allinson over as well?

 

[TPenn]

So London Irish have returned the Ospreys back Jonathan Spratt, Tom Smith and Cai Griffiths now, which is unfortunate, just as I'd thought we'd got rid.

The Ospreys have an injury crisis though at the moment, since Wales duty has injured a fair few players with Ian Evans, Alun-Wyn Jones, Richie Hibbard, Aaron Jarvis and Dan Biggar all injured. Plus Adam Jones, Hanno Dirksen both out, and other less important players Joe Rees, Jonathan Thomas and Tom Smith are all injured and that's 10 of the squad.

I don't think the Ospreys depth is up to the challenge, the Ospreys have lost a lot of depth in the off season, so we will be left with just kids and Principality Premiership players for the next few weeks. Unfortunately in the Edinburgh match last Friday, they played some child prop at tighthead who got destroyed by John Yapp which isn't a good sign. I doubt there will be much hope against Toulouse and Cencus Johnston and Gurthro Steenkamp now. Hopefully that Moldovan Arhip can do a job, because those teen kid props have no chance, but then I head Arhip has been struggling with an injury since he got here in November, so looks like we will have no other choice than Griffiths to take on Toulouse.

Remove the first three tightheads from any team (barring a couple of French sides) and they'll need to bring people in to cover.

Cai can't play against Toulouse, he's already played in the Amlin. There is apparently another signing in the next couple of days.

 

[psychic duck]

Sale to sign a former All Black forward in the next couple of weeks. Plus the possibility of a couple more players in new year.

http://www.espnscrum.com/premiership-2012-13/rugby/story/173834.html

Any ideas as to who it could be?

If it's a prop, I wonder whether it could be Campbell Johnstone who is a former All Black and didn't make the Super Rugby squads.

 

[TPenn]

Sale to sign a former All Black forward in the next couple of weeks. Plus the possibility of a couple more players in new year.

http://www.espnscrum.com/premiership-2012-13/rugby/story/173834.html

Any ideas as to who it could be?

If it's a prop, I wonder whether it could be Campbell Johnstone who is a former All Black and didn't make the Super Rugby squads.

He was a player mentioned as a short term cover for the Ospreys as well.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Israel Folau is signing for some as yet unnamed French club.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Daniel Braid to Europe, or Japan.

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[Draggs]

Israel Folau is signing for some as yet unnamed French club.

He didn't seem to cut it in footy.

Cue Sonny Bill League->Rugby comparisons...

Matthew Rees -> BLOOS.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

The Irish Daily Mail says that Sean Cronin could be on the way back to Connacht. It'd be great from an Irish point of view. I'd imagine Leinster would replace him with a NIQ hooker who'll cover for Strauss when he's on international duty. I also imagine that Leinster and Connacht will come to some sort of agreement whereby one of Cronin and Mike McCarthy spends next season at each province ie if Leinster get McCarthy, Connacht get Cronin and vice versa.

 

[Taranus]

Daniel Braid to Europe, or Japan.

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Being reported as Sale Sharks http://blogs.espnscrum.com/Rumour-Mill/archives/2012/12/sharks_close_in_on_braid.php

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Heard whispers of that as well - however only on SportNetwork, and only as a 2+2=5 (we're looking for forwards, he's looking for a club, no other leads - looks like ESPNscrum has done the same) - however Hendre Fourie is expected to have to retire soon, so a replacement will be needed and Braid is a fine player.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Israel Folau ---> NSW Waratahs

 

[Draggs]

Israel Folau ---> NSW Waratahs

Considering Turner and Mitchell have awful injury histories, it could be a decent move.
One season deal apparently, sounds fair.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Mike Ross to Munster.

 

[Conal]

Mike Ross to Munster.

really??? my god are the irfu managing resources (slightly better) for once?

if true should be good allows hagan and bent(i suppose) to develop down in dublin , while steadying munsters scrum for a year or two

 

[Jockstap]

Mike Ross to Munster.

I tells ya what, Munster could find themselves with an excellent pack in a year or two if the young guys keep maturing the way they are at the minute. If they can produce out buy an effective 7 they could be right up there.

8 Stander
7 O'Donnell
6 O'Mahony
5 O'Connell
4 Ryan
3 Ross
2 Sherry
1 Kilcoyne

Looks good to me.

 

[cyRil]

Guessing everyone's heard that Lydiate's off to France...

 

[Tony Manx]

I tells ya what, Munster could find themselves with an excellent pack in a year or two if the young guys keep maturing the way they are at the minute. If they can produce out buy an effective 7 they could be right up there.

8 Stander
7 O'Donnell
6 O'Mahony
5 O'Connell
4 Ryan
3 Ross
2 Sherry
1 Kilcoyne

Looks good to me.

Will Paul O'Connell ever return to full time rugby the player that he was is the question that has to be asked?

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

really??? my god are the irfu managing resources (slightly better) for once?

if true should be good allows hagan and bent(i suppose) to develop down in dublin , while steadying munsters scrum for a year or two

I'd hate to see Ross leave as a Leinster fan but it certainly makes sense for one of Ross, Bent or Hagan to move to Munster.

If it does happen, it's a stop gap for Munster. Ross will turn 34 next season. He's not the future but a one or two year quick fix until they get someone up to speed. If Munster can't get develop a competent tighthead after 2 years of BJ Botha and 2 possible years of Mike Ross, they have serious issues.

 

[Draggs]

Guessing everyone's heard that Lydiate's off to France...

Toulouse, I have heard some say.

 

[SelimNiai]

Toulouse, I have heard some say.

This is way to easy but..

If hes leaving to lose then he might aswell stay at Newport