Transfers rumours

[dullonien]

Don't forget Robin Copeland in the backrow. He's been very handy this season (allbeit in a poor Blues team). Paulo was an excellent signing as well. Delve would a ball carrying no.8 that the Blues lack.

I think the issue they have is the midfield and the persistence in picking a Hewitt/Evans partnership rather than the partnership you mention above. With the right selection, they might be a handy team.

Whilst Copeland has been decent for the Blues, he's not of HC starter quality imo. Good player to have in the squad though. Same for Luke Hamilton.

I am very interested to see if Ellis Jenkins get's game time this season, and whether he's viewed as a 6 or 7. In Warburton, Navidi and him, they have 3 players who can play on both flanks so I wouldn't be surprised if they develop a playing style based around having two 'opensides' on the field.

I don't think the Blues will be challenging for any trophies next season still, because even if they choose a midfield of Patchell-Allen-Williams, it will take them a while to settle into Pro12 level rugby, let alone HC level. Still, building for the future should make that selection a no-brainer, so hopefully we won't see Evans or Hewitt as first choice again this season, although I have my doubts!

 

[ratsapprentice]

Bath's "contract news":

Horacio Agulla has extended his contract.
Great for Bath, he seems like a great guy to have in and around a team, it helps that he's an incredibly effective winger too! (Despite looking like he shouldn't be)

 

[Draggs]

Pieter Steph du Toit | Sharks -> Bulls

 

[Gavin]

Van den Heever, Bulls to Munster

 

[munstermuffin]

Van den Heever, Bulls to Munster

This has been finalised weeks ago just a medical and visa to be issued

 

[lynam1104]

Munster have recruited really well over the last 2 years, should have a very good backline next year.

 

[munstermuffin]

GvdH won't be here until Nov and well if he's shattered after last season we will be waiting until next season to see him but we are well covered with Conway added to last years crop it's not bad looking

 

[Bull]

Van den Heever, Bulls to Munster

Correction, Stormers/WP to Munster. Munster are scraping the barrel here!

 

[munstermuffin]

Correction, Stormers/WP to Munster. Munster are scraping the barrel here!

To be fair he's alright but will be squad player covering international camps etc and all provinces are short of cash to compete with France. We still NIQ spot too

 

[psychic duck]

Kirchner and van den Heever are a step down in quality to Nacewa and Howlett. Stiff competition from Toulon these days for those types of players being felt I think. Especially considering Leinster were apparently after Mitchell who would have been a more useful signing, but chose Toulon instead.

 

[munstermuffin]

Kirchner and van den Heever are a step down in quality to Nacewa and Howlett. Stiff competition from Toulon these days for those types of players being felt I think. Especially considering Leinster were apparently after Mitchell who would have been a more useful signing, but chose Toulon instead.

None of provinces can compete and Ulster are like Munster. Done up stadium and that has been focus. But agree quality isn't comparable but as said we are mile off from even average French offers

 

[lynam1104]

Kirchner and van den Heever are a step down in quality to Nacewa and Howlett. Stiff competition from Toulon these days for those types of players being felt I think. Especially considering Leinster were apparently after Mitchell who would have been a more useful signing, but chose Toulon instead.

They are but I've accepted that we can't compete with France, but at least we still have irish players in our squads and in 5 years time our national side won't be ****ed because of foreign players dominating the provincial squads we may be ****ed for some other reason but it won;t be that one.

 

[psychic duck]

They are but I've accepted that we can't compete with France, but at least we still have irish players in our squads and in 5 years time our national side won't be ****ed because of foreign players dominating the provincial squads we may be ****ed for some other reason but it won;t be that one.

I don't buy that as the reason why France are crap this year. They have plenty good players and in fact easily more players than the Celtic nations have, and all of the national team players are first choice starters at their clubs.

In my opinion, that is just Philippe Saint-Andre using that as a handy excuse to explain why France are woefully underperforming compared to the players they have.

 

[munstermuffin]

I don't buy that as the reason why France are crap this year. They have plenty good players and in fact easily more players than the Celtic nations have, and all of the national team players are first choice starters at their clubs.

In my opinion, that is just Philippe Saint-Andre using that as a handy excuse to explain why France are woefully underperforming compared to the players they have.

Agreed the 2 reasons France were poor is tactics and selection. Freddie is the obvious example but also the tactics aren't what French are used to but also it's wrong horses for courses like in 1 game Michalak was picked to play a kicking game

 

[big ginger 8]

Kirchner and van den Heever are a step down in quality to Nacewa and Howlett. Stiff competition from Toulon these days for those types of players being felt I think. Especially considering Leinster were apparently after Mitchell who would have been a more useful signing, but chose Toulon instead.

Of course we just don't have the money now but one factor with Mitchell is that Toulon can afford to take a risk on him because of their depth, we can't. Mitchell has spent a lot of time since 2010 injured and we can't take that big a risk.

 

[munstermuffin]

Of course we just don't have the money now but one factor with Mitchell is that Toulon can afford to take a risk on him because of their depth, we can't. Mitchell has spent a lot of time since 2010 injured and we can't take that big a risk.

No BG8 all of our provinces would take risk. Munster did it with Cullen but it simply back a few years ago 3 or 4 French teams had alot of cash now nearly all of them and a few Pro2 teams have bottomless pits. Any top player that comes to Ireland or Wales are coming truly for passion and want though which is good for us. But it narrows amount interested

 

[big ginger 8]

No BG8 all of our provinces would take risk. Munster did it with Cullen but it simply back a few years ago 3 or 4 French teams had alot of cash now nearly all of them and a few Pro2 teams have bottomless pits. Any top player that comes to Ireland or Wales are coming truly for passion and want though which is good for us. But it narrows amount interested

Munster did it with Cullen and it didn't work why would Leinster repeat the mistake? He was also came when Ireland was in a boom and not a recession.

 

[Feicarsinn]

I blame Munster and the fact that they've been hemorrhaging money for the last god knows how long.

 

[munstermuffin]

Munster did it with Cullen and it didn't work why would Leinster repeat the mistake? He was also came when Ireland was in a boom and not a recession.

Leinster have done it too just on lesser names like Shaun Berne and some may argue Quinn Roux is injury jinx. My point being if any province had cash they would take risk.

 

[big ginger 8]

Leinster have done it too just on lesser names like Shaun Berne and some may argue Quinn Roux is injury jinx. My point being if any province had cash they would take risk.

That would be a poor argument as Roux did not have injury problems before going to Leinster. Can't remember any great injury problems with Shaun Berne, sure you don't mean Berquist? He again had his problems start after arrival. If Berne did have problems then he's also a lot less risk than someone like Mitchell because of the amount of money involved.