Transfers rumours

[AFalcon20]

Semisi Taulava and Lee Smith to Newcastle Falcons all in The journal today.

 

[Philiproser]

Can't wait to see Slammin Sam in Union http://www.theextralap.co.uk/rugby-league-rugby-union-big-sam-impact/

 

[willutalk]

Sam Burgess and Francois Louw as Flanker duo would be insane at Bath.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Gavin Henson --> NG Dragons

 

[Draggs]

Gavin Henson --> NG Dragons

I wouldn't say no to him at Rodney Parade, but I'd really like it if he was offered another contract at Bath. It seems he has kept his head down and just played, for once. Glance on the Bath forum indicated most are happy with him.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Very happy with him, this is possibly to make room for Burgess.

 

[04perryo]

rumours going round the warrios forum that worcester could be making a swap for Jake abbot for Matera, personally can't see it happening just sounded interesting, although i love Jake abbot for his passion i can't deny that matera would be great as well even with all the backrows we have coming in

 

[Draggs]

Gavin Henson --> NG Dragons

WalesOnline once again linking him and also Matthew Morgan to NGD.

 

[dullonien]

So NGD could have a backline along the lines of:

Rees/Evans, Tovey/Morgan, Brew, Henson/Smith/Dixon, Dixon/Wardle, Amos/Prydie, Byrne/Amos.

Quite tasty imo, good balance of experience and young talent. Anyone I'm missing?

Now if they can bring in a couple of quality props and a gnarly second-row..... Pity Sam Lewis didn't sign for them as well.

 

[Draggs]

We don't need Henson or Morgan, we have Tovey and Dixon.
Nipper behind our back?!? Oh god.

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

Though apparently Adam Jones is being targeted by Lyn Jones, which would be a massive signing (Literally). It probably won't happen, but just imagine. That'd sort things out.

 

[kesh]

Can't wait to see Slammin Sam in Union http://www.theextralap.co.uk/rugby-league-rugby-union-big-sam-impact/

Excellent stuff, Sam is a beast. Runs onto the ball well and deceptively quick too. Burgess and Tuilagi centre pairing for RWC.

 

[Patchey]

Excellent stuff, Sam is a beast. Runs onto the ball well and deceptively quick too. Burgess and Tuilagi centre pairing for RWC.

Can we wait to see of he can pass before shoe horning him in at 12? I am incredibly not sold on this move (although happy to be proved wrong should it happen).

 

[munstermuffin]

Few I've seen on net on more than 3 sites so will say. All rumours and hear'say

Boss Leinster -> London Irish or Sale

Jared Payne Ulster to Leinster (to play 13) in a swap deal with Jack McGrath to Ulster.
This as some have said would make sense but would be shocked if true

 

[kesh]

Can we wait to see of he can pass before shoe horning him in at 12? I am incredibly not sold on this move (although happy to be proved wrong should it happen).

He can pass better then Tuilagi, which doesn't say much. Can't type much, [FONT=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]keyboards playing up. Have a look for yourself: [/FONT]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30OjXw-niu8

 

[TRF_Olyy]

He can pass better then Tuilagi, which doesn't say much

 

[kesh]

<_< Looking better then Hape and Tindal, anyway.

 

[lynam1104]

Few I've seen on net on more than 3 sites so will say. All rumours and hear'say

Boss Leinster -> London Irish or Sale

Jared Payne Ulster to Leinster (to play 13) in a swap deal with Jack McGrath to Ulster.
This as some have said would make sense but would be shocked if true

How bout we keep Jack.

 

[Patchey]

He can pass better then Tuilagi, which doesn't say much. Can't type much, keyboards playing up. Have a look for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30OjXw-niu8

Well if passing better than Manu is the metric we're using then I could probably play IC for England, assuming I have some time to bulk up!

Seriously though, I wasn't suggesting that Burgess wouldn't be capable of shovelling the ball on to Tuilagi or giving a little pop pass/offload to a supporting player. But if that was all one needed to be an international centre then we'd be fine. I mean Brad Barritt can physically pass the ball, as can pretty much everyone who plays rugby. However what he can't seem to do is pass the ball at the right time or place to put people outside him in space, which is less of a skill that can be developed and more of a talent that a good attacking centre requires IMO. Its no coincidence that since Twelvetrees has been playing at IC England have been better at getting the back line involved and scoring tries out wide rather than waiting for charge downs to rumbling over the line. Thats because Twelvetrees can not only pass, but knows when to pass.

I can't see any evidence to suggest that Sam Burgess would be a better distributor than Barritt, let alone Twelvetrees or Eastmond, so while a 12. Burgess 13. Tuilagi centre combo would look terrifying I'm not going to get excited about it until I've seen Burgess excel at more than just steamrolling people.

 

[Peat]

Few I've seen on net on more than 3 sites so will say. All rumours and hear'say

Boss Leinster -> London Irish or Sale

Jared Payne Ulster to Leinster (to play 13) in a swap deal with Jack McGrath to Ulster.
This as some have said would make sense but would be shocked if true

Bloody hell man at least say where you found it so I can track it down quicker.

It's speculation on boards with no concrete foundation. That rumour has come up once before and been firmly scotched, wouldn't put any credence in it without real evidence.

That said...

Eoin Griffin Connacht -> Leinster? Not Munster, expected to stay in Ireland...
Sean O'Hagan Connacht -> Ulster