Transfers rumours

[ncurd]

I think JJ/Manu is something has has to be tried at lest as they are the only centers we've had that have been vaguely successful in the last 6 years. If it doesn't work at least we tried something that made sense on paper unlike Burgess/Barritt

 

[Raggs]

In the few occasions Manu has played 12 his passing has looked far better than 13. There was a game against Wasps in which he was devastating from 12 (and putting players into space). Lions of course, even with the lower standard of opposition, he was passing nicely.

Daly was moved to 15 due to Wasps shortages and Shane Howarths recommendation. I felt he was bloody good there for someone learning the position, and has everything a 15 could need. England were interested in him at 15 too, which probably helped encourage him to stick at it. Daly much prefers 13, and so once we had a chance to restock as such, Daly moved back to 13, this was probably helped by Masi dropping a lot of weight after a long injury, and not really suiting the midfield at the time, and spending more time at 15 himself. He's now beginning to look for the pass more, which is great.

Manu is a true weapon, even if limited, obviously it's better if he improves, but he's almost undroppable. I think England will put a lot of pressure on him to move to 12, to allow them to use Manu/JJ.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

In the few occasions Manu has played 12 his passing has looked far better than 13. There was a game against Wasps in which he was devastating from 12 (and putting players into space). Lions of course, even with the lower standard of opposition, he was passing nicely.

Daly was moved to 15 due to Wasps shortages and Shane Howarths recommendation. I felt he was bloody good there for someone learning the position, and has everything a 15 could need. England were interested in him at 15 too, which probably helped encourage him to stick at it. Daly much prefers 13, and so once we had a chance to restock as such, Daly moved back to 13, this was probably helped by Masi dropping a lot of weight after a long injury, and not really suiting the midfield at the time, and spending more time at 15 himself. He's now beginning to look for the pass more, which is great.

Manu is a true weapon, even if limited, obviously it's better if he improves, but he's almost undroppable. I think England will put a lot of pressure on him to move to 12, to allow them to use Manu/JJ.

Manu played for England at 12 in South Africa and he didn't actually make 1 pass.

I still can't really understand after the positional mess Lancaster put us in people actually still want to play players out of position.

Pick your best 12 to play 12 and your best 13 to play 13. Manu isn't good enough to be forced into the side no matter what. JJ is a better 13 and there are many better 12s just on experience than tuilagi.

 

[Raggs]

Manu played for England at 12 in South Africa and he didn't actually make 1 pass.

I still can't really understand after the positional mess Lancaster put us in people actually still want to play players out of position.

Pick your best 12 to play 12 and your best 13 to play 13. Manu isn't good enough to be forced into the side no matter what. JJ is a better 13 and there are many better 12s just on experience than tuilagi.

If you take the stats from the game where he played with Farrell at 10 for 70 minutes, in wet and windy conditions, you are of course right.

If you take the game before (still at 12), with Flood, you have Manu making 5 passes and 6 runs.

He typically makes 0-3 passes at 13 from what I remember when last discussed (not here). When at 12 for the lions, against poor opposition (that he could have just ran at all day) he made 10 passes and 13 runs.

Manu is good enough to be forced in almost no matter what. At 12 he can get his hands on the ball more to charge, and seems to know he has to pass more at 12, so does so.

 

[Mattybuck]

I think JJ/Manu is something has has to be tried at lest as they are the only centers we've had that have been vaguely successful in the last 6 years. If it doesn't work at least we tried something that made sense on paper unlike Burgess/Barritt

Agreed, Manu us not you classic 12 but he is powerful and athletic, Ford/Cips putting him through gaps with JJ on his shoulder could work...

Also agree that we should pick our best 12 at 12, but beyond Burrell and Eastmond I don't see anybody. I do favour a ball playing 12 I.e. Slade but he plays 10/13 for Exe. Sam James at Sales good but young and again 13! Where are all the 12's???

I'd never judge a backs performance with Farrell at 10 as I think he has been the choke point for some time.

Just imagine Fordy giving him one of those late, delayed short passes... He is hard to stop anyway but put him through a gap and he is big trouble.

I reckon it will happen too...

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Manu played for England at 12 in South Africa and he didn't actually make 1 pass.

I still can't really understand after the positional mess Lancaster put us in people actually still want to play players out of position.

Pick your best 12 to play 12 and your best 13 to play 13. Manu isn't good enough to be forced into the side no matter what. JJ is a better 13 and there are many better 12s just on experience than tuilagi.

I don't see it being so much about playhing someone otu of position as much as just being open to positional change.
I think you're really underestimating Tuilagi who has done an awful lot of good for England. I'm not convinced Jospeh is a better 13, great though he is. When international defences get wise to Josephs threats, they can and have closed him down quite succesfully. I just think Manu is a different beast who you can't really plan for.

You've said we should play our best 12 a 12 but who is that? With the exception of Eastmond and Hill the others don't fill me with any excitement. There were also positive signs of his passing game at 12 on the lions tour. But even if he doesn't pass, his one good trick (actually I think he's more compelx than this and does have a rugby brain plus his running lines) but for sake of argument, if he just carries at 12 and nothing more I sort of think he'd be an improvement on any of the others. He's without doubt in my mindthe most powerful midfield player in the world. It's hard to compare him to the likes of North and Savea who get more space, typically weaker defenders on their wings etc, but of the three Tuilagi is probably the hardest to tackle and I think we need to capitalise on that. Roberts is better used than Tuilagi but the latter is better at breaking tackles.

Let's pick players for what their good at rather than seeking general averageness across mutiple areas.

 

[Mattybuck]

JJ has not be worked out, give him a half decent 10/12 combination and he will cause havoc.

Let's not forget when Barritt is you 12 and Farrell you 10 you have to make your own gaps!

Even utilising him as a dummy runner, defences are scared of Manu and rightly so, they have to double up on him in defence.

Fordy - Manu - JJ - May - Roko - Brown

It might not work but at least we'd know, personally I think it would...

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

JJ has not be worked out, give him a half decent 10/12 combination and he will cause havoc.

Let's not forget when Barritt is you 12 and Farrell you 10 you have to make your own gaps!

Even utilising him as a dummy runner, defences are scared of Manu and rightly so, they have to double up on him in defence.

Fordy - Manu - JJ - May - Roko - Brown

It might not work but at least we'd know, personally I think it would...

I'm not saying that JJ has been figured out, rather that with will and planning it can be easier to stop him than Tuilagi.
I also think about the fact that Tuilagi has never got to work alongside Ford...just imagine it...

 

[McTallshort]

Denton to Bath

 

[Mattybuck]

I'm not saying that JJ has been figured out, rather that with will and planning it can be easier to stop him than Tuilagi.
I also think about the fact that Tuilagi has never got to work alongside Ford...just imagine it...

I think those 3 backed up by Cips and the wings, could be awesome...

 

[Mattybuck]

Denton to Bath

I'll take that, good player and can play 8 or 6. Due to start in the next few weeks.

 

[chippieolamus]

Imagine the space Manu would make for JJ on the outside... HE already need 3 or so players tackling him to bring him down, you can see how this would open up gaps for JJ. Tuilagi mostly played alongside Barritt, who isn't exactly adept at spotting gaps but with JJ's footwork and speed I'd back him to flourish outside Tuilagi, especially if Ford is inside as one of Ford's strengths is that he usually picks the right option.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Cockerill sounds like he will be splashing the cash On trying to keep Manu.

http://m.leicestermercury.co.uk/Lei...ffering-make/story-28149545-detail/story.html

Trouble is Freddie will want more.

 

[Tony Manx]

Is Tuilagi playing again yet?

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Is Tuilagi playing again yet?

Nope.

 

[Duck a l'Orange]

I'm not saying that JJ has been figured out, rather that with will and planning it can be easier to stop him than Tuilagi.
I also think about the fact that Tuilagi has never got to work alongside Ford...just imagine it...

Wouldn't Ford have played with Manu at Leicester before he moved to Bath at least a few times?

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Wouldn't Ford have played with Manu at Leicester before he moved to Bath at least a few times?

Yes.

Played a few times with each other through the academy to senior rugby.

 

[Tony Manx]

Nope.

Then why are we talking about him in an England context?!!

 

[Will]

I'll take that, good player and can play 8 or 6. Due to start in the next few weeks.

You've got yourself a good player there. He went through a spell where I thought he was getting to a point in his career where he needed a change because he was getting stale at Edinburgh and I felt his performances had suffered. The world cup however seems to have put him back on track.
Plus I don't think it's such a bad move for all concerned. It's a sore one for Edinburgh but they have some good young players in the back row such as Hamish Watson that should now get more of a chance to develop.

 

[Groundhog]

Victor Vito to Ulster is doing the rounds today.