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Transfers rumours

MrTea_32 said:
Think he'd be a good fit at Bath, learn some more of being an openside from Louw and a backrow of Louw , Underhill and Faletau would be impressive
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Bath is definitely a feasible commuting distance from Cardiff for his studies, but firstly, I think Bath's priority is signing backs and secondly, I'm not sure they would move Louw to 6 to accommodate Underhill at 7? If he's competing for the 6 shirt, he'd be competing with Denton and Garvey, who are both considerably more experienced.

Gloucester makes no sense? Kvesic may not be in the EPS, but he's very well established at Gloucester, so I can't see the logic in Underhill moving to compete with him?

Northampton already have Harrison, Clark, Wood, Gibson, Ludlam and Nutley competing for 2 shirts. Underhill needs game time to keep developing so going to a club with lots of direct competition wouldn't be a wise move.

With Haskell injured and Smith having moved on, the back row is arguably the only area in that Wasps haven't strengthened this season. Thomas Young and Sam Jones are good players, but Underhill would definitely have more of a shot at breaking in to the side there.

Worcester is an interesting one. It's the one club linked, where he's most likely to get straight in to the side, but whether he'd want to be a first choice in a mid table side is a different question. Also, unlike the other clubs mentioned, there isn't an experienced, top-class 7 for him to learn from, which I think he needs right now.

Bath and Gloucester are most logical geographically but Northampton, Worcester and Wasps are further away from Cardiff which also wouldn't help his studies.
 
BPM said:
Bath is definitely a feasible commuting distance from Cardiff for his studies, but firstly, I think Bath's priority is signing backs and secondly, I'm not sure they would move Louw to 6 to accommodate Underhill at 7? If he's competing for the 6 shirt, he'd be competing with Denton and Garvey, who are both considerably more experienced.

Gloucester makes no sense? Kvesic may not be in the EPS, but he's very well established at Gloucester, so I can't see the logic in Underhill moving to compete with him?

Northampton already have Harrison, Clark, Wood, Gibson, Ludlam and Nutley competing for 2 shirts. Underhill needs game time to keep developing so going to a club with lots of direct competition wouldn't be a wise move.

With Haskell injured and Smith having moved on, the back row is arguably the only area in that Wasps haven't strengthened this season. Thomas Young and Sam Jones are good players, but Underhill would definitely have more of a shot at breaking in to the side there.

Worcester is an interesting one. It's the one club linked, where he's most likely to get straight in to the side, but whether he'd want to be a first choice in a mid table side is a different question. Also, unlike the other clubs mentioned, there isn't an experienced, top-class 7 for him to learn from, which I think he needs right now.

Bath and Gloucester are most logical geographically but Northampton, Worcester and Wasps are further away from Cardiff which also wouldn't help his studies.
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Glos could well play dual opensides. Would be no different to competing with Tipuric. And with Moriarty pretty certain to move to Wales next year, Glos will start to look light on flankers.
 
Tigs Man said:
Hope he doesn't go to Glous i do want him to play for England.
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Exactly ... I think Jonny May is the only Gloucester player in the EPS now?

Some of it is down to the players' form, but playing for Gloucester hasn't helped Kvesic, Morgan and Twelvetrees' England prospects.

Bit of a weird club from an England POV really? They've got some promising young English players like Calum Braley and Billy Burns but they don't always seem great at bringing them through.

For example, Greig Laidlaw is obviously a good, highly experienced international player, but his arrival was definitely a catalyst for Robson leaving and it didn't seem as though Gloucester were that committed to bringing him through in to the first team.

I can fully understand the logic behind recruiting experienced internationals, but I think that needs to be balanced more effectively with bringing younger plays through and I don't think Gloucester have done that particularly well. That said, they're obviously not the only club guilty of it.

- - - Updated - - -

Also - I just read that Underhill's shoulder injury is going to require and op and will put him out for 4 months. I'd be surprised if any clubs want to sign a player that's unlikely to be able to make the pitch before the new year.
 
BPM said:
Exactly ... I think Jonny May is the only Gloucester player in the EPS now?

Some of it is down to the players' form, but playing for Gloucester hasn't helped Kvesic, Morgan and Twelvetrees' England prospects.

Bit of a weird club from an England POV really? They've got some promising young English players like Calum Braley and Billy Burns but they don't always seem great at bringing them through.

For example, Greig Laidlaw is obviously a good, highly experienced international player, but his arrival was definitely a catalyst for Robson leaving and it didn't seem as though Gloucester were that committed to bringing him through in to the first team.

I can fully understand the logic behind recruiting experienced internationals, but I think that needs to be balanced more effectively with bringing younger plays through and I don't think Gloucester have done that particularly well. That said, they're obviously not the only club guilty of it.

- - - Updated - - -

Also - I just read that Underhill's shoulder injury is going to require and op and will put him out for 4 months. I'd be surprised if any clubs want to sign a player that's unlikely to be able to make the pitch before the new year.
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The Telegraph article I originally posted said that the 3 teams were interested in signing him starting next season once his contract has run out at the Ospreys
 
Robson leaving glaws was a culmination of things I'd guess. Being stuck behind Cowan must have been galling, even when Cowan was playing like dog poo. Then all the reports of Laidlaws early signing was that he'd be playing 10, which would have been a dream come true for Robson, an international scrum half that won't be competing for his spot, but can still pass on wisdom. Fast forward to when with no DoR or Headcoach in place, Glaws "snatch" up Hook, with heavy rumours that he'd been guaranteed the 10 shirt to get his signature, moving Laidlaw to 9.

Robson leaving rumours started very early on in the season (Wasps or Exe were the prime two I believe), and I doubt the season as it ran dissuaded him much. Whenever the match could be decided by pens, Laidlaw played the full 80.
 
TRP is reporting that Crusaders' centre Robbie Fruean is on his way to Bath along with 'another centre believed to have played for the Wallabies'. No idea who at this stage and as no-one obvious springs to mind, I'd assume it's someone who's been out of the picture at test level for a while? Anthony Fainga'a or someone like that?

Also, apparently Leroy Houston isn't joining the Reds and is re-signing with Bath.
 
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Berrick Barnes?
He was linked with Newcastle a few months ago but I've not heard anything since.
Would cover 10 while Ford and Priestland are away, and could cover 15 too

Ford, Barnes, Freuan would be a sick midfield
 
Tigs Man said:
And JJ to Sale?
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Nah, he's a back - it's be Wasps sewerly

Bath have been linked to BBarnes a few times in the past; so that'd be where I'd put my money (well, I wouldn't because A] I'm a tight-arse, and B] my money would go on "unfortunately, not getting 2 signings in the midfield").
But yeah; Ford, Rokoduguni, Barnes, Joseph, Fruen, Watson; with Priestland and Banahan on the bench
 
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Mind when was the last time Freuan lasted a super rugby season?

Such a shame he has had so many problems he is a hell of a player
 
He'd get a decent amount of rotation IF he came to Bath (assuming Bladders actually believes in such a thing, rather than Ford who repeatedly professed to, whilst ignoring it at all costs IRL).
At OC we'd have Joseph and Clarke to compete with, at wing he'd have Banahan and Rokoduguni (arguably Watson as well). Plenty of room there for some TLC.
 
Mike Ford to Leinster as their next defence coach. Whatever else I reckon he'd be a downgrade on McQuilkin who was top class, but I dunno.
 
We're being linked with Dan Bibby - Quins are as well, but apparently we're faves.

Didn't realise he played 10 growing up, he played at 15 for us. Would be a decent signing, though - though I'm not sure where he'd fit in as we've decent depth in the backs atm, and with some more players being promoted through the academy (Morton at 10 and Bedlow in the centres).
 

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