Your team's squad for next season

[Draggs]

As i previously posted before (Wrong thread)

1) Matt Mullan
2) Aleki Lutui (TANK!!) or Ed Shervington (underated beast)
3) John Andreas/ Taemopeau
4) Chris Jones
5) Percival (very underated)
6) Sweaty Betty/ Neil Best
7) Jake Abbott/ Kvesic
8) Semisa Taulava (might get a chance)/ Blair Cowan
9 Hodson/ Perry/ Arr none that good
10) Goode (who else)
11) David Lemi
12) Ravai Fatiaki/ Matavesi (Both could be decent)
13) Grove
14) Nikki Walker/ Andy Short
15) hopefully Errie Classens (hopefully not that pile of **** Pennell)

Shervington! Haven't heard of him for a while. Getting on well for the Warriors?

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Wasps look to be building well for the new season, I think we're likely to see the following:

1. Payne
2. (Rhys) thomas
3. Staibano
4. Palmer
5. Wentzel
6. Launchbury
7. Haskell
8. Johnson

9. Berry
10. Robinson
11. Wade
12. Waldouck
13. Daly
14. Varndell
15. Southwell

16. Taulafo
17. Lindsay
18. Filipo
19. Poff
20. (Charlie) Davies
21. (Stephen) Jones
22. (Chris) Bell

Back-row and second row are now great strengths for us. Instead of the above we might equally see:

4. Launchbury
5. Wentzel
6. Haskell
7. Poff
8. Johnson

18. Palmer
19. (Sam) Jones

OR

4. Palmer
5. wentzel
6. Launchbury
7. Poff
8. Haskell

19. Johnson

I'm very excited by these areas of possibility, but still worried about the front-row. We have lost two top quality hookers (Thompson and Webber) and so far only brought in Rhys Thomas. This leaves us with Thomas, Lindsay, Korshunov, who may even be leaving. I'm interested to see Staibano, all wasps fans have felt the need for a top quality tighthead for some time. jury's out on whether Staibano will be that player, but I'm hopeful.

We still badly need another back to cover both wing and full-back. So far we have lost Tom Prydie and Richard haughton, both great club players, Prydie potentially much more than that. Southwell at the back only now has proper cover in Jack Wallace, who's still pretty raw.

My real hope for the season is managing to balance between playing an experienced team which knows how to win games, and also keeping up with the youngsters. I'm worried that with the new squad, guys like Sam Jones, Billy Vunipola, Simon Mcintyre and Will Taylor won't have enough chance. Hopefully a rotation policy won't undersell us.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

We still badly need another back to cover both wing and full-back. So far we have lost Tom Prydie and Richard haughton, both great club players, Prydie potentially much more than that. Southwell at the back only now has proper cover in Jack Wallace, who's still pretty raw.

Tommy Bell played 15 all last season for Leeds and was very well thought of there, so would be an option. Potentially 22. T.Bell, 23.C.Bell as they'd cover 10-15 between them (Tommy 10, 12, 15, Chris 13,11/14 - he's played wing a decent amount for Sale, though centre is definitely his best position)

 

[psychic duck]

I'm very excited by these areas of possibility, but still worried about the front-row. We have lost two top quality hookers (Thompson and Webber) and so far only brought in Rhys Thomas. This leaves us with Thomas, Lindsay, Korshunov, who may even be leaving. I'm interested to see Staibano, all wasps fans have felt the need for a top quality tighthead for some time. jury's out on whether Staibano will be that player, but I'm hopeful.

Staibano is a fat, unfit blob of a prop. He may be able to do okay for a period, but tires quickly as the match goes on he becomes less effective and can be prone to miss tackles as he tires.

The Wasps fitness & conditioning coach will have to have some big workouts with him to get him in shape, otherwise you will have a 40-50 minute player.

I've heard that Korshunov has left by the way.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Tommy Bell played 15 all last season for Leeds and was very well thought of there, so would be an option. Potentially 22. T.Bell, 23.C.Bell as they'd cover 10-15 between them (Tommy 10, 12, 15, Chris 13,11/14 - he's played wing a decent amount for Sale, though centre is definitely his best position)

Good to know, I think playing at 15 is his bet opportunity for game-time given our current squad - I don't think he'd be given a starting spot in the centres unless it was the LV or Amlin, but as you say a versatile sub-spot could be his, especially as we have no full-back cover besides Jack Wallace. Just hope he does get gametime, I know even for the U20's he was behind Ben Ransom and didn't play as much as he would have wanted.

Staibano is a fat, unfit blob of a prop. He may be able to do okay for a period, but tires quickly as the match goes on he becomes less effective and can be prone to miss tackles as he tires.

The Wasps fitness & conditioning coach will have to have some big workouts with him to get him in shape, otherwise you will have a 40-50 minute player.

I've heard that Korshunov has left by the way.

Haha that's prettyy clear then. Especially if thats the case it leaves me confused as to what Dai(who I think is great) is doing with the front-row. Our new signings have been Staibano, plus Phil Swainston and Phil Taylor who are prospect signings. That leaves us with...

LH: Payne, Taulafo,
TH: Mcintyre, Staibano, Taylor, Swainston

with Lewis Thiede in the academy/on loan, and Alex Hepburn also in the academy.

Now you tell me if that's a propping team who can compete in the aviva, I know what I think: we need at least one extra signing who can play both positions equally well.

Oh, I ommitted Joe Simpson from my match 22. That would be 9. Simpson, 20. Berry/Davies then.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Good to know, I think playing at 15 is his bet opportunity for game-time given our current squad - I don't think he'd be given a starting spot in the centres unless it was the LV or Amlin, but as you say a versatile sub-spot could be his, especially as we have no full-back cover besides Jack Wallace. Just hope he does get gametime, I know even for the U20's he was behind Ben Ransom and didn't play as much as he would have wanted.

I think his versatility cost him for the U20s - he wants to play 10, but has more experience at 15.
To be honest I don't think he'll ever play centre unless there's injuries etc. as I can't ever recall him playing there for Sale or Leeds, I just know that it's one of his listed positions on his profile (or was, anyway).

I think Wasps will go well next season. I said at the start of last season that I expected them to be up near the top, and they started strongly.....then injuries.
They've strengthed the squad (bar the front row) so will be more competitive - if they can keep everyone fit!

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

I think his versatility cost him for the U20s - he wants to play 10, but has more experience at 15.
To be honest I don't think he'll ever play centre unless there's injuries etc. as I can't ever recall him playing there for Sale or Leeds, I just know that it's one of his listed positions on his profile (or was, anyway).

I think Wasps will go well next season. I said at the start of last season that I expected them to be up near the top, and they started strongly.....then injuries.
They've strengthed the squad (bar the front row) so will be more competitive - if they can keep everyone fit!

Definitely agree there, if he really wants to play 10 he'd have to learn that trade at a championship side willing to give him that chance. For the U20's he was never going to have much chance when the likes of Tom Heathcote has regular experience playing premiership rugby for Bath. Wasps won't be playing him there at all with the likes of Stephen Jones and Nicky Robinson ahead of him. I hear rumours that James Bailey(Lyon and ex Gloucester) is on the way over, and he would be an impediment to Tommy getting gametime at 15.

In fact most players who try to be a versatile 'maintenance' sub struggle to be good enough in any one position to be considered first choice(unless your name is Josh Lewsey)

Overall I think we should do a whole lot better than last season. We now actually have some carriers in the back-row and some extra grunt in the second-row.

 

[Peat]

I think Bell did play more than Ransom (in general) come the JWC; league duties kept him out of the 6N. I wouldn't be surprised if he's first choice 10 at Wasps in 2 or 3 years time, he's learning from some classy operators who don't have time on their side.

If Wasps come out flying and can avoid the injury curse, I think they could really rocket up the league this season. There's a shitload of talent there. Only issue really is front-row, although that back-line isn't exactly super convincing defensive wise either.

 

[Gaunt15]

I imagine Saints could possibly be:

1. Tonga'uiha
2. Hartley
3. Mujati(imagine PDJ will feature regularly also)
4. Lawes
5. Manoa/ Sorenson
6. Craig (until 1 Novemeber(ish) when Clark returns)
7. Wood
8. Dowson
9. Dickson
10. Lamb
11.Shepard
12. Burrell (possibly not overly sure)
13. Pisi
14. Artemyev/ Elliot
15. Foden

subs:

16. PDJ
17. Day
18. Van Velze
19. Nutley
20. May
21. Myler
22. Armstrong/ Cato

 

[Gaunt15]

I imagine Saints could possibly be:

1. Tonga'uiha
2. Hartley
3. Mujati(imagine PDJ will feature regularly also)
4. Lawes
5. Manoa/ Sorenson
6. Craig (until 1 Novemeber(ish) when Clark returns)
7. Wood
8. Dowson
9. Dickson
10. Lamb
11.Shepard
12. Burrell (possibly not overly sure)
13. Pisi
14. Artemyev/ Elliot
15. Foden

subs:

16. PDJ
17. Day
18. Van Velze
19. Nutley
20. May
21. Myler
22. Armstrong/ Cato

Waldouck in at 12 if he stays fit

 

[psychic duck]

Sale are after a new centre, according to this article they gave an offer to Mike Tindall, luckily for them he rejected it to stay with Gloucester. Would have been an awful signing, expensive, old, and wouldn't be a good partner for the style of centre Sale already have in Tuitupou and Leota.

http://www.espnscrum.com/premiership-2012-13/rugby/story/166653.html

 

[TRF_Olyy]

luckily for them he rejected it to stay with Gloucester.

Aha that was my exact reaction as well :lol:
Apparently Redpath wanted to re-sign him when at Gloucester but Walkingshaw said know, now that Redpath wanted to sign him for Sale Walkinshaw threw the chequebook at him :lol:

 

[j'nuh]

Aha that was my exact reaction as well :lol:
Apparently Redpath wanted to re-sign him when at Gloucester but Walkingshaw said know, now that Redpath wanted to sign him for Sale Walkinshaw threw the chequebook at him :lol:

I read that Tindall originally turned down a one-year deal at Gloucester on reduced wages to try and find a better deal elsewhere. I reckon after not finding anything better, he's come back on the original terms of Gloucester's offer, but additionally with a long-term view to turn him into a coach.

Don't really understand the dislike towards Tindall. He was clearly out of his depth when playing for England towards the end, but he's a very good club player with a decent defensive game and some good strength.

 

[eot345]

For quits I hope to see this

1. Marler
2.Grey (with Brooker getting substantial game time)
3.Johnston
4.Robson
5.Kohn
6.Robshaw
7.Fa'salavu
8.easter

9.care
10.Evans
11.Williams
12.JTH
13.Lowe ( I think he is a more rounded player than hopper)
14.Monye
15.Brown (Chisholm to get more fame time than last season)

16.Lambert (cycled with fairbrother)
17.Brooker (to be used a lot)
18.Collier ( would like to see sinkler on the bench for several games this season)
19.charlie Mathews ( young big athletic lock with loads of potential)
20. Guest ( would like so see lots of cycling of the back row to ease the pressure on the older Easter and
Fa'salavu)
21. botica (clergy if he improves his kicking % by 25+)
22. Hopper (to cycle with Lowe for first 5-6 games of the season to decide who should start)