RugbyRebels

Beasties wrote:A LH and TH prop for Wasps. A McIntyre/JCW combo is just about able to mix it at the top level but Moore is a bit underwhelming as backup after a promising start. Mullan isn't quite there as a top notch LH either. These positions aren't quite up to the very high standard of the rest of the squad.

Ruskin would've been nice but not to be. I imagine Dai has someone in mind, he's not been too shabby in the transfer market so far.

Think this is it for Wasps. We're a couple of better props off being truly fearsome.

The suggestion at Wasps is they're waiting on Beale to decide whether he's staying of going as that affects the cap.

Quins need a new DoR, attack coach and defence coach. Just some new voices and Horwill as captain so Danny care can rediscover being Danny care again.

Also 2 new hookers (Polota-Nau and Thacker), a 5 who isn't as wet as used toilet paper (so not Charlie Matthews), a quality fly half and a 12 who can run hard lines, pass a ball and make yards.

Woodward would be a luxury as we do have Mike Brown, but my god what a luxury he would be! If Visser goes in the summer, bringing in Woodward who can also kick sticks really would be lovely.

Oh and a CEO who has rugby on the field rather than 'match day experience' as number 1 priority.

Also, price of a beer has gone up to £4.20 in the members bar. Shocking!

Bloggs wrote:Quins need a new DoR, attack coach and defence coach. Just some new voices and Horwill as captain so Danny care can rediscover being Danny care again.

Also 2 new hookers (Polota-Nau and Thacker), a 5 who isn't as wet as used toilet paper (so not Charlie Matthews), a quality fly half and a 12 who can run hard lines, pass a ball and make yards.

Woodward would be a luxury as we do have Mike Brown, but my god what a luxury he would be! If Visser goes in the summer, bringing in Woodward who can also kick sticks really would be lovely.

Oh and a CEO who has rugby on the field rather than 'match day experience' as number 1 priority.

Also, price of a beer has gone up to £4.20 in the members bar. Shocking!

Yeah - I agree with all of the above. Polota-Nau has been linked with us recently, so I'd say that one is a possibility.

A dominant, top class lock to partner Horwill would be great. Like you, I'm not a fan of Matthews, but I think Merrick, Twomey and South are all good enough for the AP. The trouble is, there aren't many of that description that are likely to be available. I read somewhere that Lood De Jäger fancies a move to the NH ... he'd be a decent shout.

I also saw that Matt Todd has been linked with Gloucester. If he fancies a move to the UK, he'd be a very good acquisition for Quins.

Sadly, I think we'll be persevering with the Dave Lewis types ... our 'never sleeping' motto couldn't be more ironic at the moment. We're a million miles off the sides contesting the play-offs.

Clearly I need to see this Woodward bloke play.

Everyone wants woodward.

Can't see Bristol being relegated though.

Tigersman wrote:Everyone wants woodward.

Can't see Bristol being relegated though.

Not right now, no. After a few wins Bristol seem to believe that they can beat the drop. Worcester are in freefall and look beaten.

As bizarre as it may sound, I actually think relegation might do Worcester a favour.

It feels like they need a bit of a refresh. Arguably players like O'Callaghan and Dowson are too long in the tooth for week-in, week-out AP rugby and whilst Te'o is a very good player, I don't think he's the kind of player Worcester need.

They've got a lot of very good young players, but with the exception of Shillcock and Humphreys, they probably need a season or two of first-team rugby to be truly ready for the AP. Being first choice in a strong Championship side would be better for the likes of Singleton, Taylor and Kitchener IMO.

I imagine Te'o, Hougaard, Schonert and possibly Vuna and Heem would be in demand, but with little to no chance of England recognition, Pennell will stay and if they can keep a solid core squad to complement the youngsters, they could build a decent home-grown side.

Scrumhead wrote:

Tigersman wrote:Everyone wants woodward.

Can't see Bristol being relegated though.

Not right now, no. After a few wins Bristol seem to believe that they can beat the drop. Worcester are in freefall and look beaten.

As bizarre as it may sound, I actually think relegation might do Worcester a favour.

It feels like they need a bit of a refresh. Arguably players like O'Callaghan and Dowson are too long in the tooth for week-in, week-out AP rugby and whilst Te'o is a very good player, I don't think he's the kind of player Worcester need.

They've got a lot of very good young players, but with the exception of Shillcock and Humphreys, they probably need a season or two of first-team rugby to be truly ready for the AP. Being first choice in a strong Championship side would be better for the likes of Singleton, Taylor and Kitchener IMO.

I imagine Te'o, Hougaard, Schonert and possibly Vuna and Heem would be in demand, but with little to no chance of England recognition, Pennell will stay and if they can keep a solid core squad to complement the youngsters, they could build a decent home-grown side.

Possibly, but they've been relegated a couple of times and they haven't been anything other than relegation candidates when they've come back up.

True, but when they've been relegated in the past, they haven't had the same resource of young talent IMO.

In a way, Worcester's squad now reminds me a bit of the Quins squad when we were relegated. Arguably that year in the Championship made the Quins side that won the AP.

Although - BTW, I don't think Worcester have any chance of winning the AP any time soon. Nor Quins for that matter ...

Big worry for wuss would be losing players like Shillcock.

Unlike Sainrs and Wuins or even Irish Worcester tends to have its players poached more often than not.

I think a number of the big English clubs need to take a long hard look at the way their seasons have gone. Stop thinking about player recruitment for an easy fix and start upping standards. God knows what Leicester and Northampton were doing during pre-season, they've both looked clueless from game one- no discernible philosophy, style, game plan etc. Sacking a defence coach and attack coach respectively 3 months into the season is absurd. I'd throw Quins and Gloucester into the same bracket as clubs who need to start getting more out of the players they've got (aswell as signing better ones), although I've seen both of those clubs play some really good rugby at times. Some questions probably need to be asked at Exeter too; why did it take until Around December for them to play a decent 80 mins of rugby?

I've watched a lot of Premiership and European rugby this season and I genuinely would say that only Saracens, Wasps and Newcastle came into this season looking fully prepared, well coached and knowing exactly what they're about. Exeter have gotten there belatedly and Bath are a work in progress with a massively talented squad. The rest, pretty rubbish to be honest.

I was very surprised when Cowan stayed with LI.
Their leading try scorers this season are:
6 Ben Ransom
5 David Paice
4 Thomas Bell
4 Blair Cowan

Bath need a THP, desperately need a THP.
Thomas is ok but injured, and still not great in the tight.
KPN is fine as a 3rd-4th choice, Lahiff equally, and a better LHP.
Ideally, would want a strong scrummaging behemoth.

Beyond that, I'm fine if we keep those we've got, and add Freuan on a longer contract, keeping Ford...
Another lock would be nice, coming into the academy as I'm happy with our 4 seniors.

Of course, we also need Ford to make his damned mind up before Cruden and Russell move to France.

Off the pitch... a new pitch is a pretty high priority

Oh yeah, may need a new BSF with Garvey's neck looking like it can't cope with top class rugby

Glaws need Heinz to bwgger off. Not happening though. Lacking a bit of depth at IC from a quality point of view, 36 still hit and miss. Full back is another position we will need more depth. Decent signings already for next season, not unhappy generally.

Which Tyler wrote:Off the pitch... a new pitch is a pretty high priority

After reffing a game played on a quagmire this Saturday I have to admit that despite my recent plea to continue mudlarks as being central to the game, it's a lot more interesting to play them than it is to ref them.
Blydi endless number of scrums in the 2nd half and there's mud everywhere. The car, the bathroom, the kitchen.

Mikey Brown wrote:Ha. That bad? Did you see it, hear it or just read about it? Only just seen the score line.

I was there. It was that bad.

Mikey Brown wrote:Clearly I need to see this Woodward bloke play.

The new messiah, I missed him as well.

Timbo wrote:I think a number of the big English clubs need to take a long hard look at the way their seasons have gone. Stop thinking about player recruitment for an easy fix and start upping standards. God knows what Leicester and Northampton were doing during pre-season, they've both looked clueless from game one- no discernible philosophy, style, game plan etc. Sacking a defence coach and attack coach respectively 3 months into the season is absurd. I'd throw Quins and Gloucester into the same bracket as clubs who need to start getting more out of the players they've got (aswell as signing better ones), although I've seen both of those clubs play some really good rugby at times. Some questions probably need to be asked at Exeter too; why did it take until Around December for them to play a decent 80 mins of rugby?

I've watched a lot of Premiership and European rugby this season and I genuinely would say that only Saracens, Wasps and Newcastle came into this season looking fully prepared, well coached and knowing exactly what they're about. Exeter have gotten there belatedly and Bath are a work in progress with a massively talented squad. The rest, pretty rubbish to be honest.

Heartily agree with this. Several big clubs are punching well below their weight and the overall standard isn't really where it should be.
And a big thumbs up to the notion that clubs should be doing more with the players at their disposal.

Gloskarlos wrote:Glaws need Heinz to bwgger off. Not happening though. Lacking a bit of depth at IC from a quality point of view, 36 still hit and miss. Full back is another position we will need more depth. Decent signings already for next season, not unhappy generally.

Matt Scott not getting the job done for you guys at IC or considered mostly a 13?

I think he's played every game as a 13 for them, I don't know if Glos fans know of him as a 12 too but I'd say that's his better position.

For Wasps, one of each Prop, a heavyweight 2nd row, and despite our embarrassment of riches behind the pack, I'd take Charles Piatau back in a heartbeat.

Mikey Brown wrote:I think he's played every game as a 13 for them, I don't know if Glos fans know of him as a 12 too but I'd say that's his better position.

Played 13 most games. Excelled there, scoring for fun

Interesting reading this now that the season is all but done (well for Quins anyway).

My assessment on what Quins need hasn't really changed and our signings so far haven't done anything to convince me we'll be in the market for anything other than hopeful, moneyball style signings.

Swainston and Boyce are good additions but Lewis is highly uninspiring and I don't believe Catrikalis is good enough to be a first choice 10 - at least not if we're aspiring to do better than mid table.

We need:

A lock - I'd love Nakarawa and I think he'd fit in very well at Quins.

A 7 - We're still light even if Ward is now considered a 7. I'd go for Favaro as he's out of contract.

A reserve 10 - not sure here ... not many decent ones available TBH. Toby Flood??

At least 2 centres - Serfontein would be nice. We could also give Sam Hill a lot more game time than he's getting at Exeter.

What about your clubs???

Have to say, from what I've seen of Catrikalis I think he could be a really good 10 for Quins.

Is there any injury news on Lowe and Sloan? Lowe in particular is very classy.

Really not sure? I haven't seen an update on Lowe for ages. It's getting to the stage where his injury has to be considered career threatening.

Not sure on Soan either TBH?