RugbyRebels

It is tricky, there have been times when I've been very happy, even relieved, when he has come on to replace Biggar.

Billyfish wrote:It is tricky, there have been times when I've been very happy, even relieved, when he has come on to replace Biggar.

Agreed. If he keeps this form up the he could be a very good player.

For my money, I'm sick of seeing young Welsh 10s get shoehorned into other positions. It rarely ends well. Davies has had a few outings at 15 in his career, he does fine there as a rule, but you're losing half his skillset.

I agree it's a thorny one. Time (or at least, soon time) for him to move on, but nowhere obvious to go. As an Os fan I'm happy with that, but I don't think it's in Sam's best interests.

Sourdust wrote:For my money, I'm sick of seeing young Welsh 10s get shoehorned into other positions. It rarely ends well. Davies has had a few outings at 15 in his career, he does fine there as a rule, but you're losing half his skillset.

I agree it's a thorny one. Time (or at least, soon time) for him to move on, but nowhere obvious to go. As an Os fan I'm happy with that, but I don't think it's in Sam's best interests.

I think a young 10 playing regularly at 15 early on in his career isn't a bad thing. Many of the top fly halves have done that over the years. Firstly it gives you exposure at that level, where you can get used to the pace and physicality of the game in a position that gives you a bit more time to react. It also teaches you about a fullbacks positioning on the field which will help your kicking game from 10. It also allows you, if you have the luxury of being an understudy to a top class 10 to watch what he is doing during a game.
As long as it's done as a development tool then I think it's a good thing.

cadofyddol wrote:

Sourdust wrote:For my money, I'm sick of seeing young Welsh 10s get shoehorned into other positions. It rarely ends well. Davies has had a few outings at 15 in his career, he does fine there as a rule, but you're losing half his skillset.

I agree it's a thorny one. Time (or at least, soon time) for him to move on, but nowhere obvious to go. As an Os fan I'm happy with that, but I don't think it's in Sam's best interests.

I think a young 10 playing regularly at 15 early on in his career isn't a bad thing. Many of the top fly halves have done that over the years. Firstly it gives you exposure at that level, where you can get used to the pace and physicality of the game in a position that gives you a bit more time to react. It also teaches you about a fullbacks positioning on the field which will help your kicking game from 10. It also allows you, if you have the luxury of being an understudy to a top class 10 to watch what he is doing during a game.
As long as it's done as a development tool then I think it's a good thing.

I wouldn't argue. But SD isn't that early in his career, and he's been through that phase; which, as you say, had value.

Sourdust wrote:
I wouldn't argue. But SD isn't that early in his career, and he's been through that phase; which, as you say, had value.

It was only 2013 where he won Junior World player of the year.
Having said that, he's 23 this October, so with a good pre-season behind him working on strength and conditioning it will probably be about the right time for him to be a starting 10.
I think the Ospreys should tie him to a long term deal and then loan him out to the AP for a couple of yyear and then decide between him and Biggar.

cadofyddol wrote:

Sourdust wrote:
I wouldn't argue. But SD isn't that early in his career, and he's been through that phase; which, as you say, had value.

It was only 2013 where he won Junior World player of the year.
Having said that, he's 23 this October, so with a good pre-season behind him working on strength and conditioning it will probably be about the right time for him to be a starting 10.
I think the Ospreys should tie him to a long term deal and then loan him out to the AP for a couple of yyear and then decide between him and Biggar.

Davies will be worth much less to the Ospreys if he's in the Wales squad. But it's anyone's guess whether that will happen or not. After all, Gatland's got Anscombe....

I think that in this day and age at least until they are ready to go into the Test team players do no harm by being an understudy. There are so many matches in the NH season that actually you can give 2 players in 1 position half a domestic season each without them getting stale. It is useful to have strong domestic teams, but if he really did need to move on, then why on earth wouldn't you want him to go to the Dragons.

Eugene Wrayburn wrote:I think that in this day and age at least until they are ready to go into the Test team players do no harm by being an understudy. There are so many matches in the NH season that actually you can give 2 players in 1 position half a domestic season each without them getting stale. It is useful to have strong domestic teams, but if he really did need to move on, then why on earth wouldn't you want him to go to the Dragons.

Fair points. Good as Davies is becoming, he doesn't look entirely like international material yet.

The problem (for Ospreys) will come when he is. Because unless Patchell wakes up or someone prescribes Priestland the right SSRIs, Davies will soon be the obvious backup 10 for Wales.