Transfer gossip - sometimes even accurate (accidentally) - Season 2022/23

[16th man]

Very much hoping that the good stuff Forshaw has done with Sale's defence us now ingrained and a new guy can maintain and build on it.

having the Curries together to call on is a big part of the good decision making. Impressive as the other set of twins are, and for all the physicality Ross brings, where we've slipped up recently has been when we've gone for the monstrous back row, either by choice or when Ben and Tom have been unavailable.

So if the new guy has at least one of them to call on, it should ease the transition.

[Banquo]

Alex King also to Wales.

[Banquo]

Were it not for the Borthwick/Sinfield relationship, Forshaw must have been a prime contender for England

Sanderson view here:

https://www.salesharks.com/2023/01/12/s ... shaw-exit/

Very warm and witty words. Good lad Alex, if apparently a trifle smug

[SDHoneymonster]

Alex King also to Wales.

Not a bad signing but also not one to get the pulse racing too much - Saints' attack was decent under him but Vesty has them humming a lot more, and Gloucester's attacking options seem to be mauling and Louis Rees-Zammit. He spent the 2017 6N with Wales when Gats handed over to Howley to prepare for the Lions tour - considering Gats wanted Howley again I suspect he's gone for the next best thing.

[Puja]

Alex King also to Wales.

Not a bad signing but also not one to get the pulse racing too much - Saints' attack was decent under him but Vesty has them humming a lot more, and Gloucester's attacking options seem to be mauling and Louis Rees-Zammit. He spent the 2017 6N with Wales when Gats handed over to Howley to prepare for the Lions tour - considering Gats wanted Howley again I suspect he's gone for the next best thing.

Very surprised that it isn't Howley. I mean, Howley's not exactly demanding employment given how Canada and Toronto went, but I had just assumed he would come as part of the package.

Puja

[SDHoneymonster]

Alex King also to Wales.

Not a bad signing but also not one to get the pulse racing too much - Saints' attack was decent under him but Vesty has them humming a lot more, and Gloucester's attacking options seem to be mauling and Louis Rees-Zammit. He spent the 2017 6N with Wales when Gats handed over to Howley to prepare for the Lions tour - considering Gats wanted Howley again I suspect he's gone for the next best thing.

Very surprised that it isn't Howley. I mean, Howley's not exactly demanding employment given how Canada and Toronto went, but I had just assumed he would come as part of the package.

Puja

His return was nixed by the WRU by all accounts, given the circumstances of his resignation last time round.

[FKAS]

did it not occur to England to sign him?

We have just recently paid quite a big fee to hire a defence coach...

Puja

I meant prior, given he was amenable. As per Chris above.

The RFU weren't keen to give Eddie money to spend on coaches. I doubt Sale have allowed Mike out the building for free.

[Banquo]

We have just recently paid quite a big fee to hire a defence coach...

Puja

I meant prior, given he was amenable. As per Chris above.

The RFU weren't keen to give Eddie money to spend on coaches. I doubt Sale have allowed Mike out the building for free.

meant instead of Sinfield tbh

[Puja]

I meant prior, given he was amenable. As per Chris above.

The RFU weren't keen to give Eddie money to spend on coaches. I doubt Sale have allowed Mike out the building for free.

meant instead of Sinfield tbh

I mean, Sinfield's hardly a bad option, considering his defence was a major reason Leicester won the league. Given that Sinfield is Borthwick's first choice and they appear to work quite well as a duo, I don't see the value in picking someone else that the BigWick's never worked with before.

Puja

[Banquo]

The RFU weren't keen to give Eddie money to spend on coaches. I doubt Sale have allowed Mike out the building for free.

meant instead of Sinfield tbh

I mean, Sinfield's hardly a bad option, considering his defence was a major reason Leicester won the league. Given that Sinfield is Borthwick's first choice and they appear to work quite well as a duo, I don't see the value in picking someone else that the BigWick's never worked with before.

Puja

just a thought given Forshaws rep and the Tigers fans sobbing over their being pillaged

[Timbo]

Tom Willis been confirmed to Saracens. Fantastic signing. He’s already a really good player & a tough cookie, but you feel that he could go up another level or two at Sarries.

[Mikey Brown]

Yep. Fully ready to dislike him now.

[twitchy]

[fivepointer]

Great to have confirmation that T Willis is coming back to the Prem. Outstanding player.

[FKAS]

meant instead of Sinfield tbh

I mean, Sinfield's hardly a bad option, considering his defence was a major reason Leicester won the league. Given that Sinfield is Borthwick's first choice and they appear to work quite well as a duo, I don't see the value in picking someone else that the BigWick's never worked with before.

Puja

just a thought given Forshaws rep and the Tigers fans sobbing over their being pillaged

Whilst the fecking RFU have done us over Sinfield is more than the defence coach with Borthwick. There's been some tall about him giving the big motivational speeches, Borthwick is quiet and understated. The Tigers players seem to have loved Borthwick because he generally improved them all but Sinfield is a natural leader and the combination of the two seems to work really well and probably be key to Borthwick's thinking when it came to hiring him.

[Banquo]

I mean, Sinfield's hardly a bad option, considering his defence was a major reason Leicester won the league. Given that Sinfield is Borthwick's first choice and they appear to work quite well as a duo, I don't see the value in picking someone else that the BigWick's never worked with before.

Puja

just a thought given Forshaws rep and the Tigers fans sobbing over their being pillaged

Whilst the fecking RFU have done us over Sinfield is more than the defence coach with Borthwick. There's been some tall about him giving the big motivational speeches, Borthwick is quiet and understated. The Tigers players seem to have loved Borthwick because he generally improved them all but Sinfield is a natural leader and the combination of the two seems to work really well and probably be key to Borthwick's thinking when it came to hiring him.

Ah the intangibles. Hope it works .

[Scrumhead]

I don’t know if it is intangible with Sinfield. He strikes me as a genuinely inspiring guy. Whether or not he is the best defence coach might be up for debate, but I’m OK with that given how well he seems to complement Borthwick.

[Timbo]

Having a coach that is particularly strong at tapping into the emotional energy of a team is enormously important. From afar it does seem like that is something Sinfield naturally gets.

[Beasties]

Great to have confirmation that T Willis is coming back to the Prem. Outstanding player.

Unbelievable player, he’s a machine. Gutted he’s signed for Sarries but glad to be able to watch him week in week out again.

[SDHoneymonster]

Also very good that he's been brought back to England - both the Willis boys are Irish-qualified (not any longer in Jack's case obviously) and there was whispers Ulster were sniffing around him when Wasps went under. Not that he'd have been guaranteed a cap considering Ireland's back row is also pretty stacked but he offers such a unique and good all round package at 8 in terms of carrying and lineout work that I think he would've ended up in green sooner rather than later too.

[Banquo]

I don’t know if it is intangible with Sinfield. He strikes me as a genuinely inspiring guy. Whether or not he is the best defence coach might be up for debate, but I’m OK with that given how well he seems to complement Borthwick.

I do think motivation is a bit of an intangible- it works for some and not others and is certainly not a science. I always find the motivation thing odd as I was a motivated player, and can't see how you wouldn't be in an England shirt. But that's why its personal, as we aint all the same. Its a semantic, and I was only jesting tbh.

[Banquo]

Having a coach that is particularly strong at tapping into the emotional energy of a team is enormously important. From afar it does seem like that is something Sinfield naturally gets.

I guess, but see above quote. I think most motivation comes from within and is intrinsic to a top player, but accept that it can make a difference.

[FKAS]

Having a coach that is particularly strong at tapping into the emotional energy of a team is enormously important. From afar it does seem like that is something Sinfield naturally gets.

I guess, but see above quote. I think most motivation comes from within and is intrinsic to a top player, but accept that it can make a difference.

Internal motivation and collaborative communication are different. You can be pushing ahead with your own career but doesn't mean you're in sync and pulling in the same direction as the team you're in.

[Banquo]

Having a coach that is particularly strong at tapping into the emotional energy of a team is enormously important. From afar it does seem like that is something Sinfield naturally gets.

I guess, but see above quote. I think most motivation comes from within and is intrinsic to a top player, but accept that it can make a difference.

Internal motivation and collaborative communication are different. You can be pushing ahead with your own career but doesn't mean you're in sync and pulling in the same direction as the team you're in.

revelatory yet smug

[Mellsblue]

I guess, but see above quote. I think most motivation comes from within and is intrinsic to a top player, but accept that it can make a difference.

Internal motivation and collaborative communication are different. You can be pushing ahead with your own career but doesn't mean you're in sync and pulling in the same direction as the team you're in.

revelatory yet smug

Is it Alex Sanderson in Speedos?