Club pecking order

[Which Tyler]

Squads being officially confirmed ahead of September 1st - let's have a look at each club's pecking order.
Here's Bath's, to the best of my ability to do so.



ETA: Oops, should have Cuckson in the "3rd choice" column, as both Du Plessis and Maloney are likely to get picked ahead of him. That comes from editing Richards from lock to backrow and not properly rearranging the locks.

[Banquo]

70?

[FKAS]

For Tigers;

Senior Players:
Hooker: Montoya, Clare, Theobald-Thomas, Vanes
Loosehead: Smith, Cronin, Whitcombe,
Props: Cole, Heyes, Hoyt, Hurd.
Locks: O.Chessum, Martin, Henderson, Wells, T. Manz.
6. Liebenburg, Carnduff, Rogerson
7. Reffell, Ilione
8. Beets, Cracknell, Hatherall (unsure on the pecking order here)
Scrum Half: van Poortvliet, Youngs, Whiteley
Fly Half: Pollard, Shillcock, Volavola
12. Kelly, Kata, Woodward
13. Perese, Wand
Winger: Watson, Hassell-Collins, Bassett, Simmons
Full Back: Steward, Brown

Development Squad
Loosehead: Kingsley-Mellowes, Miell, Van Der Flier
Hooker: Clarke,
Tighthead: Maka, Mountford
Locks: L.Chessum, Thomas
Blindside: J.Manz
Openside: Beddall
Number 8: Williams
Scrum Half: Allen
Fly Half: Threlfall
Centre: Davies, Myall,
Wings: Kinder, Satala
Full Back: Pearson

[Scrumhead]

Putting injuries to one side, Quins’ pecking order looks something like this:

1. Baxter / Marler / Jones / Els
2. Walker / Riley / Jibulu / Head
3. Lewis / Lamositele / Kerrod / Hobson
4. Lewies / Lamb / Hammond
5. Launchbury / Herbst / Jurevicius
6. Cunningham-South / Chisholm
7. W. Evans / Kenningham / Trenholm
8. Dombrandt / Lawday
9. Care / Porter / Gjaltema
10. Smith / J. Evans / Benson
11. Murley / Cleaves
12. Northmore* / Anyanwu / Bradley
13. Joseph / Beard / Hyde
14. David / Anderson / Zheng
15. Green / Halfpenny

*Northmore is primarily a 13 but I think we’ll see him used at 12 this season

We have a pretty versatile squad on the whole. Most of our back row can cover a couple of different positions, similar with the backs with a few that can either play in midfield or the back three.

Academy I’m less sure, so I won’t bother posting something that’s most likely wrong. Kerr and Friday would be the two I think are most likely to see some first team action.

[FKAS]

Had George Hammond really fallen down the pecking order that far?

[Scrumhead]

That’s me having a stab at how the Quins coaching set up view it.

Lewies is captain so in theory is first choice but given how frequently he’s injured and his propensity for indiscipline, I’d have him a fair bit lower down the pecking order.

IMO, Lamb and Launchbury is the best/most complementary pairing we have but Lamb’s had his own injury issues, so while Hammond is probably third choice on paper, he’s been more like first/second choice in practice.

As an aside, Jurevicius has now left for Ealing which probably means one of Green or Brown stepping up from the academy to fill in as back up. I rated Jurevicius and I feel like we could/should have used him a lot more than we did. I think he’ll really kick on with game time and we’ll end up regretting losing him.

[FKAS]

From the outside looking in I thought Quins looked most dangerous when Hammond was playing as he was good at the lineout and got around the park well. Lamb has looked a touch underpowered at times possibly why he was featured at 6 as well as lock though I don't watch masses of Quins.

Lewies is still going which is impressive given all his injuries.

[Adam_P]

Northampton:

LH: Iyogun, Haffar, West, Dye*, Tonga'uiha*, Scola*
HK: C Langdon, R Smith, Wright, N Langdon
TH: Davison, Millar-Mills, Green, Nonleh, Prowse
LK: Coles, Mayanavanua, Munga, Lockett, Hunter-Hill, G Smith, Atuanya
FL: Pearson, Kemeny, Scott-Young, Pollock, Brown, Logan, Benson, Ainsworth-Cave*
N8: Augustus, Graham
SH: Mitchell, James, Garside, McParland, Weimann*
FH: F Smith, Savala, Makepeace-Cubitt, Hayley*
Centre: Dingwall, Hutchinson, Odendaal, Litchfield, Thame, Pasco*
Wing: Freeman, Sleightholme, Ramm, Seabrook, Cousins, Glister, Witheat*
FB: Furbank, Hendy, Baker*

* = first year of senior academy.

Rank order not that straightforward in places, but that's basically how I'd have it for now. Very strange not having a Waller and Lawes in there.

[Banquo]

Northampton:

LH: Iyogun, Haffar, West, Dye*, Tonga'uiha*, Scola*
HK: C Langdon, R Smith, Wright, N Langdon
TH: Davison, Millar-Mills, Green, Nonleh, Prowse
LK: Coles, Mayanavanua, Munga, Lockett, Hunter-Hill, G Smith, Atuanya
FL: Pearson, Kemeny, Scott-Young, Pollock, Brown, Logan, Benson, Ainsworth-Cave*
N8: Augustus, Graham
SH: Mitchell, James, Garside, McParland, Weimann*
FH: F Smith, Savala, Makepeace-Cubitt, Hayley*
Centre: Dingwall, Hutchinson, Odendaal, Litchfield, Thame, Pasco*
Wing: Freeman, Sleightholme, Ramm, Seabrook, Cousins, Glister, Witheat*
FB: Furbank, Hendy, Baker*

* = first year of senior academy.

Rank order not that straightforward in places, but that's basically how I'd have it for now. Very strange not having a Waller and Lawes in there.

Hutch ahead of Odendaal you think?

[Adam_P]

Hutch ahead of Odendaal you think?

That was one of the tougher ones, and mainly informed by Odendaal currently having what seems like it's going to be a long injury layoff. If fit and firing he'd be in the cup final 15 I'd have thought. I do have a soft spot for Hutch though.

Similarly, West may well be head of Haffar - but I'm personally more excited by the prospect of Haffar.

Not a lot in it between Munga/Lockett/Hunter-Hill for me too. I was hoping for a bit more from Munga when he joined, so hopefully he kicks on this season.

[Banquo]

Hutch ahead of Odendaal you think?

That was one of the tougher ones, and mainly informed by Odendaal currently having what seems like it's going to be a long injury layoff. If fit and firing he'd be in the cup final 15 I'd have thought. I do have a soft spot for Hutch though.

Similarly, West may well be head of Haffar - but I'm personally more excited by the prospect of Haffar.

Not a lot in it between Munga/Lockett/Hunter-Hill for me too. I was hoping for a bit more from Munga when he joined, so hopefully he kicks on this season.

Saints will miss Moon massively, and obviously Lawes.

[Adam_P]

Agreed, Moon is a real loss and one that doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. He's still fairly young and England don't exactly have huge depth there.

[FKAS]

I'm not sure he'd have a look in with England but Moon was a great option for Saints. 6ft7, 19 stone and mobile enough to play in their attack. His weight in the second row probably helped Saints improving scrum as well. At 27 he's young for skipping over to France, especially when his club had turned a big corner and were more physical, playing to his strengths.

[Scrumhead]

Hutch ahead of Odendaal you think?

That was one of the tougher ones, and mainly informed by Odendaal currently having what seems like it's going to be a long injury layoff. If fit and firing he'd be in the cup final 15 I'd have thought. I do have a soft spot for Hutch though.

Similarly, West may well be head of Haffar - but I'm personally more excited by the prospect of Haffar.

Not a lot in it between Munga/Lockett/Hunter-Hill for me too. I was hoping for a bit more from Munga when he joined, so hopefully he kicks on this season.

TBH, I’ve never really understood why Munga is regarded as a particularly good prospect. He’s massive and athletic, but I’ve never seen him play and thought ‘he’s got something’. He’s just a bit anonymous. I’d like him to prove me wrong though.

Agreed on Haffar.

Saints losing Lawes and Ludlam from their back row is a big deal and despite being a lesser name, Moon’s consistency as a reliable starter will be missed. Presumably Scott-Young and Pearson will start at 6 and 7 but there will be a bit of pressure on the incoming back rowers to and locks to plug the gaps.

I am curious to see how George Smith develops. Apparently he is properly athletically gifted as well as massive. He could be one of those under the radar signings who comes in and surprises everyone.

[FKAS]

Josh Kemeny was pretty highly rated down in Australia. One of those just on the outside of selection. Think he might prove to be a savvy signing. Should suit Saints style very well and do a job for them at 6.

Something does seem a bit off at Saints though. Fantastic on the pitch last season but CEO, Waller bros, Ludlam, Lawes and Moon all exit the club in the summer. That's a few people you don't want wandering out the door particularly at the same time.

[Adam_P]

I am curious to see how George Smith develops. Apparently he is properly athletically gifted as well as massive. He could be one of those under the radar signings who comes in and surprises everyone.

Yeah me too. He's pretty low down in my ranking as he is a pretty much completely unknown prospect to me - but the combo of his physical size and what I've read about his mobility and stuff sounds like he could be unbelievable if it all comes good.

[Scrumhead]

Josh Kemeny was pretty highly rated down in Australia. One of those just on the outside of selection. Think he might prove to be a savvy signing. Should suit Saints style very well and do a job for them at 6.

Something does seem a bit off at Saints though. Fantastic on the pitch last season but CEO, Waller bros, Ludlam, Lawes and Moon all exit the club in the summer. That's a few people you don't want wandering out the door particularly at the same time.

I don’t get that impression at all. IIRC both Wallers retired and three players taking the opportunity to make hay while the sun shines in France is more a reflection on the current state of English rugby, not on Saints.

[Banquo]

Josh Kemeny was pretty highly rated down in Australia. One of those just on the outside of selection. Think he might prove to be a savvy signing. Should suit Saints style very well and do a job for them at 6.

Something does seem a bit off at Saints though. Fantastic on the pitch last season but CEO, Waller bros, Ludlam, Lawes and Moon all exit the club in the summer. That's a few people you don't want wandering out the door particularly at the same time.

I don’t get that impression at all. IIRC both Wallers retired and three players taking the opportunity to make hay while the sun shines in France is more a reflection on the current state of English rugby, not on Saints.

And Darbon is a keen golfer, so his new job was unturndownable.

That said, this time last year there was a lot of chat re Saints finances- though 22/23 out turn wasn’t that bad tbh