Puja wrote: ↑Fri Feb 28, 2025 5:27 pm
Welp, Telegraph reckon it's Gustard for Leicester. I hope I'm wrong about him. He is a Leicester old boy, so he'll understand the culture without going for the reductive, "Leicester culture means strong forward pack, so that means the supporters will be fine if we play 10 man and don't use the backs."
Puja
and the crowd goes mild...
Seems like a safe and somewhat boring pair of hands to get the job done. Hopefully this means Hewatt remains as attack coach and we get some semblance of continuity. Someone posted some stats showing that Gustard had positive impacts upon appointment at Bennetton and Stade, albeit Stade have been a shit show which I don't think can be laid at the feet of Gustard.
Scrumhead wrote: ↑Sat Mar 01, 2025 12:12 pm
Marcus Street to Saracens. It would be great if they could get him to make good on his early potential.
They've got three tightheads on the books and renewing all three might be expensive. Olly Hoskins has barely played since his move from LI so I'd imagine he'd be the one to lose out.
Scrumhead wrote: ↑Sat Mar 01, 2025 12:12 pm
Marcus Street to Saracens. It would be great if they could get him to make good on his early potential.
They've got three tightheads on the books and renewing all three might be expensive. Olly Hoskins has barely played since his move from LI so I'd imagine he'd be the one to lose out.
Yeah. Hoskins was good at London Irish as a busy, carrying prop, albeit not much cop in the scrum.
Given that Carre is a bit like that on the loosehead side of the scrum, perhaps fielding two props who are notably better in the loose may have limited Hoskins’ game time.
He’d be a good pick up for someone looking for a dynamic ‘impact’ type of prop.
Scrumhead wrote: ↑Sat Mar 01, 2025 12:12 pm
Marcus Street to Saracens. It would be great if they could get him to make good on his early potential.
They've got three tightheads on the books and renewing all three might be expensive. Olly Hoskins has barely played since his move from LI so I'd imagine he'd be the one to lose out.
Yeah. Hoskins was good at London Irish as a busy, carrying prop, albeit not much cop in the scrum.
Given that Carre is a bit like that on the loosehead side of the scrum, perhaps fielding two props who are notably better in the loose may have limited Hoskins’ game time.
He’d be a good pick up for someone looking for a dynamic ‘impact’ type of prop.
True, Mawi and Carre are similar and Brantingham is young. Tighthead is the side they want to hold down at scrum time first and foremost.
Yeah. I’m hoping this is a good move for Street. He was very highly rated a few years back but has never really stood out as anticipated despite having decidedly average players in front of him like Painter and Iosefa-Scott. He’s 26 so still young-ish for a prop though and a new environment might be the making of him.
I’d have been interested to have had him at Quins as a kind of Collier 2.0, but either way it would be very useful if he could emerge as an option that might reduce the need to fast-track AOF, Fasogbon and Sela before they’re ready.
Scrumhead wrote: ↑Sun Mar 02, 2025 9:07 am
Yeah. I’m hoping this is a good move for Street. He was very highly rated a few years back but has never really stood out as anticipated despite having decidedly average players in front of him like Painter and Iosefa-Scott. He’s 26 so still young-ish for a prop though and a new environment might be the making of him.
I’d have been interested to have had him at Quins as a kind of Collier 2.0, but either way it would be very useful if he could emerge as an option that might reduce the need to fast-track AOF, Fasogbon and Sela before they’re ready.
I'd be surprised if he managed to turn average club man into international call up. Stuart and Heyes are both a good age to hold down the fort until the younger generation push them out.
Injuries really impacted on Street's career. He missed a lot of rugby and never pushed on just when you hoped he would. A change of environment might just be what he needs.
Scrumhead wrote: ↑Sun Mar 02, 2025 9:07 am
Yeah. I’m hoping this is a good move for Street. He was very highly rated a few years back but has never really stood out as anticipated despite having decidedly average players in front of him like Painter and Iosefa-Scott. He’s 26 so still young-ish for a prop though and a new environment might be the making of him.
I’d have been interested to have had him at Quins as a kind of Collier 2.0, but either way it would be very useful if he could emerge as an option that might reduce the need to fast-track AOF, Fasogbon and Sela before they’re ready.
I'd be surprised if he managed to turn average club man into international call up. Stuart and Heyes are both a good age to hold down the fort until the younger generation push them out.
I mean, it’s more hope than expectation, but I wouldn’t totally rule it out. He’s apparently a very good technical scrummager and could become useful quite quickly if the move works out.
With Riccioni, Hoskins and Balmain potentially leaving, the opportunity to become their starting tighthead is up for grabs.
Scrumhead wrote: ↑Sun Mar 02, 2025 9:07 am
Yeah. I’m hoping this is a good move for Street. He was very highly rated a few years back but has never really stood out as anticipated despite having decidedly average players in front of him like Painter and Iosefa-Scott. He’s 26 so still young-ish for a prop though and a new environment might be the making of him.
I’d have been interested to have had him at Quins as a kind of Collier 2.0, but either way it would be very useful if he could emerge as an option that might reduce the need to fast-track AOF, Fasogbon and Sela before they’re ready.
I'd be surprised if he managed to turn average club man into international call up. Stuart and Heyes are both a good age to hold down the fort until the younger generation push them out.
I mean, it’s more hope than expectation, but I wouldn’t totally rule it out. He’s apparently a very good technical scrummager and could become useful quite quickly if the move works out.
With Riccioni, Hoskins and Balmain potentially leaving, the opportunity to become their starting tighthead is up for grabs.
I'd expect them to retain two of the three. Street isn't a starting tighthead. Hopefully you're right and the change on environment works for him but could also be that Sarries have one eye on the EQ quota and having an EQ back up instead of an Aussie one works better for their squad meeting quota.
Puja wrote: ↑Sun Mar 02, 2025 11:11 pm
Charlie Morgan in the Telegraph states Whitcombe to Edinburgh and Haffar to Leicester as done deals - can't help but think that's an upgrade there.
Puja
I'd say so. Whitcombe hasn't really kicked on and is just solid. Haffar offers more than that. I'd have preferred to move Cronin on and keep Whitcombe though.
Puja wrote: ↑Sun Mar 02, 2025 11:11 pm
Charlie Morgan in the Telegraph states Whitcombe to Edinburgh and Haffar to Leicester as done deals - can't help but think that's an upgrade there.
Puja
As much as I'm pleased he might be coming our way I'm kind of disappointed from a player development viewpoint. I think he'll be a much more rounded player at Saints
Puja wrote: ↑Sun Mar 02, 2025 11:11 pm
Charlie Morgan in the Telegraph states Whitcombe to Edinburgh and Haffar to Leicester as done deals - can't help but think that's an upgrade there.
Puja
As much as I'm pleased he might be coming our way I'm kind of disappointed from a player development viewpoint. I think he'll be a much more rounded player at Saints
Kinda hard to tell considering we haven't got the first clue what our coaching lineup for next season's going to be or what philosophy they'll have. Frankly I'm amazed anyone's willing to join us right now - Northampton must've really pissed him off for him to be willing to swap their stability for whatever the fuck the wheel of coaching changes will mean for us next year.
Puja wrote: ↑Sun Mar 02, 2025 11:11 pm
Charlie Morgan in the Telegraph states Whitcombe to Edinburgh and Haffar to Leicester as done deals - can't help but think that's an upgrade there.
Puja
As much as I'm pleased he might be coming our way I'm kind of disappointed from a player development viewpoint. I think he'll be a much more rounded player at Saints
Kinda hard to tell considering we haven't got the first clue what our coaching lineup for next season's going to be or what philosophy they'll have. Frankly I'm amazed anyone's willing to join us right now - Northampton must've really pissed him off for him to be willing to swap their stability for whatever the fuck the wheel of coaching changes will mean for us next year.
Puja
Very true.
It is worth noting that Saints don't have a great track record for their props stepping up to international rugby, the best effort being Trevor Davison hovering around the squad. Tigers have three tightheads on the books who came through the development pathway (Hurd took a brief detour) and went on to international honours. Genge made the step up from potential to international here.
Saints favour Ioygen and then select between West and Haffar depending on the game.
You can see where Tigers might have managed to sway him, he might have also signed the deal before we knew Chieka was definitely leaving.
Puja wrote: ↑Sun Mar 02, 2025 11:11 pm
Charlie Morgan in the Telegraph states Whitcombe to Edinburgh and Haffar to Leicester as done deals - can't help but think that's an upgrade there.
Puja
As much as I'm pleased he might be coming our way I'm kind of disappointed from a player development viewpoint. I think he'll be a much more rounded player at Saints
Kinda hard to tell considering we haven't got the first clue what our coaching lineup for next season's going to be or what philosophy they'll have. Frankly I'm amazed anyone's willing to join us right now - Northampton must've really pissed him off for him to be willing to swap their stability for whatever the fuck the wheel of coaching changes will mean for us next year.
Puja
or he was offered a fck load of money and Dan Cole as a mentor
Ex Tigers and England prop Perry Freshwater, who's been scrum coach at Perpignan for several years, is said to be moving to Stade Français at then end of the current season in the same role.
Ben Spencer extends at Bath until 2028
Rumoured to be a reduced salary, due to age. Worth noting that 3 years, when you'll be a 33 year old back by then is pretty significant security
Which Tyler wrote: ↑Wed Mar 05, 2025 11:12 am
Ben Spencer extends at Bath until 2028
Rumoured to be a reduced salary, due to age. Worth noting that 3 years, when you'll be a 33 year old back by then is pretty significant security
ilovelamp wrote: ↑Wed Mar 05, 2025 4:38 pm
James Venter, Sharks openside, to Glaws.
We also confirmed Ben Loader last week as well.
So far that’s:
Joseph
Byrne
Loader
Venter
All confirmed for next season. Hugh Bokenham also to be confirmed shortly.
All good options for Glaws but they do need some tight five players to come in if they want to build on this season.
Rumours that Fisichetti is coming in to bolster loosehead as VRR is apparently made of chocolate these days. Apart from that I’m not sure we really need to add too many to the front 5. We have massive depth at hooker, TH is well covered with Fasogbon, Kirill and Knight. We have young second row options coming out of our backside (Thomas, Arthur Clarke, Cam Jordan, Danny Eite) bolstered by experience from Alemanno and Freddie Clarke.
