ilovelamp wrote: ↑Mon Jun 26, 2023 12:46 pm
I think that your evaluation of Balmain and Gototsev is very harsh. Both are excellent and very capable TH props at this level and Balmain, in particular, is getting better as he gets older. Fasogbong wont be rushed if he joins us, we are set for a few years yet in that position.
I'd be inclined to sit somewhere between your assessment and Puja's. Glaws are solid in that department but set for a few years appears somewhat optimistic when Gototsev is 35 already. Glaws have done well to add depth at prop on a budget but they are far from sorted.
Fasogbon would probably spend time on loan at Hartbury which would be good for his development but Glaws would have an eye on bringing him on and through within a short time frame than others would. Tigers introduced Joe Heyes quite early and he's done alright though.
ilovelamp wrote: ↑Mon Jun 26, 2023 12:46 pm
I think that your evaluation of Balmain and Gototsev is very harsh. Both are excellent and very capable TH props at this level and Balmain, in particular, is getting better as he gets older. Fasogbong wont be rushed if he joins us, we are set for a few years yet in that position.
I'd be inclined to sit somewhere between your assessment and Puja's. Glaws are solid in that department but set for a few years appears somewhat optimistic when Gototsev is 35 already. Glaws have done well to add depth at prop on a budget but they are far from sorted.
Fasogbon would probably spend time on loan at Hartbury which would be good for his development but Glaws would have an eye on bringing him on and through within a short time frame than others would. Tigers introduced Joe Heyes quite early and he's done alright though.
Heyes has been managed very well in terms of minutes though and has only been given lots of starting time the couple of seasons. It's a peeve of Which's (and one that I agree on) that skeletons and necks aren't fully formed until age 23-25 and that a prop that is starting regularly at age 20 is likely to be a prop continually in the injury room later - cf. Corbisiero and Henry Thomas.
Brilliant signing by Glaws. Fasogbon is a serious talent. He's just 18. Young props do need careful handling but he has plenty of time to mature and to gain experience in the Champ or NL1.
ilovelamp wrote: ↑Mon Jun 26, 2023 12:46 pm
I think that your evaluation of Balmain and Gototsev is very harsh. Both are excellent and very capable TH props at this level and Balmain, in particular, is getting better as he gets older. Fasogbong wont be rushed if he joins us, we are set for a few years yet in that position.
I'd be inclined to sit somewhere between your assessment and Puja's. Glaws are solid in that department but set for a few years appears somewhat optimistic when Gototsev is 35 already. Glaws have done well to add depth at prop on a budget but they are far from sorted.
Fasogbon would probably spend time on loan at Hartbury which would be good for his development but Glaws would have an eye on bringing him on and through within a short time frame than others would. Tigers introduced Joe Heyes quite early and he's done alright though.
Heyes has been managed very well in terms of minutes though and has only been given lots of starting time the couple of seasons. It's a peeve of Which's (and one that I agree on) that skeletons and necks aren't fully formed until age 23-25 and that a prop that is starting regularly at age 20 is likely to be a prop continually in the injury room later - cf. Corbisiero and Henry Thomas.
Puja
I also agree with limiting the amount of game time for younger props, players in general to an extent. Tigers drip fed Heyes into the team but they started from when he was 19 and at having fairly recently turned 24 got 125 Tigers appearances under his belt already. He got a lot of drips early on as well.
Were Fasogbon to be fourth choice at Glaws next season he'd get a smattering of game time which would be ideal with the opportunity to work his way through and push up to third and then second choice over a few seasons. Glaws would hopefully replace Gototsev with a younger option to ensure Fasogbon isn't rushed through.
Gloucester Rugby are delighted to announce the signings of five new players from London Irish.
Scrum-half, Caolan Englefield, lock/backrow, Ben Donnell and wing, Michael Dykes all join the Senior squad with exciting fly half, Rory Taylor and powerful tight-head prop, Afolabi Fasogban joining our Academy squad.
English-qualified Englefield, 23, who won caps at junior level for Ireland, has worked closely with new attack coach James Lightfoot-Brown over the years, signs on to enhance the half-backs following the departure of Ben Meehan.
Despite his young age, Donnell, 22, already has bags of senior experience.
Donnell joined the Irish Academy at 16 and went on to captain the Club's under-18s side. His first senior appearance came aged just 18 during the 2017/18 season, coming off the bench against the Cherry & Whites in the Anglo-Welsh Cup.
At 6’6’’ and 115kg, Donnell is a physical unit, operating at lock and back-row, he’s sure to add size and versatility to an already powerful forward pack.
Dykes, like many of the Irish Academy graduates, is a lethal attacker. He scored seven tries in his first ten games of professional rugby, including a memorable Gallagher Premiership hat-trick against Harlequins in January this year.
In addition to the senior trio, two of Irish’s brightest young talents will also join the Cherry & Whites, linking up with the Academy.
Prop, Afolabi Fasogban, who impressed again in the England U20s first game of the world U20 Championship against Ireland on the weekend, and fly-half, Rory Taylor, make the move to Kingsholm, where they will be developed by transition coaches T. Rhys Thomas and Tim Taylor into first-team players.
Gloucester Rugby Head Coach, George Skivington, is pleased to be able to bolster his squad.
“With James coming in to run our attack next season, it made sense for us to take a look at some of the Irish boys when they became available as these are players he’s worked with for a few years.
“He knows the ability and potential they have, and they understand the way in which he wants to play, so it was a no-brainer.
“With Ben, Caolan and Michael, we have three young guys that have already been impressing at senior level.
“We’re also really excited to bring in Afolabi and Rory to our Academy too. Irish have an excellent track record of bringing academy players through, and these are two of the brightest future prospects so we are delighted to have secured their future with us.
“With the additional coaches we have brought in for this season, we think we’ve got the perfect set-up in place to get the best out of these players and to mould them into first-team regulars.”
Fasogbon and Taylor are both very good first year academy prospects. Fasogbon's obviously getting a bit of hype following his U20 involvement. Taylor has played two seasons for England at U18 when he's been fit (which has been a bit of a struggle)
Donnell was on the up before Pearson came along. Played a lot of fisrt team rugby from an early age. He's got the tools, but prone to silly errors/pens. Only a lock in an absolute emergency.
I like Englefield. Great pass and kicking game. Can place kick too.
Dykes is the pick of the senior squad guys. Not played a lot, but when he does, he's a try scorer. Two hat tricks this season. Reminds me a bit of Murley
Some really good business for Glaws there. Was rather hoping Dykes and Fasogbon would settle a bit further north. Reinforces there somewhat lean squad.
There are some rumours Rogerson will be announced at Tigers this week as they finally get in on the LI fire sale.
Gloskarlos wrote: ↑Tue Jun 27, 2023 4:21 pm
Gloucester Rugby are delighted to announce the signings of five new players from London Irish.
Scrum-half, Caolan Englefield, lock/backrow, Ben Donnell and wing, Michael Dykes all join the Senior squad with exciting fly half, Rory Taylor and powerful tight-head prop, Afolabi Fasogban joining our Academy squad.
English-qualified Englefield, 23, who won caps at junior level for Ireland, has worked closely with new attack coach James Lightfoot-Brown over the years, signs on to enhance the half-backs following the departure of Ben Meehan.
That's a good set of signings by Glaws - probably all more for the future, but a much better use of the Meehan money than buying another journeyman. Dykes learning off May will be a very good opportunity.
FKAS wrote: ↑Tue Jun 27, 2023 5:14 pmThere are some rumours Rogerson will be announced at Tigers this week as they finally get in on the LI fire sale.
Hmpf. He's not a bad player, but I'd've much preferred we get in on one of the younger talents, rather than picking up a second Hatherell. I'm not convinced we especially need the one that we have!
FKAS wrote: ↑Tue Jun 27, 2023 5:14 pmThere are some rumours Rogerson will be announced at Tigers this week as they finally get in on the LI fire sale.
Hmpf. He's not a bad player, but I'd've much preferred we get in on one of the younger talents, rather than picking up a second Hatherell. I'm not convinced we especially need the one that we have!
Puja
Yeah it's a very meh signing for me. Hatherall I get because he handily covers the flanks and in an emergency lock. Very much in a Liebenburg back up role, he fits that perfectly. Rogerson would have been a good option instead of Hatherall but as well as it seems a bit overkill. He is a leader though and could slot in at 8 when Weise is away.
I'm hoping it doesn't come to pass and we get Basham instead.
Hoskins and Cinti are great signings for Sarries, really add strength to their squad. They really are well set up to be even stronger than last season. Parton and West are also great signings for them.
Margin_Walker wrote: ↑Tue Jun 27, 2023 4:33 pm
All decent.
Fasogbon and Taylor are both very good first year academy prospects. Fasogbon's obviously getting a bit of hype following his U20 involvement. Taylor has played two seasons for England at U18 when he's been fit (which has been a bit of a struggle)
Donnell was on the up before Pearson came along. Played a lot of fisrt team rugby from an early age. He's got the tools, but prone to silly errors/pens. Only a lock in an absolute emergency.
I like Englefield. Great pass and kicking game. Can place kick too.
Dykes is the pick of the senior squad guys. Not played a lot, but when he does, he's a try scorer. Two hat tricks this season. Reminds me a bit of Murley
Isn't Rory Taylor finishing school now? Thought he was the year below Fasogbon.
Yep, he is. Should have separated the two of them in that sentence. Fasogbon just leaving year 1, Taylor just entering it.
Makes the 'why are we shopping at Poundland??' angst on Shedweb funnier tbf.
Even Donnell who definitely had a setback with injury and Pearson's arrival, has played 50 odd games (40+ in the Prem) at 22. He could do really well and Skivs is the guy that was coaching him right from U18s and there as forwards coach when he was getting regular senior gametime as a teenager.
Creevy to Sale also doing the round in the Telegraph yesterday. It's a really tough market though.
Saw Rogerson (or his agent) stick some highlights up yesterday which probably proves the point. Club captain, the kind of player coaches love and you'd think would walk into a contract in the Prem with relatively little fuss. Plenty of players probably weighing up the risk of sitting tight and waiting to be picked up as injury cover once things kick off.
You're probably just going to get this pain with a bit of a reset in how good you need to be in a prem squad with the reduction to 10 teams. The squad players in the three defunct teams are just the unlucky ones who are most at a disadvantage in the shift, but there will be a knock on in the next few seasons to other squads. The kind of player that may comfortably have come through and had a bits and pieces career in the premiership, may find themselves out of luck.
Mentioned before, but the obvious way to reduce the impact on the home grown player pool is to keep hiking the EQP number requirements.
Margin_Walker wrote: ↑Fri Jun 30, 2023 9:21 am
Creevy to Sale also doing the round in the Telegraph yesterday. It's a really tough market though.
Would make some sense, although wonder what that means for LCD, as it had been assumed that was where he was going.
Margin_Walker wrote: ↑Fri Jun 30, 2023 9:21 amMentioned before, but the obvious way to reduce the impact on the home grown player pool is to keep hiking the EQP number requirements.
Bang on. It should be Cornish and Atkins picking up contracts, not 38 year old Creevy. If there's one good thing about Brexit (all quips to the Politics board please), it's that the RFU and PGB do not have to worry about Bosman or Kolpak anymore and can just say the rule is now 10 EQP in every starting XV, no exceptions.
Sounds like it's a good chance of being Creevy and LCD. Think there's room in that Sale squad if Akker leaves.
On EQP, ultimately you need to get to a point where there's still room for really good foreign talent in key positions and the odd bit of stardust, but ultimately less in the way of non EQP squad filler.
They don't have to worry about those regulations currently as certain aspects are now removed but may want to tread carefully as any freedom of movement case might create issues moving forward. Any heavy handedness might also piss off the clubs at a time the RFU are negotiating player release.
If the RFU are smart what they'll do is weave into the EPS regulations a set amount of EQ representation in match day squads as part of the ongoing pro game funding. Taking a leaf out of the JIFF regs in France.
Margin_Walker wrote: ↑Fri Jun 30, 2023 9:41 am
Sounds like it's a good chance of being Creevy and LCD. Think there's room in that Sale squad if Akker leaves.
On EQP, ultimately you need to get to a point where there's still room for really good foreign talent in key positions and the odd bit of stardust, but ultimately less in the way of non EQP squad filler.
Ah, hadn't realised Akker was off. That makes sense then.
Ed Scragg has been picked up from LIrish by Scarlets, which is good. He came through from my local club, so I'm pleased he's managed to get in on a contract.
Scragg's actually weathering all of this out playing on loan for Sydney Uni (or at least he was last I heard).
Good to see him pick up the Scarlets gig. Another seldom talked about player who I've a lot of time for is Jacob Atkins. He's heading over to Italy to play for Rovigo in their domestic comp if Italian reports are to be believed.
Guys like the Atkins brothers, Jack Cooke and Josh Smart are the ones that it hits the hardest. Fringe players who will struggle to be picked up, but all childhood LI fans first. The first three were all mascots for the club as kids at various points iirc.
