RugbyRebels

FKAS wrote: ↑Mon Jan 09, 2023 9:33 am The Ruck reporting that Bristol will use the freed up cap from Radrada and Piatau leaving in the summer to target Tom Curry and Anthony Watson. Obviously it's the Ruck so take that with the normal cup of salt.

So.. they'd replace their 2 marquee players, who's salaries are outside the cap, with 2 marquee players, who's salaries couldn't be put outside the cap?

Bloody Ruck

Margin_Walker wrote: ↑Mon Jan 09, 2023 9:42 am Yeah, Ruck are proper make stuff up territory usually with their exclusives.

Clearly there will be a bit of cash to spend next season at Bristol though.

Someone has claimed around 20 players with contracts expiring this season. At least 6 of which PL didn't want to retain from last year. CP and Semi's deals both expire this season as well (it's thought), plus we know Joyce is off.

So there should be money available, but looks likely there will be big changes in the squad.

Which Tyler wrote: ↑Mon Jan 09, 2023 10:40 am

FKAS wrote: ↑Mon Jan 09, 2023 9:33 am The Ruck reporting that Bristol will use the freed up cap from Radrada and Piatau leaving in the summer to target Tom Curry and Anthony Watson. Obviously it's the Ruck so take that with the normal cup of salt.

So.. they'd replace their 2 marquee players, who's salaries are outside the cap, with 2 marquee players, who's salaries couldn't be put outside the cap?

Bloody Ruck

Is Luatua not one of the marquees? If not I'm guessing his salary moving into the marquee spot would still mean a significant chunk of cap would be available.

Watson might be struggling to find the deals at levels he wants. He only signed a one year deal at Tigers because he wasn't super happy with having to take a pay cut. Doesn't mean he's cheap just cheaper than he was at Bath. Given the number of niggling injuries he's had he's going to struggle though he's clearly still got it when you look at his tries Vs Ospreys and Glaws.

Tom Curry also not the best investment given he'll want a substantial contract and miss a third of every season.

Tom Curry is likely to be Sale's marquee player when Manu leaves, presumably this summer. Sale will do everything to keep him I would have thought. Besides, why would he join Bris unless they throw ridiculous money at him?

Midi-Olympique: Malcolm Marx to Munster. Malicious misinformation, maybe!

francoisfou wrote: ↑Mon Jan 09, 2023 5:11 pm Midi-Olympique: Malcolm Marx to Munster. Malicious misinformation, maybe!

After Niall Scannell they have some young guys, it's not an outstanding stable of hookers. Scannell is out of contract in the summer and there's rumours he might go to Bath following van Graan. Be tough if it's a battle of financial muscle for Munster to win though.

Burger Odendaal has signed for Saints for next season. Exactly the type of signing I wanted to see - whilst we have lots of talented backs, we do lack the direct hard carrying option in the centres. Think this will be a tidy addition, though I wonder who might be on their way off as a result.

Should be a decent signing. Experienced without being over the hill and looked very good in his brief appearance at Wasps for the start of this season.

Adam_P wrote: ↑Tue Jan 10, 2023 1:03 pm Burger Odendaal has signed for Saints for next season. Exactly the type of signing I wanted to see - whilst we have lots of talented backs, we do lack the direct hard carrying option in the centres. Think this will be a tidy addition, though I wonder who might be on their way off as a result.

That's a great signing for Saints. I said it in the financial problems thread that he could be the absolute missing piece that your lot needed - James Downey Mk2.

Puja

Damn that's a great signing for Saints. A hard running centre but one who doesn't just crash into the nearest contact, he cuts nice lines and has enough skill to distribute nicely. Should be ideal for them.

From what I've just read over here, Jack Nowell could be heading for Clermont, as a replacement for Damian Penaud who's signed a three-season contract with Union Bordeaux/Bègles.

francoisfou wrote: ↑Tue Jan 10, 2023 3:30 pm From what I've just read over here, Jack Nowell could be heading for Clermont, as a replacement for Damian Penaud who's signed a three-season contract with Union Bordeaux/Bègles.

I'll be glad if he does get a contract. I was a bit worried he wasn't going to have anything, as there's been a bit of public talk by Baxter about "We don't know what he's doing next season yet and he could still stay here, but if we sign someone else and there's no cap room, then he'll be out whether he wants to stay or not."

Puja

Nowell is a good player & i’m sure he’ll do well wherever he goes (as long as he stays injury free) but that’s a bit of a downgrade from Clermont’s pov.

Timbo wrote: ↑Tue Jan 10, 2023 9:54 pm Nowell is a good player & i’m sure he’ll do well wherever he goes (as long as he stays injury free) but that’s a bit of a downgrade from Clermont’s pov.

Massive downgrade. However, Clermont have got some exciting backs with pace and Nowell might be lacking pace these days but he does come off his wing and pick up good lines. Could be useful variation for Clermont or he might get into the hang of appearing on the shoulders of those exciting players and score some tries.

FKAS wrote: ↑Tue Jan 10, 2023 10:15 pm

Timbo wrote: ↑Tue Jan 10, 2023 9:54 pm Nowell is a good player & i’m sure he’ll do well wherever he goes (as long as he stays injury free) but that’s a bit of a downgrade from Clermont’s pov.

Massive downgrade. However, Clermont have got some exciting backs with pace and Nowell might be lacking pace these days but he does come off his wing and pick up good lines. Could be useful variation for Clermont or he might get into the hang of appearing on the shoulders of those exciting players and score some tries.

Could see him ending up in the midfield or possibly fullback.

Which Tyler wrote: ↑Mon Jan 09, 2023 10:40 am

FKAS wrote: ↑Mon Jan 09, 2023 9:33 am The Ruck reporting that Bristol will use the freed up cap from Radrada and Piatau leaving in the summer to target Tom Curry and Anthony Watson. Obviously it's the Ruck so take that with the normal cup of salt.

So.. they'd replace their 2 marquee players, who's salaries are outside the cap, with 2 marquee players, who's salaries couldn't be put outside the cap?

Bloody Ruck

To be fair it's the kind of brain dead stupid thing that Bristol would do....

Telegraph reporting Mike Forshaw as new Wales defence coach. Well deserved and good luck to him but a huge blow to Sale though

chris18501 wrote: ↑Thu Jan 12, 2023 10:03 am Telegraph reporting Mike Forshaw as new Wales defence coach. Well deserved and good luck to him but a huge blow to Sale though

Hell of a signing for Wales that. Sale's defence is ridiculous - was watching the Quins game and wave after wave of attack just broke on good decisions and double-tackles.

Puja

Been at Sale for 10 years and done a fantastic job. Sales defence has been consistently superb during that time, even when languishing near the bottom

Damn that is a big signing for Wales and a real blow for Sale, don't want someone like that leaving the building mid season.

did it not occur to England to sign him?

Banquo wrote: ↑Thu Jan 12, 2023 12:14 pm did it not occur to England to sign him?

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

Puja

https://www.premiershiprugby.com/news/d ... ching-team

Danny Wilson (ex Scotland forwards, recently fired as Glasgow head coach) joins Quins as lineout and contact coach, allowing Jerry Flannery to 'focus on defence'.

I feel like I would have preferred an actual defence coach but whatever. Is Mike Forshaw free?

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/

Puja wrote: ↑Thu Jan 12, 2023 12:25 pm

Banquo wrote: ↑Thu Jan 12, 2023 12:14 pm 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.