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SospanMawr
Veteran
Joined: 03 April 2013
Location: The North Stand
Status: Offline
Points: 10035
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Posted: 21 April 2017 at 2:47pm |
najbritcol wrote:
turkishrebel wrote:
would be an exceptional signing but i cant see us having the money to sign him even on an NDC. we dont have the money |
Surely the loss of Liam and DTH has released some capital? |
Taken up by extensions/better contracts for Ken, Elias, Boyde, Dinky I would guess.
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turkishrebel
Veteran
Joined: 26 November 2004
Location: Ammanford
Status: Online
Points: 6214
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Posted: 21 April 2017 at 2:49pm |
can only see us spending cheap and keeping our squad as it is. no money in the pot
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Once a Scarlet, always a Scarlet!
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Why
Veteran
Joined: 22 August 2010
Status: Online
Points: 8737
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Posted: 21 April 2017 at 3:15pm |
As good as player he is I don't think we really need him got great stength in back row at 6 and 7 for the amount of games he would play surely we could afford a big Tongan or Samoan number 8 instead.
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She asks why i still can't answer. I guess its in the blood.
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turkishrebel
Veteran
Joined: 26 November 2004
Location: Ammanford
Status: Online
Points: 6214
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Posted: 21 April 2017 at 3:41pm |
there are no good tongan/samoans out there, if they were good they would be in the new zealand system. think we need to rely at best on a punt that pivac may know out in auckland/new zealand. but i honestly dont think we have any money to do this. the keeping of our youngsters will have eaten away at what money we have saved from liam/dth. players cost more and more these days and we dont have the investment coming in to match that (fair dues to the investors who are keeping us afloat).
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Once a Scarlet, always a Scarlet!
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PE SA
Veteran
Joined: 22 July 2009
Status: Offline
Points: 12515
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Posted: 21 April 2017 at 4:33pm |
The big 20st ball carrying 8s are beginning to be a thing of the past. Players these days are that much stronger, bigger, better defer etc, those type of 8s have to be pretty damn special to go on those bull dozing runs. Kieran Reed, to me, the finest 8 in world rugby. He is no bull dozing 8. An athletic player, intelligent, quick and skilful. Billy Vunipola and Toby Faletau at the top of my head are those type of players but aren't exactly in our Price range. Nick Williams, coming to the end. Ben Morgan I've not seen for a long time, he was one for a while but not sure how he's been since injury. Ross Morriarity now out our range I'd have thought but jury out on whether he is a 6 or 8.
And then the lower down in quality we go, the less carriers there are. We have adapted a game where we have become effective with 2 open sides and Shingler. Josh Macleod is talked of being the next 8 and I think he will more than do the job. He's not a "ball carrier" but he makes up for it with speed so gets over the gain line with that before power. As mentioned also, the good south sea islanders are either in the system with all blacks or already earning big cash in France. I think it's time the forum move on from the "ball carrying 8" wishes as, we don't need a carrying 8, a carrying 6 would do to bolster the squad. Plus I feel they are rarer and have a few ££££s on them like tightheads a few years ago.
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Posted: 21 April 2017 at 4:57pm |
PE SA wrote:
The big 20st ball carrying 8s are beginning to be a thing of the past. Players these days are that much stronger, bigger, better defer etc, those type of 8s have to be pretty damn special to go on those bull dozing runs. Kieran Reed, to me, the finest 8 in world rugby. He is no bull dozing 8. An athletic player, intelligent, quick and skilful. Billy Vunipola and Toby Faletau at the top of my head are those type of players but aren't exactly in our Price range. Nick Williams, coming to the end. Ben Morgan I've not seen for a long time, he was one for a while but not sure how he's been since injury. Ross Morriarity now out our range I'd have thought but jury out on whether he is a 6 or 8.
And then the lower down in quality we go, the less carriers there are. We have adapted a game where we have become effective with 2 open sides and Shingler. Josh Macleod is talked of being the next 8 and I think he will more than do the job. He's not a "ball carrier" but he makes up for it with speed so gets over the gain line with that before power. As mentioned also, the good south sea islanders are either in the system with all blacks or already earning big cash in France. I think it's time the forum move on from the "ball carrying 8" wishes as, we don't need a carrying 8, a carrying 6 would do to bolster the squad. Plus I feel they are rarer and have a few ££££s on them like tightheads a few years ago. |
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Mugwuffin
Veteran
Joined: 24 July 2010
Location: Llanelli
Status: Offline
Points: 7124
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Posted: 21 April 2017 at 5:52pm |
Pete The Meat Edwards has signed to play for Merthyr next season. He did a terrific job for us locking out the right side of our scrum. His re-signing was met with a mixed response, but he proved a few people wrong and became one of our most important players while Samson was unavailable through long term injuries and international call ups. Diolch, Pete!
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dantheman
Veteran
Joined: 16 June 2005
Status: Offline
Points: 7439
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Posted: 21 April 2017 at 6:05pm |
The Dragons game really demonstrated why we need more carrying power. We struggled to break the gain line for 65 mins against a poor team because they were committed and pressurised us in defence. Our tight game wasn't good enough to draw defenders in and retain possession.
I agree that we good get a good 6 or 8 to fulfil the function we need. Jean Deysel would be the dream, he's on a short term contract with Munster until the end of the season, is one of the best carriers in the SH I think and is mobile enough to play across the back 5 of the pack. Would add a lot of experience too. I will keep dreaming....!
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ExileTom
Veteran
Joined: 30 July 2012
Location: Flintshire
Status: Offline
Points: 1199
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Posted: 21 April 2017 at 6:07pm |
PE SA wrote:
The big 20st ball carrying 8s are beginning to be a thing of the past. Players these days are that much stronger, bigger, better defer etc, those type of 8s have to be pretty damn special to go on those bull dozing runs. Kieran Reed, to me, the finest 8 in world rugby. He is no bull dozing 8. An athletic player, intelligent, quick and skilful. Billy Vunipola and Toby Faletau at the top of my head are those type of players but aren't exactly in our Price range. Nick Williams, coming to the end. Ben Morgan I've not seen for a long time, he was one for a while but not sure how he's been since injury. Ross Morriarity now out our range I'd have thought but jury out on whether he is a 6 or 8.
And then the lower down in quality we go, the less carriers there are. We have adapted a game where we have become effective with 2 open sides and Shingler. Josh Macleod is talked of being the next 8 and I think he will more than do the job. He's not a "ball carrier" but he makes up for it with speed so gets over the gain line with that before power. As mentioned also, the good south sea islanders are either in the system with all blacks or already earning big cash in France. I think it's time the forum move on from the "ball carrying 8" wishes as, we don't need a carrying 8, a carrying 6 would do to bolster the squad. Plus I feel they are rarer and have a few ££££s on them like tightheads a few years ago. | Excellent post. It's undeniable that our back row is a strong point and doing fine without any lumps. Our carriers can have other numbers than 8 on their back.
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Wasp
Veteran
Joined: 29 April 2008
Location: Sunny Pembs
Status: Online
Points: 17538
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Posted: 21 April 2017 at 6:22pm |
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We're still still here, but I wish we were in an Anglo-Welsh
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157cb
Veteran
Joined: 29 January 2007
Location: Wales
Status: Offline
Points: 17900
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Posted: 21 April 2017 at 6:38pm |
BlackwoodScarlet wrote:
Has he spent to long On the 7s circuit and not enough on the 15s |
A shame but he has not impressed in either facet of the game .
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BlackwoodScarlet
Veteran
Joined: 12 March 2008
Location: Blackwood
Status: Offline
Points: 4470
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Posted: 22 April 2017 at 9:48am |
PE SA wrote:
The big 20st ball carrying 8s are beginning to be a thing of the past. Players these days are that much stronger, bigger, better defer etc, those type of 8s have to be pretty damn special to go on those bull dozing runs. Kieran Reed, to me, the finest 8 in world rugby. He is no bull dozing 8. An athletic player, intelligent, quick and skilful. Billy Vunipola and Toby Faletau at the top of my head are those type of players but aren't exactly in our Price range. Nick Williams, coming to the end. Ben Morgan I've not seen for a long time, he was one for a while but not sure how he's been since injury. Ross Morriarity now out our range I'd have thought but jury out on whether he is a 6 or 8.
And then the lower down in quality we go, the less carriers there are. We have adapted a game where we have become effective with 2 open sides and Shingler. Josh Macleod is talked of being the next 8 and I think he will more than do the job. He's not a "ball carrier" but he makes up for it with speed so gets over the gain line with that before power. As mentioned also, the good south sea islanders are either in the system with all blacks or already earning big cash in France. I think it's time the forum move on from the "ball carrying 8" wishes as, we don't need a carrying 8, a carrying 6 would do to bolster the squad. Plus I feel they are rarer and have a few ££££s on them like tightheads a few years ago. | Billy is a 20st bulldozer with skill
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Ffidel Bennett
Veteran
Joined: 31 August 2014
Location: Caerdydd
Status: Offline
Points: 6306
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Posted: 22 April 2017 at 11:05am |
It's very well saying that we need more carriers and it doesn't matter where in the pack they play, but 8s are uniquely placed for scrums in the opposition 22 and a powerful 8 is very difficult to stop from a scrum 5 -positions we have often squandered and is possibly a reason why we have not had too many bonus points compared to other sides with carrying 8s.
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PE SA
Veteran
Joined: 22 July 2009
Status: Offline
Points: 12515
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Posted: 22 April 2017 at 11:30am |
Ffidel Bennett wrote:
It's very well saying that we need more carriers and it doesn't matter where in the pack they play, but 8s are uniquely placed for scrums in the opposition 22 and a powerful 8 is very difficult to stop from a scrum 5 -positions we have often squandered and is possibly a reason why we have not had too many bonus points compared to other sides with carrying 8s. |
Ball carrying 8s and BPs....dont think theres much in that to be honest. We have the same amount of Try Bonus Points as Munster and have 1 more than Ulster....
Goes back to the points already made, the types of 8s that can get over the try line from 5m are getting rarer. When it comes to a scrum so close, these days, sides push the scrum over, look for penalty try or spread the ball. The pick up and score doesnt happen anywhere near as often these days.
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Wasp
Veteran
Joined: 29 April 2008
Location: Sunny Pembs
Status: Online
Points: 17538
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Posted: 22 April 2017 at 1:44pm |
PE SA wrote:
Ffidel Bennett wrote:
It's very well saying that we need more carriers and it doesn't matter where in the pack they play, but 8s are uniquely placed for scrums in the opposition 22 and a powerful 8 is very difficult to stop from a scrum 5 -positions we have often squandered and is possibly a reason why we have not had too many bonus points compared to other sides with carrying 8s. |
Ball carrying 8s and BPs....dont think theres much in that to be honest. We have the same amount of Try Bonus Points as Munster and have 1 more than Ulster....
Goes back to the points already made, the types of 8s that can get over the try line from 5m are getting rarer. When it comes to a scrum so close, these days, sides push the scrum over, look for penalty try or spread the ball. The pick up and score doesnt happen anywhere near as often these days. |
It's not so much about getting over the gain line. Defences are too solid for that these days. What a big ball carrier buys you is space, as the defence has to put 2 or 3 bodies in to stop him. It also creates options, instead of the defence being able to spread the field every time.
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We're still still here, but I wish we were in an Anglo-Welsh
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PE SA
Veteran
Joined: 22 July 2009
Status: Offline
Points: 12515
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Posted: 22 April 2017 at 1:51pm |
Wasp wrote:
PE SA wrote:
Ffidel Bennett wrote:
It's very well saying that we need more carriers and it doesn't matter where in the pack they play, but 8s are uniquely placed for scrums in the opposition 22 and a powerful 8 is very difficult to stop from a scrum 5 -positions we have often squandered and is possibly a reason why we have not had too many bonus points compared to other sides with carrying 8s. |
Ball carrying 8s and BPs....dont think theres much in that to be honest. We have the same amount of Try Bonus Points as Munster and have 1 more than Ulster....
Goes back to the points already made, the types of 8s that can get over the try line from 5m are getting rarer. When it comes to a scrum so close, these days, sides push the scrum over, look for penalty try or spread the ball. The pick up and score doesnt happen anywhere near as often these days. |
It's not so much about getting over the gain line. Defences are too solid for that these days. What a big ball carrier buys you is space, as the defence has to put 2 or 3 bodies in to stop him. It also creates options, instead of the defence being able to spread the field every time.
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Im aware of what they offer but...I just dont see that many of them around anymore. Our pack does need another ball carrier but doesn't have to be an 8 imo.
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