[StalyShark]

Hope we don’t get Henry Thomas back. At least 3 individual penalties in 35 mins.

[Olyy]

Wouldn't mind Rob Miller though...

[StalyShark]

Wouldn't mind Rob Miller though...

Again one of those who left us on a high and have never reached said heights again. Would swap for our 15 options however.

[Van Cannonball]

Had a couple of bad injuries and suffered from Wasps period of glamour signings.

[Lord Elpus]

Don't really want Schonert although it's supposed to be a done deal.

[Clutch]

Why not? And who else is out there?

[StalyShark]

Regarding Schonert I think we’d all prefer WGJ to stay but the regions’ policy is what it is; he has nothing to prove for Sale after all those 70 odd min jobs he’s had to do. However, Schonert has been an alleged standout scrummager in a front row that has always been mediocre at best. He may come good.

[Lord Elpus]

Why not? And who else is out there?

I think you need to seek psychiatric help since you cannot wait to troll my posts.

[Olyy]

He's EQP, as well, which helps

I'm a little surprised that we're buying him out of his contract, though - I know scrummaging tightheads are hard to come by, but I didn't think we'd be pursuing him that aggresively


Tinfoil hat theory: I wonder if it means JCW isn't coming back from his injury? He's not been mentioned in any interviews or reports, that I've seen, and I've not seen him in any of the training shots or anything like that. And that's why we're willing to break the bank to bring in another senior tighthead, rather than shopping around and seeing who's available.

Or it could just be that we rate him highly and have the budget set aside regardless

[Lord Elpus]

I think you're correct in thinking JCW won't be back next season. In that case Harper may get some game time and he looks a decent prospect.

[Clutch]

The absence of JCW is an odd one.

Hardly trolling. Just wondering why you don’t want him.

If I was trolling I would have replied differently.

[Thekeg]

Why not? And who else is out there?

I think you need to seek psychiatric help since you cannot wait to troll my posts.

People in glass houses....

[45jumper]

Interesting point about JCW @Olyy - as you say he's not even been mentioned in passing. If he isn't coming back, perhaps we're happy with Schonert, Coenie and Harper for next season.

[ROLLO]

Schonert will not let you down in the scrum. His work around the pitch could be more dynamic, I guess it depends upon what type of game you want to play. I think that Thomas wants a more expensive 15 man game at Sixways hence why were ready to let a player go who wanted to leave once we are told a replacement had been signed.

[Elgar]

Wouldn't mind Rob Miller though...

Seconded! Absolutely. Showed he's still got gas to finish that try from Toomaga-Allan's epic run earlier this year.

[Clutch]

Really? He’s not first choice for Wasps. Still got a real turn of pace but bombed a chance for Paulo by not looking right. Still issues over his defence. Having said that we lack pace so I’ve heard worse ideas.

We need a top quality 15 if there are any available. I’d be up for spending big bucks on one if budget and marque places are available.

Hammersley isn’t good enough and James has a lot to learn. We have two highly regarded kids but they may be a few years off. James is young but his defence has been dreadful of late. responsible for 3 tries in last 3-4 games by missing poor one on one tackles. Not about getting done for pace but desire. Going in high without conviction.

If we weren’t challenging I’d be flinging in both kids but too high a risk at the moment unless James continues to be a liability in defence. Hopefully just a blip and we need to remember he’s still inexperienced at 15.

[StalyShark]

Paolo buggered up the pass by not using Miller.

[Olyy]

Yeah, that was a howler

[Clutch]

Miller did similarly before though not as bad as Paulo’s.

[Elgar]

Really? He’s not first choice for Wasps. Still got a real turn of pace but bombed a chance for Paulo by not looking right. Still issues over his defence. Having said that we lack pace so I’ve heard worse ideas.

We need a top quality 15 if there are any available. I’d be up for spending big bucks on one if budget and marque places are available.

Hammersley isn’t good enough and James has a lot to learn. We have two highly regarded kids but they may be a few years off. James is young but his defence has been dreadful of late. responsible for 3 tries in last 3-4 games by missing poor one on one tackles. Not about getting done for pace but desire. Going in high without conviction.

If we weren’t challenging I’d be flinging in both kids but too high a risk at the moment unless James continues to be a liability in defence. Hopefully just a blip and we need to remember he’s still inexperienced at 15.

Not saying he's by any means the best available fullback at present. But (big presumption on my part) imagine he could be prised away from Wasps for good value given his place on the depth chart there and his age. Pretty low risk in that we know he's fit in at Carrington before. Useful player to have in being able to cover wing and fly half at a push. Age profile not an issue due to, as you say, having the younger players coming through.
Don't really hold it against him that Wasps prefer to pick Minozzi and Sopoaga over him.
Controversial view perhaps but I think I preferred him at 15 for Sale than I did Mike Haley. Not a criticism of Haley, I thought Miller was very good for us.



Edit:

Convince-able on Rob Miller or otherwise, worth a watch for the nostalgia. Everything from the backing track, the kits, EP, some of the other players. A feast of 'neo' old school.

[JohnJ of HM]

I think he was Premiership leading try scorer one season with us.

[chris1850]

Not a bad place kicker either

[Van Cannonball]

Sopoanga is leaving and Minozzi has just had some kind of cornea surgery according to the comms on Sunday..., so Miller may be well up the pecking order depending who they’re bringing in or not.

[Yareet]

Really? He’s not first choice for Wasps. Still got a real turn of pace but bombed a chance for Paulo by not looking right. Still issues over his defence. Having said that we lack pace so I’ve heard worse ideas.

We need a top quality 15 if there are any available. I’d be up for spending big bucks on one if budget and marque places are available.

Hammersley isn’t good enough and James has a lot to learn. We have two highly regarded kids but they may be a few years off. James is young but his defence has been dreadful of late. responsible for 3 tries in last 3-4 games by missing poor one on one tackles. Not about getting done for pace but desire. Going in high without conviction.

If we weren’t challenging I’d be flinging in both kids but too high a risk at the moment unless James continues to be a liability in defence. Hopefully just a blip and we need to remember he’s still inexperienced at 15.

Not saying he's by any means the best available fullback at present. But (big presumption on my part) imagine he could be prised away from Wasps for good value given his place on the depth chart there and his age. Pretty low risk in that we know he's fit in at Carrington before. Useful player to have in being able to cover wing and fly half at a push. Age profile not an issue due to, as you say, having the younger players coming through.
Don't really hold it against him that Wasps prefer to pick Minozzi and Sopoaga over him.
Controversial view perhaps but I think I preferred him at 15 for Sale than I did Mike Haley. Not a criticism of Haley, I thought Miller was very good for us.



Edit:

Convince-able on Rob Miller or otherwise, worth a watch for the nostalgia. Everything from the backing track, the kits, EP, some of the other players. A feast of 'neo' old school.

Isn’t Sopoaga off for next season? May give Miller more time at 15.


Ah! Van the Man beat me to it.

As you were

[JohnJ of HM]

I think he was Premiership leading try scorer one season with us.

2011-12. Admittedly with the lowest number of tries (10) to win it.

[Olyy]

Looks like Billy Whizz and the club have repaired their relationship

The community twitter account tweeted about having a "BIG" announcement, so I imagine they're teaming up with Robbo's recent work in promoting PE in schools/providing equipment and training etc.

[DavenportSharky]

Probably still better than Hammers and Luke!

[DavenportSharky]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugby ... drive.html

[StalyShark]

That left hand pass by George Ford. Just imagine that in a Sale shirt.

[Clutch]

Some people on here wouldn’t have him. I’ve not seen the pass by the way. I don’t need to really. I know how good Ford is. George that is

[poyntonshark]

Come on @Clutch, get the claws out. Who, on here, do you think wouldn't have George Ford at Sale? So far as I can see the only downside to having him is the drop off in quality for his lengthy spells with England. And that's from someone whom I think has a generally higher opinion of our two main 10's than many.

[DaveAitch]

Addison looked lively with ball in hand (Leicester v Ulster). He would be ideal in the centre with Tuliagi and van Rensburg, if only to run a book on who of the three manage the most minutes in a season.

The current two main 10s are both decent players. Ford is a much better version of MacGinty.

[Olyy]

He had a good appearance off the bench last week too,
Very nearly set up a beaut of a try with one of his signature mazy runs, but the winger he passed to dummied so hard he dropped the ball

Great to see him back playing after so long - I feared his latest back injury might've been the end of his career it kept him out so long

[DavenportSharky]

Has Will had a hair transplant?

[Flumpty]

I was dead chuffed to see him playing as well - If I read it correctly, he'd been unable to play since Jan 19. Hell fire, he's been unlucky with injuries.

[Olyy]

Has Will had a hair transplant?

Think him and Stuart Hogg share the same...barbers

[Olyy]

Solomona to Bristol being rumoured

[Thekeg]

Solomona to Bristol being rumoured

How many back three players do they need? Wouldn’t be hugely surprised to see Denny go, it’s such a shame that for whatever reason he’s drifted out of form and contention

[chris1850]

Solomona to Bristol being rumoured

Don't know what to think about this. Putting to one side his alleged current personal issues for a moment, from which I really hope he recovers strongly, then Denny on his day has few peers in the Prem. If we can be sure that at some point he can return to that standard then I would always want him in the team.

However, I do also wonder whether the club have moved on now with Axe in charge, and whilst there is nothing wrong in being nostalgic, we need to be looking elsewhere to provide that spark in the back three.

Whatever, Denny remains one of my favourite players of the recent era and one who genuinely had that X factor to frighten the oppo for a couple of seasons. I hope he can re-establish his career whether he moves on or not.

[Olyy]

Agree with all of that

Would love to keep Denny, he's been one of my favourite players since he arrived
But equally could understand if he wanted a change of scenery and also understand if Axe wanted to change up personnel

[Elgar]

Solomona to Bristol being rumoured

Don't know what to think about this. Putting to one side his alleged current personal issues for a moment, from which I really hope he recovers strongly, then Denny on his day has few peers in the Prem. If we can be sure that at some point he can return to that standard then I would always want him in the team.

However, I do also wonder whether the club have moved on now with Axe in charge, and whilst there is nothing wrong in being nostalgic, we need to be looking elsewhere to provide that spark in the back three.

Whatever, Denny remains one of my favourite players of the recent era and one who genuinely had that X factor to frighten the oppo for a couple of seasons. I hope he can re-establish his career whether he moves on or not.

Couldn't it put it better.

[StalyShark]

Broke onto the scene like a rocket and has always been able to finish. We haven’t had him anywhere near that standard for at least two seasons.

Would I swap him for Malins or Lozowski? Yes.

[Elgar]

If it comes to it, would make sense to replace him with a creative player like either of those than try to replace like with like.

[Olyy]

Bristol tried to buy Malins but Saracens said no, so I doubt we'd be able to
Think Saracens have said all of their on-loan players will be back with them full time next season

[StalyShark]

Bristol tried to buy Malins but Saracens said no, so I doubt we'd be able to
Think Saracens have said all of their on-loan players will be back with them full time next season

Must be all taking huge pay cuts then...

[Olyy]

Bristol tried to buy Malins but Saracens said no, so I doubt we'd be able to
Think Saracens have said all of their on-loan players will be back with them full time next season

Must be all taking huge pay cuts then...

To be fair to Saracens their list of players that left is pretty sizeable/will add up to a lot of money
Wigglesworth, Skelton, Barritt, Spencer, Kruis, Figallo, Gray and Singleton (plus some others not as well known)
And replacements mostly came from the academy or the championship

[Yareet]

Bristol tried to buy Malins but Saracens said no, so I doubt we'd be able to
Think Saracens have said all of their on-loan players will be back with them full time next season

From what I can see, the loan players were:

Earl
Malins
Singleton
Lozowski
Isiekwe
Tompkins

Of those, Tompkins is already back with Sarries, I believe, and Boyd has confirmed that Isiekwe will be back at Sarries next season. However, Singleton has signed a permanent deal with Gloucester.

[Van Cannonball]

What I’m struggling with more is how Bristol could be looking too add Denny’s wage.

True that Malins and Earl will be going, but with the reduction of excluded salaries from 2 to 1, and the overall reduction in cap I’m struggling to see how they make it work.

Either Piatau or Redrada’s salary comes into the equation, reported to be A Lot...and whilst they have numerous other players apparently on big money (Hughes, Sinkler, Luatua, Afoa), that’s balanced out by a number of players who’re probably under-paid for their talent (Randall, O’Connor, Sheedy etc) but who are likely to be asking for significant increases based on their individual performances as well as the success of the team.

In other words it’s the Sarries scenario again where it looks like they’ll need to release some talent from the squad to make it add up rather than add more. Be interesting to see what happens.

[45jumper]

Thought this might need to be resurrected with the Denny and JCW rumours!
Assuming Schonert is coming in, do we think a winger will follow? As good as Yarde and McGuigan have been, they're our only senior wingers. Reed (21) and Roebuck (20) are the next cabs off the rank with the highly-rated Gourlay and Carpenter also turning 20 this year. Is that enough to compete on all fronts? I'd love Reed/Roebuck to really make a mark but is it a year too soon?
There's also a big question mark around our hookers. Simply put, Akker, Taylor, Langdon and Ashman is too many. Ashman looks a star in the making, Langdon never lets us down and Akker is excellent in the loose and his lineout throwing has come on leaps and bounds. I wonder whether someone is off? If not, I fear that Langdon/Ashman will leave the summer after due to a lack of opportunities which would be a massive loss.

[Olyy]

Yeah, I think should be looking to sign another senior back 3 player
We need some more pace in the back 3, and if we want to be competing domestically and in Europe then we need the depth there, there's some promising players coming through the academy but none are really challenging Yarde and Byron for a starting berth yet

Who that could be, though, I've no idea. Thorley would've been a good catch.
With Farrell and Vunipola at 10, and Goode and Daly at 15, maybe Lozowski will look to leave Saracens? He'd be a great signing at 15

I'm kind of resigned to Ashman leaving at the end of the season, to be honest - really don't want it to happen, but I think he'll head to a Scottish side (is Edinburgh the one he went on loan too before?)