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Bath RFC	InTheFastLane
Exeter Chiefs	Driver - RIP 606
Gloucester	Anonmattyt
Harlequins	Steven_Sharks
Leicester Tigers	LukeLovesLuka
London Irish	stnick88
London Wasps	Arry
Newcastle Falcons	Sgt_Pooly
Northampton Saints	Dammit_Chris
Sale Sharks	SirJohnnyEnglish
Saracens	LDCPete
Worcester Warriors	prop_lyd

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Waiting List
1. pullthestrings
2. Bathite

and yes I'm very biased.

You should hear me talking about LFC. been screwed out of every trophy they haven't won since 1991.

By yourselves Steven. Not been good enough for years

5 times

It was a very good 2011 team, that's for sure.

I think the 2012 team will be very good too - its easy to say that the 2011 team was better because we all now know each of the players and a lot have gone on to play for their teams.

The good thing this year is that there are a lot who played last year and have gone on to gain more experience - Ford is playing week in week out for Leeds (stared in a 60point win the other week), Daly plays a lot for Wasps and Elliott has got 7 tries in 7 games for the Saints first team this year, has Heineken Cup experience etc. Ben Spencer was getting pundits saying he should be in the Saxons etc.

One area I am not so sure is the front five, they've got two very good hookers and a great backrow - Vunipola should excel at the championship from the base of the scrum, he's got a lot fitter and Nutley is a tackling machine.

They will miss Farrell at 12 for them, but would say the backline is fine with Ford controlling it and getting the ball to Daly should be easier without Farrell there.

Leeds are living off loan players atm and I think they may be in real trouble in the AP if they come up.

Got Tommy Bell (Points machine), Iain Thornley, Will Cliff and Jordan Davies from Sale and have Ford from Leicester. That's a full backline minus the wings.

It's changed their season around though! They were looking like candidates for relegation first 6-8 weeks.

Still think Ford is the best young player around - think the loan system works wonders for young premiership players and was one of the good things that Rob Andrew oversaw making that league stronger.

I think Ford is one of the best young players around the world. As he stands he doesn't have a weakness which is obvious. Didn't look out of place in his AP appearances this year.

Him, Farrell and Tuilagi could prove to be a magnificent 3/4 in the future.

I've got Ford on the new AP and have been unimpressed when I watched him in the AP. He tended to kick away possession too much and looked nothing special, admitably he is a youngster and has bags of talent but I don't see stepping up anytime soon.

Nearly cried laughing at the opening bit of the rugby club with Quinell, Greenwood et al discussing the European games.

Want to sell him to me Pooly?!!

Good offer and he's yours mate, I do like potential but it tends to get overated on here.

You look back at U20 sides over the years and half are'nt even playing AP rugby anymore never mind the best youngster to ever walk the planet etc etc.

We tend to massivley overate young talent.....I seem to remember Cipriani being touted as the next best thing, not really setting the world alight is he?

Ford is an unreal talent and I'd put him as my highest hope for England.

IRB Young player of the year at 18. He still has two more years in the under 20's if he has to so plenty of time to develop. Doing well with Leeds in the Championship as well and playing at Leicester won't hurt his development.

Ford's got rave reviews in all his appearances for Leeds so far. He'll be Tigers and England 10 in the future for a very long time, has kicking game, running game, passing game and agree with you completely Steven.

Yea you maybe right, he was pretty poor when I seen him play for Leicester though. Still a young boy, he has time to develop his game I guess.

Didn't Salvea win it the year before? He's really struggled to develop since....as I said potential seems to massivley overated. Not all of these "wonder kids" kick on to become top players.

It's like the stupid comments that Ford would be first choice ahead of Flood by next season...he isn't. If you think that you know very little about rugby.

"He'll be Tigers and England 10 in the future for a very long time"

The same comment was said about Cipriani, I prefer to rate on what a player is delivering rather on what he might.

Joe simpson was world player of the year also. Believe freuan was as well. Some players develop quicker and then never progress as the game seems easy to then and so they don't apply themselves.

So many done it before but I must say sometimes you see a talent and you think they have it all. Ford is one of those players as is may of Gloucester. Banged on about him on here for years. Certain players have time on the ball and it really shows.

The same as when I first saw bod, carter etc

Simpson was world player of the year!!! Jesus

Think i was IRB U20 player of the year at one stage

such wasted talent lol

http://www.rfu.com/SquadsAndPlayers/EnglandElite/JoeSimpson

Simpson was short listed for it my mistake!

Kinda shows you potential can stagnate, Simpson is a year older than Youngs and he has 15+ caps.

Totally lottery really, that's why I find this "will be world class" stuff so idiotic when a player has played 2/3 AP games...mental.

There are certain players you see and just know though pooly. Saw may in an a team game as loads of the cinderford lot had said the guy was unreal as they all train there for facilities.

Think it was Downey who ran down his channel and got hit really hard and spilled the ball some molenaar picked
Up the loose ball and flipped it up and may had got up from the tackle and from a standing start went length of pitch from our 22. He must have been 18 but his awareness was unreal.

I think it's rugby intelligence you look for. I could have told you loads of the under 20s would not make it as they just had physical attributes however the ones with rugby intelligence stand out.

Ainscombe, cane and Sam and Luke whitlock for example were not the best players in their teams but you just know they will make it as they played like players and not athletes.

Think ford and Daley are the big hopes with kvesic. Think vunipola will be a an average club player.

I am fully aware that the award doesn't mean he will success but he just looks the real deal to me.

I think it was Leicester v Wasps during the world cup where he and 36 looked like they were Wilko and Greenwood the way they were playing and knew each others next move before they did.

Ford reminds me of Hodgson in the way he looks when playing rugby.

For me the 5 top hopes for England are Ford, Thomas, Launchbury, Gibson and May. (Not counting Farrell or Marler as they are in the EPS)

I haven't seen enough of Daly and Kvesic to make a proper judgement. Haywood also looks a top player but not really got a proper look at his throwing or scrummaging.

Top 2 inches are the most important parts of any rugby player

Good post Steve agree with those. Also think ford will be top. Kvesic looks great in the Ap and Daley has such time and awareness.

13 is our weak position yet we have may, trinder, Daley, jj and Lowe and hopper as emerging talents there so looks promising. Tuilagi to 12 maybe


We have options coming through but one of them needs to seize the moment and develop.

Exciting times

Driver - RIP 606 wrote:Top 2 inches are the most important parts of any rugby player

Yachvilli great example
Of this. Guy has no physical attributes and is no cover tackler but can win games on his own. Clever clever player

One thing I do hope happens is that there is a fast track for the best players in the under 20's straight into the Saxons. We have seen this happen this time but I don't like the Saxons squad just being filled with players who are there in case of injury.

We should be able to draft in Narraway, Waldrom or Banahan into the senior side without them taking up spots in the Saxons squads which don't benefit them in my view.

The squad places should go to players who need to be prepared for what is required at the top level.

Agree again Steve. These young players need testing and chance to learn. Think if ford goes well again in u20s get him in saxons. Won't learn anything by doing another year at u 20 wc.

Kvesic Daley etc could all learn by at least training in the England environment.

Remember Scw bringing In Paul Sampson at 17 to train and the tragic nick duncombe. Did it with loads of others who went on to have good careers. Some worked some didn't but at least they had the chance

Yet to be convinced with Ford at all tbh, not ssen anything to suggest potential world class and was poor for Tigers, Such a young boy though I feel bad slating him, typical Englishness though bigging him up.

Seen him do well for tigers once and for England and was impressed. Think Leeds will make
Him. He defends well well and does not appear to have a weakness.

Look at burns for Gloucester he is so inconsistent and weak in tackling head on( positoning not lack of effort or bottle and easily smoothed out)

Ford has none of those rough edges. Same with farrel

Only just realised how close we are to a Lions tour. year and a half. can't wait. Would absolutely love to get over to it or at least some of it.

Watch Warburton lead them to a tour victory with Cooper the player of the series. Can't wait

Am off skiing late tonight for a week gents, so won't be on.

I'll post my Heino team on SJE's page

Nice for some! Enjoy Luke

I'm Looking towards next season and will have some players available in the summer as will need to promote players from my academy. Can do deals for them now either to go through at the end of the season or in the summer.

Rob Vickers
Fabio Ongaro
Matias Aguero
Ceri Jones
Jerome Thion
Erik Lund
Alasdair Strokosch
David Seymour
Tomas O'Leary
Gareth Steenson
Riki Flutey
Gonzalo Canale
Cedric Heymans
Joe Rokocoko

Ollie Phillips has signed for Gloucester

good signing morgan out sharples and may and trinder with england and big les gone so makes sense

Very good player, will do a job for sure.

What a start from Ulster.

Leicester are gonna need some top class performances to win this game.

Will take Youngs, Parling, Croft etc to show that they are as good as they are claimed to be.

Tigers will never win with no recognised 10

Wish i had sky sports for these HC weekends.......

There pack needs to start playing first. Can't blame 36 when the pack is getting beat.

Court having a huge game at the scrum. A top level tighthead could be what propels Ulster to the next level.

Even if on top 36 is no FH, Ulster by a score without a doubt

Leicester are having a nightmare upfront. Croft, Castro, Parling and Ayerza haven't turned up. Pienaar is such a class act though and is bossing the game. Youngs playing quite well as well to be honest. Him, Smith, Waldrom and Hawkins are doing alright.

To be fair though Both Ulster tries have been top notch finishes. Trimble could have been one of the best in Europe if he had a bit more in defence. Reminds me of David Duckham a little.

Great 40 minutes of rugby.

Hawkins really puts himself around. Sometimes illegally but looking very good tonight.

Nightmare 5 mins for 36

Feel sorry for him because he's not a 10.

Metro v Edinburgh looks a good game

Youngs dissapointing me with his reaction to refs decisions. Acting like a child.

Madness from Cole. I am losing faith in England as this game goes on.

Leicester absolutely cr ap tonight - last try sums up their whole performance.

England players have been very bad - you just can't play a no12 at no10 in important games, they'd be better with Staunton and 36 at 12 in these games!

Not one Leicester player has turned up in this 2nd half. Battered in every department. Wonder who fancies going to Ravenhill if they get into the QF.

Ulster are very handy at home but can be get at by a good pack as seen v Biarritz last year.

Agree there Chris, 36 is a very good 12 but plays like a 12 when he plays 10. Totally ruins the backline balance and stutters the plays. Big fan of 36 but they need to stop shoe horning him in at 10.

Not massivley surprised by the result, Tigers tend to go a bit crazy once they're losing by 10+

no English teams that's for sure! Don't know what is going on with Tigers atm - think a big game for Saints this week and we could well see Dickson becoming starting no9, Wood playing no6.

Don't think Tigers have a very good backline, possibly worst Tigers team in last decade atm.