Saints No 8 for 2012-13

Being reported/rumoured that Wilson is on his way back to Ulster and Narraway is on his way to Saints. Seems to be fairly well founded.

Have any Saints fans heard this to sustantiate it and what do they think about it

Even if Wilson left would they need to sign Narraway.

Callum Clark
Tom Wood
Phil Dowson

I think not replacing Wilson would leave the squad a little light on depth Staggy. Saints have taken on the Tigers example of investing heavilly in forward squad depth.

Would you describe any of those as Natural No 8's though ?

The Telegraph have reported today that Saints are in talks with Narraway.

I'm really not sure how I feel about if he were to leave. He is a very loyal player having been with Glaws for some time. He is an incredibly skillful player and his game management has come on leaps and bounds since becoming captain. On the other hand he is still too inconsistent and is only truly effective with front foot ball.

Surely Saints would want a beast of an 8 to go with that destructive tight5!

I'm a bit anti-Narraway (seen him smashed back in contact in Saxons games before) and, as said above, he really struggles with back foot ball.
Although, to counter that (cant remember when it was). One of the best performances from an England back row since the holy trinity was when Haskell, Rees and Narraway played in that 6N game against Wales (1st half that was - 2nd half turned to pot due to injuries).

Saints should look at the likes of this Morgan kid or an 8 in the mould of Henry Tuilagi. Sean O'Brien or Heaslip type.

Hm now that is an interesting shout. Since Morgan has chosen England as his national team, maybe Saints should look into signing him to replace Wilson? Good call.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:Hm now that is an interesting shout. Since Morgan has chosen England as his national team, maybe Saints should look into signing him to replace Wilson? Good call.

I hope they sign Morgan but I think he will see out his contract until the end of the following season (after all he's been picked whilst playing in Wales - my guess is that the Scarlets will release him in future as well).

As a Saints fan not sure how I feel about Narraway. Looked a good player earlier in his career but his progress seems to have stalled in recent years and I'm glad his not in the main EPS as his form hasn't warranted it. Northampton do seem to have a habbit of getting the best out of players though (Downey, Lamb, Day etc) so it could be a good move for both parties.

Wilson would be a big loss although Narraway plays the same kind of game (and is the same kind of size) so it could be a like for like swap in some respects. Would rather keep Wilson though, is an underrated player and will view it as a loss if he returns home to Ulster.

There's rumours that a couple of AP clubs were bidding for Waldrom's signature as he is in the middle of renewing his contract with Tigers. The rumours are that one of the clubs bidding for him is Worcester and there are another couple unnamed clubs. Could one by Saints? He would fit more closely to their current playing style but would add something extra to their ball carrying options.

Alternatively could be Glaws as a replacement for Narraway.
We wil lfind out soon enough.

Been told Wilson is a goer for Ulster definitely not just paper talk

Waldrum to Saints would be an interesting one. I'm not his biggest fan but the same can be said about Narraway. I can't see Saints signing both of them though, would hit the salary cap too hard.

red_stag wrote:Even if Wilson left would they need to sign Narraway.

Callum Clark
Tom Wood
Phil Dowson

The problem is there is no real depth for injuries and call up's. Ben Nutley looks a fine prospect at 7 (kind of in the young Lewis Moody mold) and I expect him to feature more next season but even before the news about Wilson returning to Ulster I felt we were a little light in resources in the backrow. Lawes can cover (pretty well) but he's another who misses parts of the season for international games.

And Morgan to Gloucester would make sense, as I think he grew up around there and England may well have told him to look for a move back? I'm sure something could be sorted with his contract at Scarlets.

It could open the door for Gareth Delve or Ben Morgan.

I haven't heard the rumours and I wouldn't want to lose Wilson. He has been immense for Saints, a leader on the pitch and respected by the players, management and fans. A tough, gritty, smart player. But he can't be blamed for wanting to go home, if the rumours are true. If so, I hope he has some good years in the Ulster back row.

Looking at potential repalcements, I like the idea of Gareth Delve. Was great last season for Melbourne.
A bit closer to home Narraway would be OK, but I agree his growth has levelled off, and doesn't seem quite as physical. Seems to have up and down matches.
Not sure how I feel about Waldrom. Maybe some of that is related to his cathartic revelation about his Englishness. He is a rather rotund bloke, and looks like he could eat Franklin's Gardens if he works up an appetite.
Ben Morgan would be a coup.

doctor_grey wrote:He is a rather rotund bloke, and looks like he could eat Franklin's Gardens if he works up an appetite.

And here is one of my two problems with 'Thomas the Tank'. If he wants to be taken seriously as a potential international back-rower then he should be at least in tip top physical shape. I know round is a shape but he's not a damn prop.

My other problem with him is that he's about as English as the Statue of Liberty.

Si Signor.
Waldrom would be pretty useful at Christmas parties wearing a Santa outfit.

Interestingly Cockerill shoved Waldrom on diets etc when he rocked up at Tigers only to be shocked when Waldrom started finishing near the top on all the fitness tests. He may look like a lost prop only seconds away from a heart attack on the pitch but he is really fit.

There's rumours that Tigers have convinced him to stay.