Domestic Transfer Confirmation

irish release sam vesty for 1 mil

Phil Swainston on loan to Saracens.

Confirm Swainston loan to Saracens.

Darren Dawdiuk to Saracens
Mario Itoje to Sale

Confirm the Darren Dawidiuk and Maro Itoje deal.

James Gaskell on loan

Usual restrictions

Confirm Gaskell loan with Bath. He can't play against Quins when we meet.

Mike Haywood on loan to Gloucester usual restrictions blah blah blah - to go through after next AP game.

Nick Phipps to London Welsh at the end of the season for £5m.

Yes

That's a steal Pete! He's pushing Genia for the Aus 9 shirt!!!

Big call that Driver.

Pushing , not going to take it. Was pretty good vs England in AIs , Puts real pace into the game.

dammit_chris wrote:
Nick Phipps to London Welsh at the end of the season for £5m.

Confirm

Driver wrote:That's a steal Pete! He's pushing Genia for the Aus 9 shirt!!!

Yeah, am pretty pleased with that to be honest.

All about clearing the squad for some transfers in the summer, and making sure my budget is as high as possible too!

I had him pegged as Chris's best 9 tbh.

Phillips best 9. I am big Phillips fan

Phillips easily best no9 for me - had a cracking last 3 games in the 6Nations, like the physicality he brings to the team and that's what I've tried to build my team around, ball carriers and people who get over the gainline.

Just need Priestland to find some form next season.

Phipps and Phillips are very different 9's to be honest. Phillips when he plays like he did against England can be unstoppable, but I've seen him too often spend more time trying to be a flanker and getting involved at the bottom of rucks, which has actually stopped his side being able to play decent attacking rugby.

That's why I make sure Simpson is on the bench, hope he gets to go away with England in the summer, he's really doing well for Wasps at the moment.

My u20 NZ no9 is getting quite a lot of bench time in s15 (Bryn Hall) and hoping he will kick on as captained the Baby Blacks last year.

Phillips & Simpson both poor 9's tbh.

Both good players but not good scrum halfs. Phillips was great against England but he takes too much on, Wales on the whole would be better with a 9 that could pass.

Simpson has dire basics, kicking passing not up to scratch. Lightening fast though, good summer player

thats bit harsh pooly!

Phillips is quality, on his day he is world class. agree with pete can have off days and get caught up where he shouldnt.

agree pooly simpson is a summer player. poor in winter and wet conditions as kicking game isnt very good. passing is fine though never seen a problem with that. great around the fringes too.

Phillips can be a top player as seen in England game. He more than often gets caught at the bottom of a ruck though, I don't think he's a good scrum half

He's got a great pass on him.

Can be frustrating though. I'd always start him and then if he is having a stinker bring him off. Simpson is a good player to bring on for him too.

Simpsons kicking game has improved out of
Site. He has a cracking box kick better than any of
The Sh in the England squad,

For me his game management has not hit much better the decision of when to kick, pass, run is not his strong point

Good bench player and great cover tackler

His box kick is terrible

He gets real hang and distance on his kick and does not put it down their throat like youngs and crew.

Sometimes hits a wild one but his kicking has really helped wasps this year.

If you mean Simpson his box kicking is class!

I can't think of a scrum half with a worse box kick, it's all over the place.

think your alone on this one pooly!

Some quality SH's in the AP this year. Youngs, Care, Peel, Classens, O'Leary (before he got injured), Dickson, Simpson all very good. Fotuali'i to join next year as well should be interesting to watch.

If Phillips is a poor scrum half then it must speak volumes for all the other no9s in the British and Irish Isles if every single pundit places him as their first choice for the Lions.

Think you are basing your views on Simpson from 2-3 seasons ago if that is what you make of his kicking these days - has come on leaps and bounds since being coached by Bracken. Been very good for us this season.

He is still tweaking his game management, but isn't running as much as he has done previously and is really benefitting from a pack that doesn't get marched backwards everytime they have a scrum or a ruck.

They do say the north east is about 5 years behind.
Simpson is 19 on poolys tv that's why he does not rate his box kick

I live down south so my opinion is split.

I honestly think Simpson has really poor basics, box kicking esp

I said Phillips was a good player, he suits a physical game plan, poor scrum half though.

That would make sense Mat!

Think he makes his 100th Wasps start this weekend against Saints. We always seem to get humped by them, so not overly looking forward to that one, especially with the snow and cold that is meant to be heading this way.

Nicky Robinson also never seems to quite work out that he needs to pass the ball quicker to avoid getting smashed by Lawes or Samoa too! Last three games I think they've hit him so hard he's had to go off injured each time!

I was at Adams park last night Chris for the U21's Englang game. Pitch was looking in a poor state, its not snowing here in Wycombe today though and dont expect it too. Will probably lash it down with rain though.

Saints pack is on the up, I think you will lose tomorrow Chris.

We always lose against Saints Nick, we can't match their packs physicality and intensity - I think we will be putting Launchbury, Haskell and Masi straight back into action so that could help, but your right about the Saints pack being on the up.

If the weather was great and pitch was there for running rugby then we'd have a chance, but from what you've said it could turn into a long afternoon!

Juan figallo loan to Quins can't play against me

Confirm above.

Pierre Spies + Gary Botha

for

David Denton + Matthew Rees

Worcester and Quins

confirm with Quins

Waldrom to Worcester
R. Jones to Tigers

confirm with tigers

Sam Jones for Ben Nutley (Northampton and Quins)

George Merrick from Quins to Bath for 2 mil.

Confirm

Confirm

Harlequins release Jerome Thion for 1.5 mil and Felipe Contepomi for 2 mil.

Wasps release;

Huia Edmonds (Australia) - £1.5m
OC/IC - Casey Laulala (New Zealand) - £1.5m
FB - Geordan Murphy (Ireland) - £1.5m

Total of - £4.5m

Ollie Lindsay-Hague signed for £2m by London Wasps, from Harlequins

confirm