Great signing for Saints

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/21042221

Corbisiero should add to their already decent pack. I think tiny possibly should have moved when he had the chance as his powers seem to have waned a bit.

Corbs should be a brilliant signing for Saints, hopefully they can get him to be a little nastier while cutting down on the number of injuries that he gets!

Great signing, they still need a 10. Will be interesting couple of months to see if they sign Ford.

Is it a great signing though?

Sure he's a good player but he's been dogged by injuries recently. Plus when fit he'll likely be on international duty with England.

Is he for example comparable to a in form Tongauiha who has been available for selection all season?

Bit of a gamble by Saints in my opinion plus they'll be losing,Tongauiha. Mujati and PDJ it seems. How do they replace them?

Saint's frontrow options start looking quite a bit less formidable.

He will be great... if he stays fit.

I think Tongahuia isnt quite the player he was...in the recent AI's we played Tonga...and Jon Hall handed Tiny his a$$...

The problem does appear to be however the injury concerns that Corbs seems to have...something that Saints are used to with Lawes and Wood!

On paper looks a good move, but as has been said he has a very questionable injury record. Added to that, Saints will need a decent TH to firm up the scrum as without that they'll be in trouble. The question is, how many decent THs are available?...

I'd have thought Mullan a better option personally. Cheaper, less injury prone and less liable to being hoovered up by England.

Tighthead now looks to be the next issue to solve. Henry Thomas from Sale when they get relegated, possibly Cipriani as well......

funnyExiledScot wrote:I'd have thought Mullan a better option personally. Cheaper, less injury prone and less liable to have the honour of being called up by England.

Tighthead now looks to be the next issue to solve. Henry Thomas from Sale when they get relegated, possibly Cipriani as well......

Fixed it for you

Cipriani for Saints?

I think he's the last no 10 Saints would want though perhaps Tango Man will be available.

beshocked wrote:Cipriani for Saints?

I think he's the last no 10 Saints would want though perhaps Tango Man will be available.

I know he's not as fast or as creative as Owen Farrell, and his Dad isn't England coach, but I reckon he could still do a job.

Saints have had Geraty and Lamb, so Cipriani would fit into that mould nicely...

AlastairW wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:I'd have thought Mullan a better option personally. Cheaper, less injury prone and less liable to have the honour of being called up by England.

Tighthead now looks to be the next issue to solve. Henry Thomas from Sale when they get relegated, possibly Cipriani as well......

Fixed it for you

"Honour"?? I wouldn't want to play for England if I were Corbisiero. With a name like that he could be deported!

If Paul Doran Jones goes he must be the biggest twonk in rugby, he was starting regularly at tighthead at glos, getting game time for club and pushing hard for england so he moves where he will only ever be bench warming and slips down the red rose pecking order.....now when his chance to shine comes at saints with Mooooj moving on, everyone thinks he will leave...maybe he is a carpenter at heart and likes sitting on wood...He'll probably go to wasps so he can reunite with his chum the 'hask' and they can get back to making thier public school voyeur porn films.

funnyExiledScot wrote:

AlastairW wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:I'd have thought Mullan a better option personally. Cheaper, less injury prone and less liable to have the honour of being called up by England.

Tighthead now looks to be the next issue to solve. Henry Thomas from Sale when they get relegated, possibly Cipriani as well......

Fixed it for you

"Honour"?? I wouldn't want to play for England if I were Corbisiero. With a name like that he could be deported!

Luckily you aren't called Corbisiero and you aren't playing for England. Close call for a second there fES!

Wouldn't Botica from Quins be a good fir for Northamps

sirtidychris wrote:If Paul Doran Jones goes he must be the biggest twonk in rugby, he was starting regularly at tighthead at glos, getting game time for club and pushing hard for england so he moves where he will only ever be bench warming and slips down the red rose pecking order.....now when his chance to shine comes at saints with Mooooj moving on, everyone thinks he will leave...maybe he is a carpenter at heart and likes sitting on wood...He'll probably go to wasps so he can reunite with his chum the 'hask' and they can get back to making thier public school voyeur porn films.

In fairness to PDJ he was given some pretty duff advice by the previous England management team. They advised him that he would further his international chances by being with Dorian West. What all parties seemed to take for granted is that he'd coast in front of a great TH like Mujati. His lack of game time has taken him back some distance. I agree that he needs to stay and cement his place. If he makes another move he is in danger of being a journeyman and never fulfilling his potential.

He'll be a decent first team player but is quite possibly England's most overrated player.

If the rumours are true and he's heading to Quins then PDJ is going the right way about a recall. Go to the league's "trendy" team with a strong pack and replace a good but not outstanding tighthead with only youngsters to oppose you.

Interesting to see Mercey and Waller have signed new deals at Saints. If they land an English TH that'll be two all English front rows.

Hoping Saints medical staff have properly evaluated Corbs. If so, a great signing. If not, very risky.

One reason Doran-Jones didn't have as much game time as expected was his tendency to go backwards at scrum time. This season has been better. I think his best move would be to stay at Saints since he would be pencilled in to start. In Northampton he can be a hero with plenty of media attention, if he wishes, same as Mujati and Tiny were (are).

Morgannwg wrote:He'll be a decent first team player but is quite possibly England's most overrated player.

Corbisiero? Hardly agree on that. He's an excellent scrummager, and extremely useful on the deck too. The difference in the scrum against NZ when he replaced Marler was clear for all to see. He's probably one of England's most underrated players actually.

http://www.northamptonsaints.co.uk/rugby/match/senior_playing_squad.php?player=9846&includeref=dynamic

Poor Tom Mercey. Virtually no gametime for him.


Morgannwg I wouldn't say Corbisiero is overrated. He's just been dogged by injuries.

Also why don't Saints use Noah Cato? Just 1 game this season.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2013/jan/16/northampton-england-prop-alex-corbisiero

It seems that Tom Mercey and Alex Waller have signed contract extensions too. I was surprised by Mercey because I thought he had been a bit part player (open to correction on this).

So it looks like they are trying to develop their young English props, which could be a good thing. Actually, I have been waiting for Mercey to kick on for years. He was a really impressive age grade player but never seemed to move on from there. Still (unbelievably) only 25, so he could/should start to come into his own.

I still think they'll need a top first choice tighhead though. Either that or change their style of play, because they won't dominate the set piece as they have done in the past.

bluestonevedder wrote:

Morgannwg wrote:He'll be a decent first team player but is quite possibly England's most overrated player.

Corbisiero? Hardly agree on that. He's an excellent scrummager, and extremely useful on the deck too. The difference in the scrum against NZ when he replaced Marler was clear for all to see. He's probably one of England's most underrated players actually.

Eddie , was he not refferring to PDJ?

I agree with you about Corbs...certainly not overrated...his injuries concern me...but i think we saw the difference at the moment between Corbs in there and Marler. Marler still developing...but hopefully can really come good at this level aswell. I suspect he'll be starting against Scotland...so he'll get his chance...imagine what a rampaging powerful performance could do for him.

GeordieFalcon wrote:

bluestonevedder wrote:

Morgannwg wrote:He'll be a decent first team player but is quite possibly England's most overrated player.

Corbisiero? Hardly agree on that. He's an excellent scrummager, and extremely useful on the deck too. The difference in the scrum against NZ when he replaced Marler was clear for all to see. He's probably one of England's most underrated players actually.

Eddie , was he not refferring to PDJ?

I agree with you about Corbs...certainly not overrated...his injuries concern me...but i think we saw the difference at the moment between Corbs in there and Marler. Marler still developing...but hopefully can really come good at this level aswell. I suspect he'll be starting against Scotland...so he'll get his chance...imagine what a rampaging powerful performance could do for him.

I wasn't sure really! It was his first comment on the thread so I assumed it was referring to Corbs, not PDJ.

If it was PDJ I almost agree with him- I don't think he's hit the heights he could have or those expected of him by fans.

Agree about Marler. He needs to bring his carrying game from the premiership to the international stage. Quite frankly his scrummaging against the Ozzies wasn't good enough, but I know he had jerked his knee.

bluestonevedder wrote:

Morgannwg wrote:He'll be a decent first team player but is quite possibly England's most overrated player.

Corbisiero? Hardly agree on that. He's an excellent scrummager, and extremely useful on the deck too. The difference in the scrum against NZ when he replaced Marler was clear for all to see. He's probably one of England's most underrated players actually.

That's what you all say but I've never seen it. Has looked below average everytime he has faced Wales and looked that way for LI when they've played Ospreys and Blues. Dan Cole is the cornerstone of the pack and Joe Marler has improved a hell of a lot.

Morgannwg wrote:

bluestonevedder wrote:

Morgannwg wrote:He'll be a decent first team player but is quite possibly England's most overrated player.

Corbisiero? Hardly agree on that. He's an excellent scrummager, and extremely useful on the deck too. The difference in the scrum against NZ when he replaced Marler was clear for all to see. He's probably one of England's most underrated players actually.

That's what you all say but I've never seen it. Has looked below average everytime he has faced Wales and looked that way for LI when they've played Ospreys and Blues. Dan Cole is the cornerstone of the pack and Joe Marler has improved a hell of a lot.

If that's the way you see it, that's fine, I don't mind. On the International stage he's an excellent scrummager- the NZ game this Autumn, and the Ireland game in the Six Nations spring to mind as perfect examples. You can also throw his debut against Italy in there, when he held his own against Castrogianni, which is no easy feat. Bear in mind though, that when he plays against the Welsh, he's up against an extrememly good front row.

Are you serious? Corbs is certainly not average mate...he's a quality LH prop....its quite a noticeable difference when Corbs plays and Marler does.

Marler doesnt come close in the scrummaging stakes (At the moment)

Lets hope we get a chance to see how Adam Jones copes with him

You mean like all the previous times he has coped with him?

Anyway here's a question for you. Has Paul James gone head to head with Dan Cole this season?

It will be interesting to see...

I remember about 2 years ago in the HC, Irish v Ospreys, Corbs mullered AJ.

stnick88 wrote:I remember about 2 years ago in the HC, Irish v Ospreys, Corbs mullered AJ.

Which game?

In the game at the Liberty LI's scrum was demolished by Adam and co. A poor ref failed to give Ospreys their just reward (penalty try).

Morgannwg wrote:

stnick88 wrote:I remember about 2 years ago in the HC, Irish v Ospreys, Corbs mullered AJ.

Which game?

In the game at the Liberty LI's scrum was demolished by Adam and co. A poor ref failed to give Ospreys their just reward (penalty try).

Home game. Corbs bent him up all over the place before Jones went off having injured his shoulder. Jones for me has been in the top 3 tightheads in the world for a number of years now, so I would expect him to get the better of a young prop like Corbs 8 times out of 10. That certainlg doesn't make Corbs average as Jones is world class.

Anyway here's a question for you. Has Paul James gone head to head with Dan Cole this season?

No, Bath vs Tigers at Welford Rd coincided with Cole helping England beat NZ. James has been a touch indifferent for Bath when I've seen him this season. That's still an improvement on last season.

Ozzy3213 wrote:

Morgannwg wrote:

stnick88 wrote:I remember about 2 years ago in the HC, Irish v Ospreys, Corbs mullered AJ.

Which game?

In the game at the Liberty LI's scrum was demolished by Adam and co. A poor ref failed to give Ospreys their just reward (penalty try).

Home game. Corbs bent him up all over the place before Jones went off having injured his shoulder. Jones for me has been in the top 3 tightheads in the world for a number of years now, so I would expect him to get the better of a young prop like Corbs 8 times out of 10. That certainlg doesn't make Corbs average as Jones is world class.

Yes I did a google search on this earlier actually. At the Liberty that Rattenbauch(?) guy started and Corbs came off the bench. I've watched Corbs more often than just against Adam Jones and I still don't believe he is good as some make out on here. Not doubting his potential though. As for Lions LHs I see Healy as the cert. I also think Paul James might deservedly get to tour. Gatland doesn't rate the Scots so Corbs could also get to tour.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Anyway here's a question for you. Has Paul James gone head to head with Dan Cole this season?

No, Bath vs Tigers at Welford Rd coincided with Cole helping England beat NZ. James has been a touch indifferent for Bath when I've seen him this season. That's still an improvement on last season.

Every report about Paul James has been nothing but good so far. Maybe we'll have to wait until Wales vs England to see them go head to head.

Well we shall just have to wait and see when the front rows lock horns in a few weeks time eh?
Whilst i think England are far from the finished article and still have many glaring areas to improve...i rate our scrum very highly indeed and our front row as one of the premier ones in the world....

Corbs says his injury isnt't degenerative:

http://blogs.espnscrum.com/latest-news/archives/2013/01/alex_corbisiero_plays_down_con.php

Well Saints seem to have finally fixed Lawes and Wood...so hopefully they can sort out this little ongoing thing aswell...

Morgannwg wrote:

Ozzy3213 wrote:

Morgannwg wrote:

stnick88 wrote:I remember about 2 years ago in the HC, Irish v Ospreys, Corbs mullered AJ.

Which game?

In the game at the Liberty LI's scrum was demolished by Adam and co. A poor ref failed to give Ospreys their just reward (penalty try).

Home game. Corbs bent him up all over the place before Jones went off having injured his shoulder. Jones for me has been in the top 3 tightheads in the world for a number of years now, so I would expect him to get the better of a young prop like Corbs 8 times out of 10. That certainlg doesn't make Corbs average as Jones is world class.

Yes I did a google search on this earlier actually. At the Liberty that Rattenbauch(?) guy started and Corbs came off the bench. I've watched Corbs more often than just against Adam Jones and I still don't believe he is good as some make out on here. Not doubting his potential though. As for Lions LHs I see Healy as the cert. I also think Paul James might deservedly get to tour. Gatland doesn't rate the Scots so Corbs could also get to tour.

http://www.espnscrum.com/heineken-cup-2010-11/rugby/match/119756.html

Rattenbauch is a TH, so Corbisero was playing on the 'wrong side' in the 20 mins he played at the Liberty. The match stats show that Ospreys lost 1 scrum on their own feed and that Irish didn't lose any.


http://www.espnscrum.com/heineken-cup-2010-11/rugby/match/119800.html

In the return fixture each side lost 1 scrum on their own feed.

GeordieFalcon wrote:Well we shall just have to wait and see when the front rows lock horns in a few weeks time eh?
Whilst i think England are far from the finished article and still have many glaring areas to improve...i rate our scrum very highly indeed and our front row as one of the premier ones in the world....

I would agree with you there. Forward power has been a strength in English rugby for many years now.

I rate Corbs highly, good addition to the Saints.