Olly Kohn for Wales?

With the list of healthy locks in Wales apparently now down to Lou Reed, one of the less mentioned news stories over the weekend was that Quins' enforcer-and-purveyor-of-sausages Olly Kohn has revealed that he has a Welsh grandfather and would happily play for Wales. It's a bit cheeky, and clearly not a long-term option, but I can see the attraction for Olly - he's lost several years to injury and despite being in excellent form he's too old to feature in Stuart Lancaster's plans. It might be his only shot at international recognition, and I for one would not begrudge him pulling on a red jersey instead of a white one if the call came.

But I've seen almost no reaction to this. What do the Wales fans think? Could he do a job for you in what is fast becoming a crisis?

I think we should stick with the young welsh 2nd rows showing promise. His interest is by default which IMO is not that encouraging and it sends out the wrong message as far as I'm concerned. We have plenty of good youngsters looking to make a name for themselves who have shown up well against the likes of Munster and Toulouse for example in winning teams

As said above I think we need to give our younger players a go. Kelly and King have been really good for their respective regions from what I have seen. We have had good results from blooding young locks, AWJ being a prime example. I like Kohn from what I’ve seen of him, he is a no nonsense player and gets on with things. I wouldn't begrudge him running out for Wales, but I think we all know that he wouldn't be the same kind of player as AWJ, Ian Evans when playing for us. The last time we took a chance on a journeyman lock that had always played well for his club in England we sent Will James to a World Cup; we can't make that mistake again . . . Ever!

Couldn't agree more, really looking forward to seeing king and Kelly get a chance to shine.

Could be worth calling into the squad in case the younger players need some experience. He would also offer a lot of weight to the pack which would come in handy against England and France.

I can see him featuring at some point. Wales could do a lot worse.

Will James worse!

No No No. if he was any good then surely he would be in the england squad.

formerly known as Sam wrote:Could be worth calling into the squad in case the younger players need some experience. He would also offer a lot of weight to the pack which would come in handy against England and France.

Not really sure that Wales are going to select a player who suddenly announces he qualifies a day before the squad is announced.

If he really wanted to play for Wales he should have made himself available about fifteen years ago. I dont think this Wales regime would pick a guy who the press reveal has suddenly announced a Welsh grandparent to fill a vacant whole in their squad.

They are about future planning and promoting the system from youth level to full international. Young talent has been rewarded this way and the system is working well.

If Pretorius gets in then Kohn deserves his chance too.

He would help in the scrum and lineout, but then its the age v experience argument isn't it. Deacon is very similar for England and I wouldn't want him back!

Of course on the flip side look how startlingly good Shaw was partnering a youngster for us a couple of sseasons back and then for the Lions.

James King down at the Ospreys is the real deal, I hold out no hope that Howley will select him, but he is dynamite.

Have to disagree with all the one-eyed welshmen. What's the obesession with 'blooding' as we're now calling it? In case nobody in Wales has noticed, our 2nd row prospects in the Premiership look threadbare and the ones in the academies don't seem very good. King and Kelly have played well but will probably be off the intensity and size needed for international duties at this moment in time. I'd rather a monster like Kohn come in this year or next as a stop gap. I can't see him or Charteris around in 2015 and with four front line locks out then I don't see the big deal. Jake Ball has recently moved to Wales and people are already talking about him being in the Wales set-up (rightfully so as he's a monster). I don't see much difference between him and Kohn. Get them both in and improve our depth as four second rows of international standard clearly isn't enough.

Higher_Ground wrote:James King down at the Ospreys is the real deal, I hold out no hope that Howley will select him, but he is dynamite.

I agree, we have all been very impressed with the way he has stood up to the challenge with our two first choices out this season. He has played in some tough games too. He really proved himself in the Toulouse and tigers matches post Xmas.

The sooner he gets an opportunity the better.

Luckily for us I think Lloyd Peers looks very impressive too. With Goughie about to retire at the Ospreys it is good to see some youthful depth, even though AWJ and ian Evans arent all that old.

Could be great news for Wales in a few years time to have such promising young players in the mix.

Howley should pick king at 6 alongside faletau and warburton.

But they'll pick tipuric at 7 with warburton at 6 due to the public clamour for this selection. Wrong call though.

Scrumdown wrote:Howley should pick king at 6 alongside faletau and warburton.

But they'll pick tipuric at 7 with warburton at 6 due to the public clamour for this selection. Wrong call though.

I think King looks far better at lock than backrow. He's great in the lineout. We have better blindsides in the squad than him.

Ireland are missing Ferris. As long as Hibbard and Ryan Jones are playing in that pack we can afford to put out that back-row against Ireland. Against France though I wouldn't be so sure.

Scrumdown wrote:Howley should pick king at 6 alongside faletau and warburton.

But they'll pick tipuric at 7 with warburton at 6 due to the public clamour for this selection. Wrong call though.

Faletau needs to learn to hold onto the ball in contact, and get back to some ball carrying ways.
The only reason that people are clamouring for that selection is because they understand that we need Tipuric on the field, and the only way that this is possible is with Warburton at 6, given the fact he has been selected as captain.
A back 5 of Evans, King, Shingler, Tipuric and Ryan Jones would have it all.

Tipuric and ryan jones are playing behind a dominant front five.

Faletau and warburton are not.

Remember tipuric struggled to make an impact for wales against samoa.

The whole team got beaten up against Samoa, and Tipuric is still playing his first few games for Wales. I can agree that Tipuric has the advantage of a solid tight 5 in front of him, but I'm not going to entertain the notion that he's not the best 7 in Wales, if not Europe.

I admit to not having seen him play but I think like most I would rather the likes of King, Kelly and Peers etc given the nod, after all look at the huge success Will James was.

bedfordwelsh wrote:I admit to not having seen him play but I think like most I would rather the likes of King, Kelly and Peers etc given the nod, after all look at the huge success Will James was.

What about the Northampton bloke that was a lock/backrower, Steve something I think. He was good (not good enough to remember his name mind).

Steve Williams ( I think)

SS,

Yep Steve Williams but what about him?

If I remember correctly he was Welsh not Welsh qualified and had played in Wales for Neath and Cardiff.

Also as a good pub quiz question he is the only bloke to have played 4,5,6,7 and 8 for Wales.

Bedford, I didn't remember him playing for Neath or Cardiff, and thought he was one of those who came out of nowhere. SO I withdraw my comment about him being a good find that was a welsh unknown.

SS,

I think the majority of his caps may have come when he was at the Saints but her definately played in Wales.

bedfordwelsh wrote:SS,

I think the majority of his caps may have come when he was at the Saints but her definately played in Wales.

used to play for Cardiff in the ninties as a blindside?

I'm not sure I can overstate the damage losing Kohn for the 6Ns could cause Quins' pack, please leave him be

If he was going to be called up, he would have been by now. If another 2nd row forward gets cropped then he may get a call-up to train with the squad. Otherwise you might not lose him until the summer, or not at all, ever.

http://www.premiershiprugby.com/news/22622.php#.UQKiHHgXJzo

Kohn called up. Bar Stewards.

No way......

... Damn. Kohn in the tight 5 with Jones. Ok, that is scary. And there i was hoping he'd be quietly passed over as a 21 stone scrummaging/breakdown machine.

Worse is that I'd have liked him playing for us in that period! At least we get more opportunity to give Matthews some starting time

I'll confess to knowing next to nothing about Kohn, I believe I'd heard his name mentioned no more than once prior to his Welsh link emerging.

My gut tells me it's a poach, never approved of granny links myself. But for the sake of it can anyone fill me in? Is he first choice at Quins? What are his attributes/shortcomings etc? Is he an abrasive player?

He is first choice enforcer style lock at Quins, where he has thrived and is key to our scrummaging and the general improvement in our pack (we are far more vulnerable in the tight when he isn't there). He is over 21 stone, but can still jump as a second lineout option (you will want a good backrow jumper though), is a monster in contact, surprisingly good hands and good work in the breakdown. Very abrasive in that he is physical but a really nice guy and no disciplinary issues. Shame he has hit his peak so late as England could use a lock like him but Lancaster won't pick over 30s apparently!

He's not exactly lightning though

Definitely poached! Not that I mind though. Nice to have a unit in the squad when your first 4 are out.

Sounds like pretty much what we need then! Shame the controversy is playing on my mind, if only he was Welsh through and through... and a little younger.

Think he's definitely a stop gap for your injury crisis but he'll do well and is probably what you need at this short moment in time

I totally agree. Hopefully we'll put him to good use. If he starts, we could play our two 'fetchers' in the back-row. Once he's discarded somebody like Jake Ball (as long he continues progressing) could come in to replace him.

I'd like to see Kohn on the carry with Courtney Lawes going in for the tackle...

Good for him though if he gets capped, he would have been a great lock for England had he not had the injuries at bad times.

is this Courtney Lawes guy ever going to live up to the hype - he's fast becoming the new Andrew Sheridan or the Dave Strettle of the 2nd row brigade - The fella just loses the ball in contact and seldom breaks the gain line in an international jersey

I hope that this call up doesn't mean that the recovery of AWJ, Evans or Charteris has been curtailed?

Chjw131 wrote:I'd like to see Kohn on the carry with Courtney Lawes going in for the tackle...

Aslong as Kohn isn't lying on the floor I'm sure he'll be fine. Pretty sure Lawes was playing for Wales last time we played England

munkian wrote:

Chjw131 wrote:I'd like to see Kohn on the carry with Courtney Lawes going in for the tackle...

Aslong as Kohn isn't lying on the floor I'm sure he'll be fine. Pretty sure Lawes was playing for Wales last time we played England

+1 it was a subtle offload

Morgannwg wrote:Have to disagree with all the one-eyed welshmen. What's the obesession with 'blooding' as we're now calling it? In case nobody in Wales has noticed, our 2nd row prospects in the Premiership look threadbare and the ones in the academies don't seem very good. King and Kelly have played well but will probably be off the intensity and size needed for international duties at this moment in time. I'd rather a monster like Kohn come in this year or next as a stop gap. I can't see him or Charteris around in 2015 and with four front line locks out then I don't see the big deal. Jake Ball has recently moved to Wales and people are already talking about him being in the Wales set-up (rightfully so as he's a monster). I don't see much difference between him and Kohn. Get them both in and improve our depth as four second rows of international standard clearly isn't enough.

At last the voice of reason. A 7 game losing run is not the time to be blooding callow youth. Plenty of time for that. If Kohn is good enough to hold down a place at Quinns then he can't be shabby and has certainly been playing at a higher level than King and Kelly.

'Big bad' Courtney stripped by a center. Flat track bully IMHO

Though any Nation missing its 4 first choice locks would struggle...

dragonbreath wrote:

Morgannwg wrote:Have to disagree with all the one-eyed welshmen. What's the obesession with 'blooding' as we're now calling it? In case nobody in Wales has noticed, our 2nd row prospects in the Premiership look threadbare and the ones in the academies don't seem very good. King and Kelly have played well but will probably be off the intensity and size needed for international duties at this moment in time. I'd rather a monster like Kohn come in this year or next as a stop gap. I can't see him or Charteris around in 2015 and with four front line locks out then I don't see the big deal. Jake Ball has recently moved to Wales and people are already talking about him being in the Wales set-up (rightfully so as he's a monster). I don't see much difference between him and Kohn. Get them both in and improve our depth as four second rows of international standard clearly isn't enough.

At last the voice of reason. A 7 game losing run is not the time to be blooding callow youth. Plenty of time for that. If Kohn is good enough to hold down a place at Quinns then he can't be shabby and has certainly been playing at a higher level than King and Kelly.

I don't think Kohn is above King ability wise. Size wise yes. I have no idea why any Wales fan would be worried about blooding young players over stop gaps. Look at how well We did at the World Cup with such a young an exuberant team.

Toby Faletau scoring vs the bok on his what second cap. He was top tackler with 80 odd rackles none missed. I have faith in our young players and would rather we stick with them.

They're making this up as they go along. Amateur hour.