2013/14 Players to Watch

First topic message reminder :

Well been another great season of rugby and before we know it, it'll be starting all over again.

Now there has been some interesting player transfers, new lads coming on the scene etc...i was just wondering who you'd be particularly watching this season.

Be it for potential international honours, just for your clubs progression etc...

A couple of noteable premiership moves i think are interesting are

Matt Garvey & Jonathan Joseph to Bath
and
Matt Mullan to Wasps

Do you mean Swainston Sam? I thought he improved their scrum massively, and was a good and probably cheap pick up for Dai Young. Don't think he'll ever go beyond a good club player but an excellent signing nonetheless

I'm really looking forward to seeing if Setaimata Sa can finally shine for Irish. After a long season out with visa issues and injuries, I am hoping that next year he can solve our midfield problems. I think it could also be a huge season for Guy Armitage now that he will clearly be a first choice starter.

Just wading back into this,  I am looking forward to seeing some young players making an impact in positions where England are a little exposed.

Ryan Mills (Gloucester)- Inside Centre
Jack Yeandle (Exeter)- Hooker

I also want to see if players like Matt Banahan and Carl Fearns can play their way back into international recognition.

That's the fella Hood. Considering the cost of top level tightheads and Wasps general funding issues he was a brilliant signing.

A young lad callled Shane Williams must now be one to watch. Plucked from obscurity to play for the Lions, surely he has a great future ahead of him.

Christian Wade (wasps)
Lewis Evans (Dragons)

Guy Armitage and Seitamata Sa for London Irish.

Hopefully they will form a very good centre partnership.

After their performances on Saturday...ill be watching Yarde and Eastmond closely.

Eastmonds vision and handling was very impressive.

It wont be anyone at Quins thats for sure

logansrun38 wrote:It wont be anyone at Quins thats for sure

logansrun38 wrote:It wont be anyone at Quins thats for sure

Why exactly is it that you come on here fella!

Ozzy3213 wrote:

logansrun38 wrote:It wont be anyone at Quins thats for sure

Why exactly is it that you come on here fella!

Probably no longer welcome at Comeallwithin?

whats comeallwithin?

logansrun38 wrote:whats comeallwithin?

I thought you were a long time Quins fan?

"come all without,
come all within,
you'll not see nothing like the mighty quins"

www.comeallwithin.co.uk


PS is that really much worse than "Stand Up, for the Saracens"

a site full of one eyed Quins fans?

LondonTiger wrote:"come all without,
come all within,
you'll not see nothing like the mighty quins"

www.comeallwithin.co.uk


PS is that really much worse than "Stand Up, for the Saracens"

That double negative does my head in, LT. You'll not see nothing like them. Doesn't that mean you'll see something like them?

Blame Bob Dylan GC, I think he wrote the original, that Mannfred Mann covered and Quins fans started plagiarising in the 90s

LondonTiger wrote:"come all without,
come all within,
you'll not see nothing like the mighty quins"

www.comeallwithin.co.uk


PS is that really much worse than "Stand Up, for the Saracens"

Well, we don't play it as much

Pfft,

Sarries only play it when they score - so not all that often surely

LondonTiger wrote:Pfft,

Sarries only play it when they score - so not all that often surely

Not true, if you'd been to Sarries vs Munster you'd know they play it whenever they feel like

I have to say no team matches Tigers with their Deep Purple and is a wonderful contrast to Right Said Fred.

One player to watch next season without a doubt has to be Owen Williams for Leicester, he is a very classy no. 10 and he will set the Aviva on fire next season.

for the scarlets I would say:

Sion Bennett- No 8

Dion Jones - Fullback/Wing

From a Welsh point of view, I think as many WQ players as possible should be watched/kept an eye on, whether they're playing in France, England, Scotland, Wales or any other country. I think we ought to try and keep an eye on all of them and not forget about promising WQ talents that have gone abroad or are already abroad; the likes of Owen Williams, Rheon James, Darren Allinson, Dwayne Peel, Mike Phillips, Jack Roberts, James Hook, Gavin Henson, Gareth Delve, Luke Charteris, Aled Brew, Paul James, Lee Byrne and so on, especially when it comes to international selection.

For Edinburgh, Alex Allan and Jamie Farndale.

Allan is the most developed young prop Ive seen in a scotland shirt, both physically and technically. Can play both sides of the scrum, and is a beast in the loose. Broke his leg in the spring, but an image on the club website showed him back on the bikes so fingers crossed.

Jamie Farndale was top try scorer at the JWC last year and has bagged a couple already this year. Expect him to really start running them in now that the knockout pots have been decided and he gets some front foot ball thanks to a more competitive pack. Must be close to being scotlands age grade record try scorer by now, as hes bagged a few in 6N games aswell. Made his debut not last season but the one before, but again, broke his leg and is only just back.

Looking forward to seeing a backrow of Garvey, Louw & Fearns as a 6, 7 & 8 at Bath. Subtlety will not be a trait.........The back up  young english trio of Ovens, Mercer and Sisi will be worth a look too.

The midfield combinations of Heathcote or Ford with any of Joseph, Eastmond, Banahan, Ben Williams and of course Henson.

The whole squad has an exciting look which just now needs experience.

Yeah ive been noticing Bath recwatcher...they're putting together quite a squad...that pack is going to be pretty tough...and whilst Garvey will probably be a 6...im he'll get some games at 4/5 with Attwood...and that will be an uncompromising engine room...

Bath have added some quality, Wasps look good if their team can stay fit, Gloucester have added players liek Kvesic, Saints have North and Fotuali'i, I don't want to agree with Logan but Quins really do need to buy a couple of players

Dont forget the rampaging Falcons CJ

GeordieFalcon wrote:Dont forget the rampaging Falcons CJ

Maybe. Very hard to guess how your team will do, think you have general strength and some young talent but no real star quality anywhere. Except your exceptional coach, of course

I also want to see Saracens develop the likes of Fraser and the Vunipolae, they will be important in England's future

Well thats true...he's looking to build solidity first...and im confident our pack will match pretty much most of the packs...

He's taken the chance on several youngsters who havent quite fulfilled their potential yet with the hope that he can get the best out of them...certainly Andy Saull is an interesting one. If Wells can get the best out of that lad...that will be a serious aquisition.
Mike Blair is top class...and Scott Lawsons performance on Saturday v the boks showed we have a decent hooker now.

Theres a few rumours that there may be a couple of crackers from NZ on their way due to Peter Russels fatherlike figure to many...with Zac Guilford a name that constantly circles due to his off field problems he may be tempted...

This season will be interesting to watch...but survival is key!

CJ have faith I'm sure COS is right now scouring the JWC and the various international tours for talent to recruit. A couple of big Pacific Islanders would give Quins some extra go forward.

The winger Lieua from the Canes and Visawai the backrow from Treviso might add some impact. Falcons have nicked Dom Barrow otherwise he'd have been a good option. There's some decent props in the Championship that could be pillaged and I wonder if Imolek from Sale could be stolen away from the North where he's getting little action and he could be a great understudy to Marler.

TBF I was just happy to see Marler hopefully show some of his many doubters what he can do in the Argentina Series, bloody good series from him I thought. I'll have faith, Sam, but it could get tight fighting for 3rd and 4th place this year

Could be a tough fight from 1st to 8th to be honest. The top four from last season haven't got weaker, Bath are now substantially stronger, Glaws are developing, the Chiefs will scalp you if you underestimate them and Wasps are probably not a top 4 threat but are a potential banana skin and could sneak 6th.

Was good to see Marler carrying more and getting back to the barnstorming loose for that established him whilst keeping the solid displays upfront.

Barritt will never learn to be creative the way Billy is. I also don't agree that Twelvetrees has a weak defence - being beaten by Daly in broken play is hardly something to be ashamed of.

Twelvetrees makes Farrell look a better player, but then he'll make any 10 look better than Barritt does. If you are a 10 playing with Barritt and Tuilagi then you are basically on your own. Fortunately it looks like England may be just about to move on.

It wasn't broken play, England had a set defence and Billy still has issues keeping his shoulders square to the defensive line making it very difficult to execute a tackle if a player steps to his outside. He angles his shoulders in to the breakdown, Alesana Tuilagi used to do the same thing all the time. It's a small thing but something that needs fine tuning.

Flood didn't struggle to create things with a Barritt/Manu midfield. Perhaps we should look at a 10 that can stay flat and pasa before worrying who the secondary playmaker in the backline is. If he plays there for his club next season it could easily be Eastmond after that game vs Argentina.

Looking forward tho watching that massive Bath backrow smash in to a few others next season, will be interesting that's for sure.

Will there actually be many more signings now? Normally all business has been conducted, however, in light of the fact the Top 14 transfer deadline has passed, meaning only medical jokers can be signed (although that does seem to cover a pretty wide spectrum), the rest of Europe won't be up against the flamboyant spending of the French.

I know Glaws will be making one more signing as we're a prop down with Chistilini leaving.  The question will be will it be a front line prop or a 3rd choice? The answer I feel lies with the fate of Olly Morgan.  We will know within the next month if he is actually going to make a return, which I sincerely hope he does.  However, if the worst case happens, his departure will free up quite a hefty salary.

From a Saracens fan perspective I am interested to see how Johnston does, obviously Billy, if Bosch and potgieter join then them too.

I will be watching the new bath boys JJ, Watson and Garvey too. Tango man and Ford as well. Bath should do well next season.


Ksevic for Gloucester. Mullan for wasps. Corbisiero - see if he can fill big shoes.

Obviously north for saints too.

George Ford at Bath is definitely one to watch. I can't believe he would be washed up at 20.

beshocked wrote:From a Saracens fan perspective I am interested to see how Johnston does, obviously Billy, if Bosch and potgieter join then them too.

I will be watching the new bath boys JJ, Watson and Garvey too.  Tango man and Ford as well. Bath should do well next season.


Ksevic for Gloucester. Mullan for wasps. Corbisiero - see if he can fill big shoes.

Obviously north for saints too.

I just don't know think there is a fair few pubs in Bath, and in reasonable distance to travel back to Cardiff. Just can't see him giving up the nightlife just yet....can see him making the headlines for the wrong reasons again. I hope I'm wrong, and he has turned a corner and will now concentrate on his rugby.

OK -
I would keep an eye on -

Eastmond - pocket rocket, want to see him really firm up 1 position. Ideally 12
J.Joseph - been on an iffy run of form, was outstanding the previous season - really want Bath to re-invigorate him.
Yarde - more of the same please
Kvesick - still not convinced, perhaps playing in a more established team will let us see more of him.
Wallace - more starts hopefully, Faasavalou is getting older so there will be more opportunity.
Fraser Walters - kick on from a great season before injury.
Matt Mullan - move to Wasps will hopefully be mutually beneficial.
Jack Clifford - England U20s capt - hopefully he can get some more 1st team chances.
Joel Tompkins/Billy Twelvetrees - both offer similar traits and could be fighting for the England 12 shirt long term.
Wade - like most of the country will be watching him. Just needs to work on his positioning when not in possession. Shown up in defence a number of times - I just don't want to see him go down the Varndell route.
Elliot Daly - showed real promise playing for the BaaBaas.

Many of us have listed youngsters coming through...

Ill be hugely interested in a few battles.

Croft v Haskell v Wood for that 6 spot
Can Robshaw continue his brilliant consistency...and how close can Fraser and Kvesic push him

How impressive could an Attwood / Garvey second row be. Certainly no backward steps!!

Can Webber continue his progress and overtake Hartley, or will Hartley come out fighting.
Can Youngs continue to impress and can Lindsay show enough improvement in the lineout...what a prospect he could be.

Charlie matthews has received alot of attention...will he make the quins spot his now?

For the Falcons
Can Helluer really bring last seasons form to the Prem. Hes a blockbuster of a Samoan.
Can Will Welch and Mark Wilson bring their back row performances to the prem.
Can Shiells show how good he is.
Can Scot Wilson show the prem what all us falcons have been talking about

For Munster JJ Hanrahan, Andrew Conway, Dave O'Callaghan.

ScarletSpiderman wrote:Oh and Rhodri Jones at the Scarlets is another one to keep an eye out for, been injured and rested this season, but should be back to starting games this coming season, and with Samson Lee and Ken Owens should provide some real tough scrummaging options.

It will be good to see how a fully fit Rhodri Jones and Samson Lee with another years experience under his belt gets on. Keen also to see how Rob Evans, Jake Ball develop and especially keen to see young Jordan Williams, who I suspect the Scarlets will use on the wing.

Do Welsh posters think Sam Davies will see any gametime next season or will he move out to a Club like Gloucester (where his Dad is) or maybe London Welsh?

I thought Glaws were pretty well stocked on 10s? Burns x 2, Taylor and random dude from the Cornish Pirates.

Maybe Bath after Heathcote heads North.

LW might be a loan option if he's not getting enough game time. Doubt they'll return to the AP so that'll rule out a long term deal.

Coukd follow North to Saints. Like the majority of serious young Welsh talent I think he'll retain in the Principality.

Burns Sr. will hopefully be spending a bit of time away with England. Burns Jr. is still very young and extremely limited first team experience, unlikely to be ready for at least a season or 2 and no guarantees he'll come good. Tim Taylor doesn't appear to be fancied by the new coaching team and has had bad luck with injuries, will almost certainly be leaving when his contract expires next summer, barring any dramatic changes of circumstance. Jonny Bentley (the random dude from Cornish Pirates) now signed and looks a decent player but he's also had his problems with injuries and championship acquisitions are always a bit of a toss up.

Long story short, wouldn't be surprised to see Sam Davies in a Gloucester shirt in the future if trajectories of all parties remain on their current course.