Watch out everyone, you might loose your Loosehead. It looks like another recruitment drive from RC Toulon is just around the corner...!

Sad news that a great of the English game of the last ten years might have a career ending injury, this also means that Toulon will need to replace him.

I am sure the Bernard Laporte hit list for most wanted Looseheads in World Rugby will be on Mourad Boudjellal's desk right now...

Cian Healy
Alex Corbisiero
Tony Woodcock
Tendai Mtawarira



http://www1.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12321/9055070/ex-england-prop-andrew-sheridan-could-be-forced-to-retire-due-to-neck-injury

Shame that Sheridan is having to retire - but he's had a fairly successful career by most standards.
I doubt that Corbisiero will leave saints as he's just started a long contract with them.

In true Toulon fashion I suspect you are right and he will be looking to sign a great of the game.
He might offer one of the Franks brothers a 1yr deal or something similar.

Well our current loose head is a hooker that cant throw and being converted over...they're wlecome to him, but itll cost them... 

I imagine that Phil Vickery will replace Big Ted Sheridan

Ryan Grant looked in great form on Friday, he could well be another target.

No point going for Owen Franks, he is a tighthead, but Ben Franks is a good shout, as is Tony Woodcock for a little pension top up post ABs

Requirement here is being at least 34 years old.

VinceWLB wrote:Requirement here is being at least 34 years old.

30 plus and with a pension plan firmly in mind is the previous requirements. That might change.

They seem to scout for players that are star names whether still the best in their position or not.

maestegmafia wrote:

VinceWLB wrote:Requirement here is being at least 34 years old.

30 plus and with a pension plan firmly in mind is the previous requirements. That might change.

They seem to scout for players that are star names whether still the best in their position or not.

Thankfully for all of us i would say, Roussow is a great exemple, he has been an incredibly average signing for them.
Castro too who is steadily declining since a year or so.

VinceWLB wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:

VinceWLB wrote:Requirement here is being at least 34 years old.

30 plus and with a pension plan firmly in mind is the previous requirements. That might change.

They seem to scout for players that are star names whether still the best in their position or not.

Thankfully for all of us i would say, Roussow is a great exemple, he has been an incredibly average signing for them.
Castro too who is steadily declining since a year or so.

I would have thought Woodcock or Franks would be top of the list.

Greg Sommerville - has he retired or is he in Japan? He was a tight head but could play LH too.

Other Loosies -
Matt Stevens - Definitely wouldn't deal with the French Packs out there.
They could get the Fridge back from Sale!

What is Tony Buckley doing?

Maybe London Irish is just a stopping point for Tom Court before he moves on to Toulon ala James O'Connor

propdavid_london wrote:Greg Sommerville - has he retired or is he in Japan? He was a tight head but could play LH too.

Other Loosies -
Matt Stevens - Definitely wouldn't deal with the French Packs out there.
They could get the Fridge back from Sale!

What is Tony Buckley doing?

Thought Buckley was TH?

Buckley is a TH and not a very good one.  Not remotely close to Toulon standard.

Artful_Dodger wrote:Buckley is a TH and not a very good one.  Not remotely close to Toulon standard.

Aye, he had a prominent time when at Munster but seems to have disappeared since he signed for Sale.

Mako Vunipola may be a good choice

Would be very surprised if Mako left, he is playing alongside his brother and by all accounts is very happy at Sarries.

Toulon might take both of them.

Yes, I would be surprised to see Mako leave Sarries - especially as his international career is not certain.
Corbis is the 1st choice but Marler and Vaunipola are fairly level pegging.

Tony Buckley appears to have dropped into obscurity - is he injured?

maestegmafia wrote:Toulon might take both of them.

They are both pretty much kids in rugby terms, plenty of time for that!

Billy looks to be first choice England 8, can't see him giving that up, he will have seen how the Armitages are off the radar at Toulon

maestegmafia wrote:Toulon might take both of them.

And kiss their international prospects goodbye? I doubt it. Plus Billy just signed for this season. Toulon would have to pay a transfer fee.

Plus both brothers are too young. Generally need to be 30+ to play for Toulon.

I would think that Toulon would be going back to Leicester to try and get another prop.... perhaps Ayerza.... or Mulipola though Mulipola is also too young....

I am dreading but unfortunately expecting the move for Ayerza, just hope we can keep him if it happens

They took both of the Armitage brothers pretty young. The list in the OP looks more like their cup or tea though. Maybe. . A French prop?

VinceWLB wrote:Requirement here is being at least 34 years old.

Well given that 2 of them are gone/going they will need to bring in some players.

Wilko retiring has see Toulon go after Flood as a replacement.

If Sheridan retires (which I think he might) they will look to bring in a first rate prop but I'm not sure who is out of contract and available. I doubt he will be French because there just are not that many good French props around at the moment.

My question is, how long are the following guys going on for as they cant have many seasons left in them:

Bruno (39)
Hayman (34)
Botha (34)
Rossouw (35)
Masoe (34)

Would have thought a couple of them will be heading out in the summer as well if not retiring?

Jack McGrath or Cian Healy of Leinster could be targets.

Also Martin Moore Leinster tighthead is attracting offers from Racing, Exeter and Castres.

Coleman wrote:They took both of the Armitage brothers pretty young. The list in the OP looks more like their cup or tea though. Maybe. . A French prop?

Wouldn't say the Armitage bros were that young - Steffon is 28 now, Delon will be 30 soon.

Thankfully both Ayerza and Mulipola are both under contract for next season. Given the issues Hayman had trying to scrum against Ayerza last season that is probably a good thing. The Toulon board won't have missed that.

Personally I think they'll go either French and young, looking to develop a little bit or go Bok and look to have someone available for more of the season.

Also Ayerza seems happy at Tigers
http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Tigers-news-Prop-Marcus-Ayerza-played-key-role/story-20252093-detail/story.html

I know that everyone is having a go at Toulon for buying older players but when it comes to propping this is normally a good thing. Plus they should be mature enough to settle quicker and Toulon do not strike me as a team to buy for the future.

Have they got any Georgian props in their squad as this seems to be the trend in French clubs as far as I can see?

Actually come to think about it with Ian Evans signing with them Rossouw, Botha or Ali Williams must be heading out.

To be honest it wont just be them to watch out for. Clermont will be needing to rebuild as well. Cant see to many more of theirs continuing at top level. Racing will also be keen to add quality if its available.

They tend to secure already seasoned players and you wont see to many inexperienced players heading to those clubs.

twoeightnine wrote:I know that everyone is having a go at Toulon for buying older players but when it comes to propping this is normally a good thing.  Plus they should be mature enough to settle quicker and Toulon do not strike me as a team to buy for the future.

Have they got any Georgian props in their squad as this seems to be the trend in French clubs as far as I can see?

Na they don't buy for the future. Would have thought around 30's is prime until your about 33/34. After that its downhill on a lot of areas.

Toulon will continue to replenish their team every season to keep the superstar aura around them. They don't really care if a player only lasts 12 months as it fits in with their growing "Real Madrid" recruitment style.

Still think Ayerza is the man most likely to move from the Jeff (because he's the best scrummaging loosehead, in my opinion). They have got to be eyeing Cian Healy too.

Woodcock is the most likely overall though, I would think that the Beast will be asked how many cows he eats per day for the purposes of his salary projection.

Healy would be an interesting scenario.  He gets protected a lot in terms of minutes where he is.  Whatever about an outhalf in Sexton playing a lot of games, Top14 is forward dominated attritional rugby so the wear on Healy would be even greater.  JW is on the verge of retirement though, so the most important cog on the Toulon machine needs to be replaced.  There will be plenty of people who will start to doubt Toulons ability to claim silverware with a Giteau going to 10 or another outhalf coming in.

I know how about Gethin Jenkins, a u turn on a u turn??

I'd wouldn't be surprised if they signed all four of those player on you list Maes.

Maybe if they treated Gethin better then who know's
Shame about Sheridan though

ScarletSpiderman wrote:I know how about Gethin Jenkins, a u turn on a  u turn??

Where is Gethin going? The Blues?  It would be interesting if he did a u-turn there.  I seem to remember Xavier Rush leaving the Blues for some team (was it Ulster?) only for him to pull out late in the process (at a point which seemed to be after the point of no return so to speak).  Whoever he was going to move to didn't create a stink at the time which was generous towards the Blues, would the Blues be so generous potentially being on the other side of the fence on this deal?

It was Ulster. But Gethin is already at the Blues

One day the top 14 will expand and will just have every professional rugby player on the planet in it.

What a joke of a league ,I would be ashamed to support any team in that awful, boring league.

LeinsterFan4life wrote:One day the top 14 will expand and will just have every professional rugby player on the planet in it.

What a joke of a league ,I would be ashamed to support any team in that awful, boring league.

 

LeinsterFan4life wrote:One day the top 14 will expand and will just have every professional rugby player on the planet in it.

What a joke of a league ,I would be ashamed to support any team in that awful, boring league.

Bit over the top isn't it?
Name a professional team that doesn't have a player or two not born in or developed in their catchment area.
SA and NZ are probably the best in terms of % of local players but even then heaps of players move between teams.

Hell even my beloved Hurricanes have players not born in the lower North Island. Ben Franks is a South Islander for God's sake!

A player or two? I think the french teams have a bit more than a "player or two". Toulon have around 3 frenchmen starting in each matchday squad.

Even great clubs like Toulose and to a lesser extend Clermont, who were great for playing French players have come out and said they will be bringing in more foreign players.

LeinsterFan4life wrote:A player or two? I think the french teams have a bit more than a "player or two". Toulon have around 3 frenchmen starting in each matchday squad.

The coach doesn't usually count mate

I am going to be fascinated to see whom Toulon settle on at 10.
 
All indicators point to the fact that he won't be French - something that's killing the development of French talent in this area as the last 6N jamboree nakedly demonstrated. Mouneimne doesn't seem to like young stars - much preferring older and more vanilla players - I'm not sure that he would have bought Sexton, for example, despite his credentials and even if he was available. I bet you all of the IOUs in my pocket that they are putting together a package for Dan Carter right now.
 
If I was him, I would be asking Luke McAlister if he's interested in coming over from Toulouse.

McAlister isn't really a 10, he's a playmaking 12 that regularly gets shoved in at 10. Tolouse are supposedly looking to release him due to indifferent form.

Toulon have apparently got Flood lined up which would certainly give them a gainline 10 but won't help the tactical kicking loss of Wilkinson.

Could be interesting with Clermont and Tolouse also looking for flyhalfs as well.

Mouneimne ?  
 
Toulon normally doesnt go for players who can still play for their country. they used to prefer "vintage" players but this system has a limit as proven by the recent list of inuries (sheridan , rossouw, Lobbe). Laporte will always prefer a pure scrummaging prop rather than someone who also shines outside the scrum like Healy.
Their best option right now is to play one of their local LHs (fresia or Chiocchi) and start moving Giteau to 10. easier said than done as their scrum has been realy poor recently and Giteau is fantastic as a centre. and then maybe get a decent SA prop for next year. Hook would be a better option than McAlister in my opinion. whatever they do they wont replace JW easily who is critical to their game plan. I think they will have a couple of years without winning anything with so many key players to replace but that's what you get when you have a short term strategy.

whocares wrote:Mouneimne ?  

Sorry, I had a bit of a funny turn there. I obviously meant that Mourad Jellybaby feller.