fulback position at toulon

with leigh halfpenny and james O'Connor both joining Toulon for the start of next season. I would think that both of them will want the 15 shirt so where does that leave delon armitage who has jut signed a new contract .

JOC can play 4 positions and is probably best at 12, Armitage can play wing too

There are plenty of games in a season that they'll get enough game time

Halfpenny will be on international duty too.

Toulon have been happy to sign Habana and leave him on the bench, so I don't think thy regard it as a problem.

Can see O'Connor being used on the bench considering he is only there for 3 months and can play everywhere but 9 in the backline.

1/2p was signed as a kicking replacement for JW so he won't play every game

The Great Aukster wrote:1/2p was signed as a kicking replacement for JW so he won't play every game

After Armitages kick against Leinster they may reconsider whether they need him

Drew Mitchell can put in a shift there as well.

I doubt we'll see JOC start many games at 15, I suspect he'll mostly feature in the centres or on the bench.

Toulon will surely continue with their approach to player management that their squad enables and have a fair amount of rotation between Armitage and 1/2p (when not with Wales), but I wouldn't be surprised to see 1/2p start a number of matches at his old position on the wing when they are both available.  Both can play wing, but 1/2p is the better and more experienced player there, his footwork more suited to what usually gets demanded of Toulon's wide men, and Armitage's style of line from deep at 15 similarly a better fit to their general methods of attack.

Do they see JOC as flyhalf cover as well? Or will the #1 flyhalf be Giteau?

One thing about Toulon that annoys me is buying players they don't need. why sign Gorgodze when you have Juan Smith, Rossouw, Armitage and Lobbe?

Likewise why sign Halfpenny when you already have Mitchell, Armitage, Habana, Wulf and Palisson?

They must be getting a fair amount for bench warming

Ironmike the reason for signing them is then you are guaranteed they won't play against you!

JOC will be mostly considered at 10 or 12, as they only have Giteau at 12 right? These two may have also played together in this channel for Aus, I can't remember a specific occasion though. They could also have Armitage, Halfpenny and JOC as their back 3. Jeez, they sure do have some magnificent combo's throughout the team.

IronMike wrote:Do they see JOC as flyhalf cover as well? Or will the #1 flyhalf be Giteau?

One thing about Toulon that annoys me is buying players they don't need. why sign Gorgodze when you have Juan Smith, Rossouw, Armitage and Lobbe?

Likewise why sign Halfpenny when you already have Mitchell, Armitage, Habana, Wulf and Palisson?

They must be getting a fair amount for bench warming

Giteau is definitely their best flyhalf option and I expect the majority of his starts to be there next season, but that would leave them with only Bastareaud and Mermoz as full time centres, both of whom are currently in the national squad, so could miss a number of games.  That's why I think JOC will mostly start in the centre or feature on the bench at 23 or 22, where he'll be vying with Michalak.  I'm sure rotation practices will mean we'll see Michalak & Giteau start 10 & 12 a number of times, with JOC covering from the bench, but that's not as strong a selection imho.  They'll almost certainly be shopping for more permanent FHs and centres over the next year.

Regarding those back 3 players, Wulf and Palisson are leaving them at the end of the season.

I suspect the reason why they signed Gorgodze was that it was too good an opportunity with his contract being up at Montpellier and them having to plan for a number of players in the positions he covers who probably won't be with them much longer.  Rossouw, Masoe, van Niekerk, Smith, Botha and Williams are all in the 33-35 age bracket, so nearing retirement or eyeing up better offers from the lighter Japanese league to stretch their career that little bit further.

Isn't Nick Kennedy also leaving, or already left? Ian Evans is his replacement.

Halfpenny can play XV or as most recognise his best position is on the wing so there will be plenty of options for Toulon either way.

The Saint wrote:Isn't Nick Kennedy also leaving, or already left? Ian Evans is his replacement.

Kennedy left at the end of last season, he's currently at Quins.