Silly season transfer rumours III...

First topic message reminder :

Previous seasonal silliness:
https://www.606v2.com/t57129-silly-season-transfer-rumours
https://www.606v2.com/t58562-silly-season-transfer-rumours-continued


The place to confirm rumours, deny them, or viciously start new ones of your own.

Bath did apparently make a profit on the deal as Crowe was so keen to get Burgess back.

I rather feel for whichever South Sydney squad members are going to be shown the door as an early Christmas present due to another players whim, but personally I'm not really interested in Mr Burgess anymore.

I had all the sympathy in the world for him until he decided to walk away. He could have been a great union player but bottled it because it as hard work and a return to league was easy money.

England put him in an impossible position at the world cup and the media didn't help with their hype. He'd have gone up in estimations had that only hardened his resolve.

He'd certainly have gone further up in my estimation had he stuck around after the RWC fiasco. Especially as it would have been a fantastic 2 finger salute to the media for him to hang around and try to prove them wrong!

I just disagree with the idea that he gave up because it was hard work. I think he showed that he was willing to put the graft in given how much he learnt in a short space of time.

He simply had the joy sucked out of it by getting picked out of position then being caught up in the media furore caused by their own hype.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Seagultaf wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:

lostinwales wrote:North not heading back west
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/34938164

No details as to length or any changes. Guess it means he is happy there

Didn't the new boss of WRU say there was not enough cash to offer him a DC? If so, then allied to all the unpleasantness around North's departure you can see why he is staying put.

It's simply a matter of money, Northampton are paying him loads of money! His international form has gone through the floor, his chances of going on the next Lions tour are looking slim and, frankly if Wales had another international class wing, then is place in the side would be on very dodgy ground.

I really hope he turns things around but the contrast between the player who left Wales as the new superstar of the game, to the pretty ordinary player he has now become is pretty damning.

You'd have thought that if Wales had another international winger then they'd replace Cuthbert. North has scored regularly and played well for Saints. The lack of impact at international level owes to a mixture of him being heavily marked and Wales insisting on a gruelling power game as opposed to attacking space out wide.

Cuthbert has only been playing because to the crippling injury list. His form of late has been very poor and he is probably now behind Liam Williams and Amos, with Walker applying further pressure. If all of those and Halfpenny were fit Cuthbert would be no where near the team and who knows maybe North would also struggle.

I accept that North has been OK for Saints but at his form is way off test level, I really hope Mallender has a plan for getting him back to his pre Saints form, otherwise it will be a wasted career!

Saints website has him with 22 tries in 42 games. That's a bit better than ok. If the Welsh management decide to stop letting him play with concussion they might see better returns. Similarly if they change their method of attack from smash it up the middle and hope for an individual moment of skill that might help also.

North might have also seen that crippling injury list and decided that Saints was a good place to be.

As Sam says, North has never really suffered a major dip of form for Saints. He gets targeted more, but has a good scoring record and rarely has a bad game.

It's not up to Saints to get him playing well for Wales, that's a Welsh issue.

if North is happy with being a good club player then he is clearly in the right place, you would hope after the spectacular start he had to his career, he would have wanted to be remembered as a great international?

I suspect I am not alone in being really disappointed at how his test form has tailed off, I thought George would be something really special.

Seeing as most Scarlets were happy to see him leave due to a perceived lack of interest it's somewhat of a surprise Welsh fans are so keen to get him back. Those who stayed in Williams X2 have hardly progressed past those that have left Halfpenny and Davies/Roberts.

Better to go and play in big games and look to win silverware.

Saints have announced Picamoles for next year, unbelievable signing.

WELL-PAST-IT wrote:Saints have announced Picamoles for next year, unbelievable signing.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/34702692

Old news

Fly half round about in Toulon continues.

http://www.planetrugby.com/news/trinh-duc-signs-for-toulon/

Cooper only on one year deal.

Seagultaf wrote:if North is happy with being a good club player then he is clearly in the right place, you would hope after the spectacular start he had to his career, he would have wanted to be remembered as a great international?

I suspect I am not alone in being really disappointed at how his test form has tailed off, I thought George would be something really special.

It is my understanding that his form for Scarlets was never all that great, not that he actually played much for them - 45 matches and 24 tries in four seasons.

That his form in tests has tailed off is far more down to the concussions, that he is a marked man and how Wales have been playing than anything at club level.

LondonTiger wrote:

Seagultaf wrote:if North is happy with being a good club player then he is clearly in the right place, you would hope after the spectacular start he had to his career, he would have wanted to be remembered as a great international?

I suspect I am not alone in being really disappointed at how his test form has tailed off, I thought George would be something really special.

It is my understanding that his form for Scarlets was never all that great, not that he actually played much for them - 45 matches and 24 tries in four seasons.

That his form in tests has tailed off is far more down to the concussions, that he is a marked man and how Wales have been playing than anything at club level.

45 games in 2 seasons, it's not surprising that he looks burnt out when he plays for Wales.

Seagultaf wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:

Seagultaf wrote:if North is happy with being a good club player then he is clearly in the right place, you would hope after the spectacular start he had to his career, he would have wanted to be remembered as a great international?

I suspect I am not alone in being really disappointed at how his test form has tailed off, I thought George would be something really special.

It is my understanding that his form for Scarlets was never all that great, not that he actually played much for them - 45 matches and 24 tries in four seasons.

That his form in tests has tailed off is far more down to the concussions, that he is a marked man and how Wales have been playing than anything at club level.

45 games in 2 seasons, it's not surprising that he looks burnt out when he plays for Wales.

well Wales could of rested him too

nathan wrote:

Seagultaf wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:

Seagultaf wrote:if North is happy with being a good club player then he is clearly in the right place, you would hope after the spectacular start he had to his career, he would have wanted to be remembered as a great international?

I suspect I am not alone in being really disappointed at how his test form has tailed off, I thought George would be something really special.

It is my understanding that his form for Scarlets was never all that great, not that he actually played much for them - 45 matches and 24 tries in four seasons.

That his form in tests has tailed off is far more down to the concussions, that he is a marked man and how Wales have been playing than anything at club level.

45 games in 2 seasons, it's not surprising that he looks burnt out when he plays for Wales.

well Wales could of rested him too

Only Saints actually cared enough to rest him and allow him to recover.

Love that this north topic has become a blame game on England vs. wales. Yawn.

nathan wrote:

Seagultaf wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:

Seagultaf wrote:if North is happy with being a good club player then he is clearly in the right place, you would hope after the spectacular start he had to his career, he would have wanted to be remembered as a great international?

I suspect I am not alone in being really disappointed at how his test form has tailed off, I thought George would be something really special.

It is my understanding that his form for Scarlets was never all that great, not that he actually played much for them - 45 matches and 24 tries in four seasons.

That his form in tests has tailed off is far more down to the concussions, that he is a marked man and how Wales have been playing than anything at club level.

45 games in 2 seasons, it's not surprising that he looks burnt out when he plays for Wales.

well Wales could of rested him too

Only Saints actually cared enough to rest him and allow him to recover.

James Marshall to be Irish's next 10.

SirBurger wrote:James Marshall to be Irish's next 10.

Excuse my ignorance, but who?

Full back and fly half at Hurricanes. Steady and reliable utility play maker. Decent kicker from memory but not a game changer.

Ah yes I remember him, think he's alright, difficult to tell really as teams like the Hurricans are unlike any Prem sides, so we won't know how he goes until he gets here.

I'm still amazed LI can sign any of these players really, do none of them look at the league table before they move?

I think London is always a draw for players Yappy. They're in for a shock when they land in Reading mind.

Yep, when they get their flight to London Gatwick, train to Reading, and just end up thinking London's really wooded and spacious!

Talking of rugby players called Marshall, has Tom Marshall played for Gloucester yet?

SirBurger wrote:James Marshall to be Irish's next 10.

Have you heard something SB or is that just speculation/hope?

Ah just seen - apparently in TRP

yappysnap wrote:Yep, when they get their flight to London Gatwick, train to Reading, and just end up thinking London's really wooded and spacious!

All Reading joking apart, being London based is one draw LI do have.

I like Marshall, solid player who would offer a lot over several positions, although he's not the classical 10 with a high kicking % that people are crying out for. A lot will depend on how quickly Brophy Clews develops, although you'd have to think next season may still be too soon to be the main man at 10.

Yea, I like Marshall too. Not sure whether he is the answer at 10, but reassuring that we are still in for these sorts of players.

BamBam wrote:Talking of rugby players called Marshall, has Tom Marshall played for Gloucester yet?

No. He arrived with a crocked shoulder and has had an op to rectify. He is apparently set for his debut within 4 weeks.

Halfpenny to Wasps being reported for next season

That would be impressive but he's not really needed.

Daly can kick just as well and there are probably lots of cheaper full backs they can pick from. He's also injury prone.

Given how key the full back is to their counter attacking kick return that's not really what I'd associate with Halfpenny. He'd offer a deep tactical kicker but not really the electric running threat that they are using at the minute. His call ups and injury history don't make him that attractive at an option given his cost.

New lock for LI

formerly known as Sam wrote:Given how key the full back is to their counter attacking kick return that's not really what I'd associate with Halfpenny. He'd offer a deep tactical kicker but not really the electric running threat that they are using at the minute. His call ups and injury history don't make him that attractive at an option given his cost.

Yea exactly, get Beauden Barrett at 15 for a season. Preferably so that we can get him as a 10 the season after!!

TRP also reporting that we're looking for injury cover at backrow, when does super Rugby start? As I assume we won't be able to get any NH but might be able to get a SH player in for a while before their comp kicks off.

Unless there are any players out of contract?

Super Rugby is usually late Feb I think

That Namibian 8 must be worth a look, or Mafi from Japan. No idea on their contracts though.

formerly known as Sam wrote:Given how key the full back is to their counter attacking kick return that's not really what I'd associate with Halfpenny. He'd offer a deep tactical kicker but not really the electric running threat that they are using at the minute. His call ups and injury history don't make him that attractive at an option given his cost.

I think that's more how Wales are using him generally rather than his skill set. Certainly earlier in his career he was that sort of player, although he might have forgotten by now.

HammerofThunor wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:Given how key the full back is to their counter attacking kick return that's not really what I'd associate with Halfpenny. He'd offer a deep tactical kicker but not really the electric running threat that they are using at the minute. His call ups and injury history don't make him that attractive at an option given his cost.

I think that's more how Wales are using him generally rather than his skill set. Certainly earlier in his career he was that sort of player, although he might have forgotten by now.

I suspect someone at Wasps is desperate for a high percentage point kicker. First Gopperth and now Halfpenny rumoured. Neither really fit the style of play that is bringing Wasps their current good results. Gopperth has helped Wasps massively by getting suspended. Halfpenny should be looking for a team that suits him at this stage of his career and Wasps should be looking for a creative and explosive full back to launch the counter attacks with that back line.

Jackson always offered that Wasps backline its best chance of scoring tries and so it has proven recently.

His goalkicking was never quite cast iron whilst at Glasgow though, so I would understand where St Leigh of Lilliput would fit in. Taking the pressure off Jackson still further usually makes him even better.

formerly known as Sam wrote: Wasps should be looking for a creative and explosive full back to launch the counter attacks with that back line.

Stuart Hogg then?

George at Wasps he has Daly to take the long range efforts. What he offers Wasps is similar to what Goode offered. A competent all round 10 that will make the right choices ball in hand. That Wasps back line has bags of attacking ability and a defensive general. They just need a leader and Jackson is filling that role nicely.

LT Hogg would be a very good choice.

Matt Scott out of contract at Embra and talking to Gloucester according to Sunday Times

Irish interested in Slater.

Worcester looking at Jack Roberts.

LI might be interested in Slater but I'd doubt that interest would be reciprocated, I'm more concerned that Sarries might bring their cheque book to that particular table.

Matt Scott might want to look at the quality of ball reaching the Gloucester backs before making his decision.

Don't know if people have already said this but the Falatau to Bath rumour is true.

Sky Sports :

BREAKING: Wales back row Toby Faletau to join Bath from Newport Gwent Dragons from next season.
More on #SSNHQ

Do they even have an academy ?

The best signing for Bath was their accountant. How they keep under the cap (seeing as it hasn't come out in the press) is truely amazing. Every club should follow their example!

You've got to admire their lack of shame!

Get caught cheating, brazen it out and carry on as normal!

No 7&1/2 wrote:The best signing for Bath was their accountant. 

As ever, shrewd business being done over at the Rec.

You can't deny that 6 Denton 7 Louw 8 Faletau is a pretty fearsome combination.

Sounds like a Toulon combo, coincidence...