2017/18 First Choice Teams

With the end of the season nigh, and next years squads taking shape, I am interested to see what people think their first choice match day squad would be. This of course assumes no injuries (yeah right). I shall post my Tigers attempt below.

Leicester Tigers

Genge, Youngs, Cole, Barrow, Kitchener, Williams, O'Connor, Kalamafoni, Youngs, Ford, JPP, Toomua, Manu, Thompstone, Veainu

Reps: McGuigan, Rizzo, Mulipola, Slater, Thacker, Harrison, Ford, Tait

Looks a more than decent team team LT. Maybe could do with a better 8 although if Kalamofini can rediscover his form of a few seasons back before injuries then he will be a good addition.

Do you mean Kitchener on the bench?

Quins - Assuming form and international availability

Marler, Buchanan, Sinkler, Horwell, Merrick, Robshaw, Wallace, Chisholm, Care, Catrakilis, Visser, Roberts, Marchant, Yarde, Brown

Reps: Lambert, Ward, Collier, Twomey, Loamanou, Mulchrone, Swiel, Charlie Walker

Not far off what we have been playing at the end of the season.
Still leaves out guys like, Clifford, Charlie Mathews, Grey, Alofa Alofa, Ross Chisholm

Almost Prop.

I'd have Clifford at 7/8 though and not sure about catrakilis as the first choice 10, could see Swiel or Jackson there.

Waller Hartley Brookes
Ribbans Lawes
Gibson Picamoles Wood
Reinach Myler
North Francis Horne Foden
Tuala

Reps
Van Zyk Haywood Hill Ratuniyarawa Harrison Groom Mallinder Estelles

Francis wants 10 I think so that will probably shape up differently and Groom/Reinach could go either way but I think that should be pretty close.

Yeah - its difficult as we still don't know if anyone else coming in or heading out! (rumours of Roberts leaving).

I wouldn't have a lot of faith in Jackson. Swiel has all the potential, but lacks the game management. Know next to nothing about Catrakilis so....guess it depends on how quickly he integrates with the squad, and DC. Pre-season will be essential.


As ever we don't seem to have a lot of people coming in...but a number of retiree's

For Glasgow:
Kebble, Brown, Fagerson, Gray, Alainu'uese, Harley, Gibbins, Wilson, Price, Russell, Sarto, Dunbar, Jones, Seymour, Hogg.

Then again, there has been a huge outflow of club stalwarts at the end of this seasom and no real word on replacements (other than Oli Kebble, Callum Gibbins, Adam Hastings and Huw Jones), so with a new coach coming in from the Chiefs the above could change quite a lot by September.

Given our form wavers so much it's almost impossible to tell, but this is what I'd like it to be.

Glaws:
Rapava-Ruskin, Hibbard, Afoa, Savage, Thrush, Moriarty, Fearns, Morgan; Heinz, Williams, May, Scott, Trinder, Sharples, Marshall.

Reps
Matu'u, Hohneck, Balmain/Denman, Galarza, Ludlow/Rowan, Vellacott, Burns, Woodward.

I am of course living in cloud cuckoo land as there's no chance Fearns is coming. However, there is no doubt we have the best lock combination in the World. I dare anyone to beat Savage Thrush...

Genge, Youngs, Cole, Barrow, Slater, Williams, Evans, O'Connor, Youngs, Ford, JPP, Toomua, Manu, Thompstone, Veainu

McGuigan, Rizzo, Mulipola, Fitzgerald, Kalamafoni, Shazzam, Ford, Holmes.


Would love to see either Evans or Thacker nail down the 7 shirt and have them play alongside O'Connor, but this will only work with either Williams or Kalamafoni filling up the third backrow spot. Fitzgerald isn't as good as Kitchener but offers more flexibility on the bench by covering 6, albeit quite poorly. Admittedly I'm jumping the gun slightly on Holmes but I'm still on a huge downer regarding Tait. Jonah covers wing/FB and frankly I'd prefer to shift JPP or Thompstone to centre rather than bring Tait on there anyway.

O'Connor at No.8 ? Would have thought you guys would have wanted a big ball carrier there?

Scottrf wrote:Waller Hartley Brookes
Ribbans Lawes
Gibson Picamoles Wood
Reinach Myler
North Francis Horne Foden
Tuala

Reps
Van Zyk Haywood Hill Ratuniyarawa Harrison Groom Mallinder Estelles

Francis wants 10 I think so that will probably shape up differently and Groom/Reinach could go either way but I think that should be pretty close.

Think Eadie will be involved somewhere in the 23 and Francis will be at 10, Mallinder 12 and Myler on the bench. Otherwise agree.

I didn't take Myler out because I've never seen any indication that the coaches are willing to do so when we have another Fly Half. Also, couldn't see Eadie come right in since it's so rare that new players get chances anywhere in the pack.

IF Irish come up and rumoured signings come off:

Reid, Faingaa, Franks; De Chaves, Paulo; Coman, Cowan, Lomidze; McKibbin, Marshall; Lewington, Williams, Tikoirotuma, Cokanasiga; Bell

Bench: Paice, Hobbs-Awoyemi, Du Plessis, McNally, Treviranus, Meehan, Brophy-Clews, Ransom

A few areas which clearly still need some strengthening (mainly lock, 13 and wing). For the record, on current form I would have Mulchrone ahead of Williams, but I know that most neutral, England fans want to see Williams on the teamsheet!

Eadie will be starting 8 once Picamoles has left.

SirBurger wrote:Eadie will be starting 8 once Picamoles has left.

Can you share his Montpellier contract please? People were saying Hartley was definitely going too but that's gone quiet.

propdavid_london wrote:O'Connor at No.8 ? Would have thought you guys would have wanted a big ball carrier there?

A top quality big ball carrying 8 would be preferable, but being honest I'm just not sure Kalamafoni is that person. O'Connor's carrying is unspectacular (though slightly underrated) but with Genge, Mulipola, Slater, Williams and Manu all in the 23 I'd happily sacrifice the marginal gain in carrying that Kalamafoni would bring for the mobility, breakdown and link play benefits of O'Connor and Thacker/Evans. Maybe it's just been too long since I've seen him at his best.

London Irish if rumours are true!
Reid
Faingaa
Franks
De chaves
Mcnally
Coman
Cowan
Lomidze

Mckibbin
Marshall
Cokanasiga
Williams
Mulchrone
Lewington
Bell

Paice
Hobbs-Awoyemi
Chawatama
Paulo
Gilsenan
Steele
Brophy-clews
Ransom

Hoping we sign another winger and quality outside centre and we should be looking okay

Fingers crossed Bath don't have the same level of injuries next season, but just in case I have added an alternative....

Catt Auterac
Batty Dunn
Thomas Lahiff

Attwood Stooke
Ewels Charteris

Garvey Ellis
Louw Underhill
Faletau Mercer

Fotuali Cook
Burns Priestland

Tapuai
Joseph Clarke

Rokoduguni Wilson
Banahan Williams
Watson Homer

The chances of seeing that first team are probably nil and given our luck will not be surprised to see any of Ewels, Underhill, Mercer, Louw or Faletau crocked following their exploits this summer.

Clearly need another centre with Fruen going but there have been no moves and the recent ST newsletter suggests that will be it, as it only welcomes Burns Underhill and a welsh fly half to replace Hastings.

HongKongCherry wrote:Given our form wavers so much it's almost impossible to tell, but this is what I'd like it to be.

Glaws:
Rapava-Ruskin, Hibbard, Afoa, Savage, Thrush, Moriarty, Fearns, Morgan; Heinz, Williams, May, Scott, Trinder, Sharples, Marshall.

Reps
Matu'u, Hohneck, Balmain/Denman, Galarza, Ludlow/Rowan, Vellacott, Burns, Woodward.

I am of course living in cloud cuckoo land as there's no chance Fearns is coming.  However, there is no doubt we have the best lock combination in the World.  I dare anyone to beat Savage Thrush...

propdavid_london wrote:Yeah - its difficult as we still don't know if anyone else coming in or heading out!  (rumours of Roberts leaving).

I wouldn't have a lot of faith in Jackson.  Swiel has all the potential, but lacks the game management.  Know next to nothing about Catrakilis so....guess it depends on how quickly he integrates with the squad, and DC.  Pre-season will be essential.  


As ever we don't seem to have a lot of people coming in...but a number of retiree's

True, I guess it's on how well he can adapt. I have a small hope that Jackson (if he stays) is just taking a while to settle and could do a lot better in his second season with the team. He's shown glimpses, but Swiel still looks better imo and I'd start him.

On paper the Edinburgh team (no injuries) is pretty decent but unless Cockerill can remind them what it takes to actually win a game then it might be another long season!

1 Dickinson
2 Ford
3 Nel
4 GIlchrist
5 Toolis
6 Bradbury
7 Watson
8 Du Preez

9 Hidalgo-Clyne
10 Weir
11 Scholes
12 Burleigh
13 Fruen (please please please please please!)
14 Hoyland
15 Kinghorn

Sub - Sutherland, McInally, Berghan, McKenzie, Hardie, Kenendy, Tovey, Dean

I would include Mark Bennett in the team but he's likely to be injured for most of next season. A Fruen-Bennett partnership would be pretty exciting (although somewhat limited by having Weir at 10).

Looking at Irish team it is pretty good TBH.

I would love to sign De Chaves back to Tigers the guy was such a work horse.

Although I'm sure Irish have also targeted big name signing or two aswell.

De Chaves has just been named players' player of the season. He has been absolutely fantastic for us and has more than matched (if not even bettered) the form of Matt Symons from last season. We are very lucky to have him. We just need to find a top drawer partner for him.

Whats happened with Robson?

propdavid_london wrote:Whats happened with Robson?

Rumoured to be off to Worcester. To be honest, he has been decent and is a good line-out operator, but he hasn't particularly shone and has now slipped behind Jebb Sinclair in the second row. He lacks a bit of physicality and seems less imposing than during his Quins days.

He was never the imposing one, even at Quins. We relied on Olly Kohen for that.

propdavid_london wrote:He was never the imposing one, even at Quins.  We relied on Olly Kohen for that.

Yea, I know he is more of a line-out technician, but he seems even less imposing than he used to be.

I really struggle to name a nailed on first choice.

1 Sam Lockwood
2 Scott Lawson / Cooper (Horses for courses)
3 John Welsh
4 Calum Green
5 Sean Robinson (Olmstead and Witty battling hard)
6 Mark Wilson
7 Will Welch
8 Ryan Burrows (But Chick is a classy young player and Fonua & Latu are about)

9 Takulua
10 Flood / Hodgson
11 Sinotti / DTH
12 Matavesi / Socino
13 Mermoz
14 Goneva / DTH
15 Hammersley / Tait

Welly wrote: Looking at Irish team it is pretty good TBH.

I would love to sign De Chaves back to Tigers the guy was such a work horse.

Although I'm sure Irish have also targeted big name signing or two aswell.

He has been our best signing in my opinion. Has given us grunt in the front 5, has a huge work rate in defence and in attack (clears out rucks for fun), and has been excellent in the lineout. For me he's been the best player in the division this year. Real nice bloke too.

Picking our best line up for next season is difficult as we've not announced any signings yet, and I believe that some are dependant on promotion.  Based on rumoured ins and outs and on us going up, my stab is...

Tommy Bell
Alex Lewington
Aseli Tikoroituma
Fergus Mulchrone
Joe Cokanasiga
James Marshall
Brendan McKibbin

Gordon Reid
Saia Fainga'a
Ben Franks
Seb de Chaves
Filo Paulo
Mike Coman
Blair Cowan
Lasha Lomidze

Daivid Paice, Danny Hobbs-Awoymei, Petrus du Plessis/Lovejoy Chawatama (depends on who we're playing), Jebb Sinclair/Josh McNally, Ofisa Treviranus, Ben Meehan, Theo Brophy-Clews, Johnny Williams.

Lock is a bit of query area as rumours are that Robson is off and Hamilton may not now be coming. There's also a rumour of Tyler Ardron (possibly on a short term term deal before going to Super Rugby in 2018), so it's difficult to pick as the reality is Seb de Chaves is nailed on but could be partnered by anyone at this stage. I'd also like a top outside centre, as whilst Tiks has played well there this season, my opinion is that he's a much better winger and might get caught out a bit defensively in the Premiership.

A few LI teams with Meehan on the bench there. Watched him play for the Rebels a few times, including his start last week, and am not convinced he's any better than Steele. In fact, I'd have Steele starting, though I may be in a minority there. Also think Paice may still start next season as first choice, but nice to have some better depth there.

Agree with most if the rest though, assuming rumoured signings are true. Lock and 13 could definitely do with strengthening.

How has Johnny Williams progressed this season? Us Scots have an interest in him as he's SQ and yet to nail his colours to the mast.

I was hoping Edinbrugh signed him last season as we desperately needed a decent centre with Matt Scott leaving.

Williams has spent most of the season out with a series of injuries. Didn't always look 100% fit when he was playing and was just getting some form back when he picked up a season ender at the start of March.

Year has been a bit of a write off for him really.

GeordieFalcon wrote:I really struggle to name a nailed on first choice.

1 Sam Lockwood
2 Scott Lawson / Cooper (Horses for courses)
3 John Welsh
4 Calum Green
5 Sean Robinson (Olmstead and Witty battling hard)
6 Mark Wilson
7 Will Welch
8 Ryan Burrows (But Chick is a classy young player and Fonua & Latu are about)

9 Takulua
10 Flood / Hodgson
11 Sinotti / DTH
12 Matavesi / Socino
13 Mermoz
14 Goneva / DTH
15 Hammersley / Tait

Geordie I hope for your sake you can stop Matavesi eating the pies, he has all the skills, but not the right attitude, unless you only intend him to last about 40 to 50 minutes you need to get him fit.

Hoping we can have a lot of these for the majority of the season, if we need to go much outside this group we are in trouble
Dan Evans/ James Hook
Keelan Giles/ Hanno Dirksen/ Eli Walker
Kieron Fonotia/ Owen Watkin/ Cory Allen
Ashley Beck/ James Hook/ Kieron Williams/ Joe Thomas
Jeff Hassler/ Dafydd Howells/Ben John
Dan Biggar/Sam Davies/ Luke Price
Rhys Webb/ Tom Habberfield/ Mathew Aubrey/ Brendon Leonard/ RM Williams
Nicky Smith/ Paul James/ Rhodri Jones
Sam Parry/ Scott Baldwin/ Scott Otten
Dmitri Arhip/ Brian Mujati/ Ma'afu Fia
BBBD/ Adam Beard/ Lloyd Ashley
AWJ/ Rory Thornton/ James Ratti
Dan Lydiate/ Ollie Cracknell
Justin Tipuric/ ???????/ James King
Dan Baker/ James King
We also obviously have to get at least another open side to make up for Sam Underhill leaving.

wayne wrote:

GeordieFalcon wrote:I really struggle to name a nailed on first choice.

1 Sam Lockwood
2 Scott Lawson / Cooper (Horses for courses)
3 John Welsh
4 Calum Green
5 Sean Robinson (Olmstead and Witty battling hard)
6 Mark Wilson
7 Will Welch
8 Ryan Burrows (But Chick is a classy young player and Fonua & Latu are about)

9 Takulua
10 Flood / Hodgson
11 Sinotti / DTH
12 Matavesi / Socino
13 Mermoz
14 Goneva / DTH
15 Hammersley / Tait

Geordie I hope for your sake you can stop Matavesi eating the pies, he has all the skills, but not the right attitude, unless you only intend him to last about 40 to 50 minutes you need to get him fit.

Well we did pretty good with the blob that is Keiron Brookes (and his love of Nandos) before he decided to part with us AGAIN. I think we can work well with Matavesi's fitness.

HOWEVER Socino has been one of the best 12's in the league this season...he has been outstanding so Matavesi is going to have to perform VERY well to displace him! AND Mermoz is a 12 aswell....so Matavesi is going to have to be on the ball with his attitude next season.

Ulster

1.McCall 2. Best 3. Herbst 4. Henderson 5. Treadwell 6. Botha 7. Henry 8. Coetzee
9. Cooney 10. Jackson 11. Stockdale 12. Marshall 13. Payne 14. Trimble 15. Piutau

Stockdale and Piutau could end up swapping or Ludik could well come in for Stockdale and the same thing happens

I think Botha and Coetzee will swap.

I don't care as long as we can keep them fit to be honest

RDW_Scotland wrote:How has Johnny Williams progressed this season? Us Scots have an interest in him as he's SQ and yet to nail his colours to the mast.

I was hoping Edinbrugh signed him last season as we desperately needed a decent centre with Matt Scott leaving.

Think he has an England flag nail to the mast.

Judging by the comments I have heard.

Although we seem to have soooo many centers coming through.

Fuzzy Dunlop wrote:Genge, Youngs, Cole, Barrow, Slater, Williams, Evans, O'Connor, Youngs, Ford, JPP, Toomua, Manu, Thompstone, Veainu

McGuigan, Rizzo, Mulipola, Fitzgerald, Kalamafoni, Shazzam, Ford, Holmes.


Would love to see either Evans or Thacker nail down the 7 shirt and have them play alongside O'Connor, but this will only work with either Williams or Kalamafoni filling up the third backrow spot. Fitzgerald isn't as good as Kitchener but offers more flexibility on the bench by covering 6, albeit quite poorly. Admittedly I'm jumping the gun slightly on Holmes but I'm still on a huge downer regarding Tait. Jonah covers wing/FB and frankly I'd prefer to shift JPP or Thompstone to centre rather than bring Tait on there anyway.

As much as I'd like to see Thacker or Evans burst into the team nail down the 7 shirt I don't think it'll be next season. MOC wants a ball carrying 8 and with Kalamafoni coming in and another Tongan on trial I expect to see us go direct up front. What I would like to see us do is use two opensides at 6 and 7 if Williams isn't fit. Combining O'Connor and then Thacker or Evans on the flanks would be competitive at the breakdown and skillful link players for us in attack. Be far better than putting Fitz in at six, I'm not a fan of the three lock formation.

I would hope that Tait would fade from the team personally. I'm hoping Worth will come forward and take that utility role. He's very good defensively, improving under the high ball and has a good kicking game. He played 12 for England under 20s, flyhalf for Notts on loan and fullback against Munster in the HEC. He's also a goal kicker. Maybe not the fastest but if develops more of a step he could become a great bench option for us.

GeordieFalcon wrote:I really struggle to name a nailed on first choice.

1 Sam Lockwood
2 Scott Lawson / Cooper (Horses for courses)
3 John Welsh
4 Calum Green
5 Sean Robinson (Olmstead and Witty battling hard)
6 Mark Wilson
7 Will Welch
8 Ryan Burrows (But Chick is a classy young player and Fonua & Latu are about)

9 Takulua
10 Flood / Hodgson
11 Sinotti / DTH
12 Matavesi / Socino
13 Mermoz
14 Goneva / DTH
15 Hammersley / Tait

Pretty much as I see things too GF except with Cooper starting at 2 and Fonua at 8. A good pre-season should see some of the dubious fitness guys sorted, Fonua is already looking a bit sharper after numerous injuries.

It's going to be hard fitting all these wing options in. DTH is excellent and I'd perhaps have him ahead of Sinoti at the minute, maybe we'll him see at 13 or FB too. I think we've got the making of a 6th-8th position side next season which is quite exciting, although we're seeing some strong recruitment from other sides (Sale, Gloucester etc.)

True Sgt, the Sale team looks like it'll be a lot stronger.

Harrison, Webber, Longbottom
Evans, Beaumont
Ross, Strauss, Curry
De Klerk, McGinty
Addison, James
Solomona, Haley, Charney

A signing or two in the front row and they could look very strong.  Good to see so many EQ as well.

Sale are missing a TH, lock and 10 I think. If they get some quality in those positions they could surprise a few.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Sale are missing a TH, lock and 10 I think. If they get some quality in those positions they could surprise a few.

Tighthead is a massive need. A backup loosehead who can actually challenge Harrison is probably more necessary than lock. If Beaumont is stepping in there then him with Ostyrikov, Evans and young Nott there's some good options. Flyhalfs are hard to come by, McGinty improved towards the end of the season. 

De Klerk is a hell of a signing with Strauss and Ross to charge on to his high tempo game.

I must admit, Im not a huge fan of De Klerk. Be interesting to see if he adapts as I didnt rate Hougaard before he came to the Ap either.

I think that high tempo forward management style lends itself well to the AP. There's some strong carriers and good offloaders in that squad who should make the most of it. Whether he has the game management to control territory will be the big question, though if he provides an armchair ride McGinty is capable of doing that.

Sale for me has the worst tight 5 depth in the league. (Outside Hooker)

Beaumont and Nott are lightweight Locks that would be out and out backrowers in most other prem clubs.

Harrison is overrated in my eyes would be in my bottom 3 starting looseheads in the league.

They have a great backrow but they have about 6 back rowers in the pack which in NH is not a good thing.

I see them struggling in the winter months.