Vasily Artemiev

For anyone who doesn't know who he is, he is a Russian winger who is joining Northampton next season. His wikipedia page is below:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasily_Artemiev

My question is how good can/will he be?

I have just watched the highlights of Russia v Canada and he looks excellent. Ieuan Evans described him as a "future Premiership star".

Do people think he will start regulalry for Northampton in the Premiership and Europe next season? Considering that they have quite a healthy pool of wingers - they already have Ashton, Diggin and Elliot and have also signed Cato.

p.s. How good did Canada's 7, Chauncey O'Toole look - could be good for a Premiership side.

Chauncey O'Toole had a chance at Glasgow and never really adapted to the increased physicality of the Magners League.

I think Artemiev will be very good. Apparently he was better than Luke Fitzgerald in school and Fitzgerlad played for the Lions so... I'm sure that logic holds up

Notch wrote:Chauncey O'Toole had a chance at Glasgow and never really adapted to the increased physicality of the Magners League.

Fair play - how many games did he play? I think he deserves another shot - he's been very impressive in the games he's played and also caught my eye when I was in Hong Kong back in March. I don't know how technical he is at the breakdown but he's a great ball player - I reckon he'd fit in well at London Irish, with their open game, as a replacement for Steffon Armitage and George Stowers. I wouldn't neccessarily want to rely on him as a first choice but I think he could be a good squad player and would be on low wages.

I think he played only a few games, it was a three month contract. He deserves a trial for a club at that level perhaps.

Yeah, I suppose the main problem for him is that he will be away for the RWC when most 'fringe' players are getting games.

I saw Artimiev against (I think) the Saxons last year and he looked very good. Good luck to him.

Chauncey O'Toole is possibly the best rugby name ever 8)

bump

I think O'Toole is at the Ospreys now...

six tries in 3 games so far...

He just scored two against Newcastle yesterday. He looks like he has the goods, but is just a bit short of big time match action. I think he has real potential and the more he plays the better he will get. Especially being coached in that Saints atmosphere. And that will make Northampton just that much harder to deal with.

A Leinster Way lad, will always make his way to the Top, in this World.

doctor_grey wrote:He just scored two against Newcastle yesterday. He looks like he has the goods, but is just a bit short of big time match action. I think he has real potential and the more he plays the better he will get. Especially being coached in that Saints atmosphere. And that will make Northampton just that much harder to deal with.

That would be the same Newcastle that has Jeremy Manning* at fullback yesterday?

DG - did you see the match? Heard Lawes took a very cheap shot at Manning and got carded for it. Lawes is really developing a reputation for very cheap shots.

*Manning is ex-Munster Academy.

I didn't see the cheap shot, but I agree. I don't like the way Lawes is going. You don't have to be a thug to be an enforcer. Don't want him turning into a Grewcock/Cudmore

Sin é wrote:

doctor_grey wrote:He just scored two against Newcastle yesterday. He looks like he has the goods, but is just a bit short of big time match action. I think he has real potential and the more he plays the better he will get. Especially being coached in that Saints atmosphere. And that will make Northampton just that much harder to deal with.

That would be the same Newcastle that has Jeremy Manning* at fullback yesterday?

DG - did you see the match? Heard Lawes took a very cheap shot at Manning and got carded for it. Lawes is really developing a reputation for very cheap shots.

*Manning is ex-Munster Academy.

* Manning is ex-Marlborough Boys College too His older sister was in my year group at primary school and his parents used to live a block away from mine.

Lawes got carded for an idiotic shoulder charge. Foolish foolish boy.

VA looks the real deal. Saints have got quite a player and his involvement in the Premiership can only be a good thing for Russian rugby as they look to improve internationally.

Has anyone signed up that Georgian unit Gorgodze? He was a real battering ram ball in hand.

He plays for Montpellier Hérault RC in the South of France, I saw him play in a pre-season friendly while on holidays and he was fantastic. Brilliant player altogether.

Sin é wrote:DG - did you see the match? Heard Lawes took a very cheap shot at Manning and got carded for it. Lawes is really developing a reputation for very cheap shots.

No, I didn't see it. I was listening to the radio stream over the internet. It sounded like a foolish charge from the description. You know, for me it is starting to be concerning about Lawes reputation. Not a worry yet, but a concern. And it is a shame because I feel he has a lot of potential and can possibly lift a team through his play.

Artemiev is doing well so far, not doing anything too fancy, but he is cropping up at the right times and getting on the end of stuff, which is just as important. 6 tries in his first 3 games says it all.

Re the Lawes tackle, wasn't a cheap shot, but it was another case of Lawes charging round like a headless chicken. He really needs to reign it in, realise that an athletic lump like him needs to be more careful in throwing himself about and redirect that energy or he'll end up with a reputation that sticks. He certainly doesn't have the dirty intentions that Grewcock and Cudmore have shown though.

Grewcock and Cudmore were/are paragons of virtue.

cudmore is an absolute hooligan. someone surely will give the big canuck his commupance soon. would love to see him absolutely flattened

Cudmore a hooligan?
Never.
A paragon of Rugby virtue.

Cudmore a hooligan?
Never.
A paragon of Rugby virtue.

Vasily Artemiev is a quality player I have seen him play a few times and he is real talent.
I'm hoping someone snaps up Denis Simplikevich because he looks a potentially world class player.

He made Northampton's try.

He just opened Munster up a few mins ago. Great player.

He looks very talented but still prone to making the odd silly mistake.

Yup. That should have been game for Saints.

Clearly needs to work on his composure in pressure moments on the big stage. It'll come with time and more experience.

A good article on Vasily - http://talkingrugbyunion.co.uk/aviva-premiership/vasily-artemyev-russian-roulette-paying-off-for-the-saints