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For any other premiership team it would have been a poor signing, but it makes sense for Welsh. They have little time to cobble a team together, with many players who could have been potential signings having already signed for clubs, and let's be honest, they're going to be overwhelming favourites to be relegated. Hensons pretty much worth a shot fro them imo.
If anyone can get the best out of Henson it's Lyn Jones
10 quid says he gets chucked out before Christmas
"We are the bold, united souls. We live to win another victory. Our sacred scars show who we are and tell the story of our memories"
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ThisOriginally Posted by SelimNiai
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I don't.
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Indeed, it is rather cynical, but looking in the history of G.L. Henson, it seems very likely.
I have the feeling Lyn would just berate him in private to save face, rather than fire him and make it look like a predictable ending.
@draggs_XV
Andrea Masi, officialy listed in Zebre official squad, in reality joins London Wasps http://www.wasps.co.uk/news/wasps33226.ink
no comment on the incapable, incompetent, inept, unqualified, amateurish Zebre managment
Bloody good signing for Wasps though!
English by birth, Ulster by love of funny accents
Much Ado about Rucking - http://muchadoaboutrucking.blogspot.co.uk/ - cos you just loved reading the post above
Indeed, you could probably say he's been Italy's best back for the last couple of years. Premiership Rugby can only help.
"We are the bold, united souls. We live to win another victory. Our sacred scars show who we are and tell the story of our memories"
2010's Most Underrated
2012's Best Signature
No. Masi was good in the 2011 Six Nations, since then he's been average. He's also 31 and not likely to improve much at that age, and has been picking up quite a few minor injuries this season.
do one Duck
Nah, I'm dead happy with this signing, he's pretty versatile and certainly offers full-back cover as well as centre which is good.
James Bailey > Wasps can be pretty much confirmed now too - it's been a rumour but the evidence is now almost insurmountable: Most recent twitter follower to subscribe was Wasps official twitter. Also, he tweeted "1st week back in London finished. Very tired but happy to be back in the smoke"
Masi should be an okay signing for Wasps, but not a great one that will set the league alight, I just feel he's at a point in his career where he's starting to decline, and his recent injury record this season suggests he could be another one who spends most of his time in the Wasps physio room.do one Duck
Nah, I'm dead happy with this signing, he's pretty versatile and certainly offers full-back cover as well as centre which is good.
James Bailey > Wasps can be pretty much confirmed now too - it's been a rumour but the evidence is now almost insurmountable: Most recent twitter follower to subscribe was Wasps official twitter
Haha have you not noticed this trend in out other recent siginings?
Stephen Jones
Nicky Robinson
Tom Palmer
Steve Thompson
Serge Betsen
Ross Filipo
Hugo Southwell
Let's just say signing 'over the hill players' is something we like to do!
Well, either that or players only just reaching adulthood! (see the home game we played against Gloucester where our back-row was 19, 20 and 21 years! There's no middle ground for wasps!
Id hardly call Robinson over the hill. Slightly over-rated and joined what was a **** team last season, but he's still got a few good years left in him.
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Didn't rate Masi very highly when he played for us and that was some three/four years ago.................
Blues 6 Signings Unveiled Today.
From L-R: Jason Tovey, Rob Lewis, Benoit Bourrust, Andy Kyriacou, Robin Copeland and Lou Reed.
Campese Ma'afu is joining in late July.
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Ma'afu having a light snack before he joins?
I bet Adam is looking forward to seeing him more often.
Lou Reed... jesus... Even the Turks, who have a tight five comparable to ours, weren't sad to see him leave. Why the Blues would sign him when they have Cook, Hill, and Screech developing, I don't know.
@draggs_XV
The WRU should have more control over player movements in Wales. Lou Reed shouldn't have left the Scarlets. I've heard from a few people (although haven't been able to judge for myself) that the Cardiff Blues have a few decent locks on the verge of breaking through in Screech, Cook and an improved player Down, now Reed as a Welsh international is likely going to keep at least one of those out of the team at least to being with (likely none of those three will start with Bradley Davies there either).
Whilst the Scarlets don't have these locks coming through, and the WRU should have helped them keep Reed. As now the Scarlets will have three NWQ locks next year (Earle, Vallejos, Timani), whilst the Cardiff Blues will have more WQ locks than they can give good Heineken Cup game time too.
Also that Kyriacou guy looks like a ****.
I forgot about Down... We will take Screech, the poaching Gwent ******** we are.
Reed simply isn't very good, I preferred Doris over him.
Central contracts, Duck, that's what we need. Tie the likes of Warburton, Lydiate, Cuthbert, Faletau, Owens, Halfpenny, and a few others to start with, down in Wales.
Kyriacou, keep him away from a taxi and he'll be grand.
@draggs_XV
Kyriacou looks like Jerry Flannery trying to copy Shane Byrne's mullet hairstyle.
Amazing that Kyriacou who went about urinating in a taxi was signed by the same people who got rid of Henson for throwing ice cubes. Ridiculous.
Look; the lad's from Liverpool. One more word and you'll be up before the Court of Human Rights for not showing sufficient respect to his ethnicity and culture.
English by birth, Ulster by love of funny accents
Much Ado about Rucking - http://muchadoaboutrucking.blogspot.co.uk/ - cos you just loved reading the post above
Lou Reed has improved bucket loads. When he came on for Wales he actually looked decent in his brief stint. He'll be a good signing. Screech is not ready just yet, he'll get some good game time and coaching under Martyn Fowler at Cardiff RFC.
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A scouse who has played for the Saracens, Ulster, and now sent to Cardiff.
Some people just have all the rotten luck.
@draggs_XV
Leinster have signed Tasman Makos centre Andrew Goodman on a one year deal:
http://www.leinsterrugby.ie/newsroom/10121.php
At first glance it's tough to know what to make of this signing. On one hand a 29 NPC standard inside centre isn't going to be pushing for a starting place for the European champions. That said, if Ian Madigan gets called into the Ireland squad, we could be without three of our goal kickers come international periods, as well as Gordon D'arcy. My thinking is that he's a stop gap measure who'll cover the inside centre while D'arcy and McFadden are away and give Noel Reid and Brendan Macken another season to develop. Still not very happy about the call.
What do our New Zealand members know of him?
You forgot to mention Fitzgerald signed for another year which is excellent though wish it was longer.
"But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you walk on my dreams."
-William Butler Yeats
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Good sig pic for Duck:
Apparently he is "Andy Keriowki".
@draggs_XV
Goodman is certainly an interesting signing. I think 'NPC standard' describes him perfectly actually! He is a big lad (6'2 and over 100kg) who is most comfortable at 12, but is capable at 10 too. Despite being big he isn't really much of a threat with ball in hand - he will occasionally setup some good go-forward ball, but he has a serious lack of pace and isn't remotely dynamic so struggles to break through tackles. He actually has a reasonable passing game (as you would expect from someone who is comfortable at 10), and has good leadership skills (he's been Tasman captain for the last few years). His goal-kicking is pretty solid - I'd guess around the 75% mark. He does have very good range with his kicking, and is more than capable of knocking over penalties from 50m (or more) - he could have some value as a specialist long-range goal-kicker (if there is a more accurate short-range kicker in the team). He is solid in defense, though his lack of pace can be a bit of an issue.
I think you are right describing him as a 'stop-gap measure' - I'd say he will do a solid job, but he is hardly the most inspiring of signings....
I reckon his ability to cover 10 and 12 is the chief reason he was signed. There's a possibility that we could be without our two first choice 10's and two first choice 12's during international period. While we have a few promising players in those positions, I remember Joe Schmidt somewhat bemoaning the lack of genuine second string standard players at Leinster in his first season, as opposed to inexperience young lads. I'm guessing that Goodman will be expected to steady the ship while the likes of Noel Reid (21) and Brendan Macken (20) gain a bit of experience.
Jonathan Spratt (London Irish) ---> Ospreys
Rob Cook (Cornish Pirates) ---> Gloucester
Last edited by TRF_Cymro; 12-07-12 at 07:37 AM.
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Not too happy with that signing to be honest, I would have rather retained Gareth Owen to cover 12 when Beck is with Wales than bring back Spratt.
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