Transfers Rumours

[Vieux Talonneur]

In my world he’s an 8 who should develop into a viable option at 6 and nothing more than emergency cover at lock.

I just think that plays to his carrying and big intervention strengths more. Also, while Willis has the shirt now, when he gets injured or loses form it would be better to have CCS as a reasonably close proxy rather than go for an entirely different style in someone like Earl.

 

[Geordie]

In my world he's an 8 who should develop into a viable option at 6 and nothing more than emergency cover at lock.

I just think that plays to his carrying and big intervention strengths more. Also, while Willis has the shirt now, when he gets injured or loses form it would be better to have CCS as a reasonably close proxy rather than go for an entirely different style in someone like Earl.

Yeah i agree with that.

Theres plenty of teams who would welcome an 8 of his size etc to develop further IF Quins dont want to invest in him as an 8. Also how much pressure are they getting from England to switch his roles?

Not to mention theres some huge young locks on their way through 6'8 & 6'9 who will be big competition

 

[Which Tyler]

It'll be a much better option if he wants more England caps without warming the bench as a utility forward for 5 years

I'd always prefer to maximise a player's potential in their position-of-best-ft, than muck them about to fill a hole in the side

 

[BPM]

Generally speaking I agree. However, in this case, I’m not sure we definitely know where his best position is yet. His best work up until now may have been at 6 or 8 so far but at present, we haven’t seen enough of him at lock to know whether it’s worth persevering with or not.

I think his potential is pretty much equal across lock, flanker and 8, but if he absolutely doesn’t want to play lock, that’s a different story.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

But he’s too small height wise to be a top level international lock and is the right height to be a top level 8 or 6. We’d be lining up against teams with their 6s bigger than our lock. I really think that limits his top end potential.

I think from a Quins pov you’d be much better off spending the cap elsewhere as well. Your backrow talent and brilliant even without CCS.

 

[Not Mike Brown's Sock]

But he's too small height wise to be a top level international lock and is the right height to be a top level 8 or 6. We'd be lining up against teams with their 6s bigger than our lock. I really think that limits his top end potential.

I think from a Quins pov you'd be much better off spending the cap elsewhere as well. Your backrow talent and brilliant even without CCS.

He's 5cm shorter than Itoje, Beirne, and Martin, and 4cm shorter than Scott Barrett. It's not the end of the world tbh

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

He's 5cm shorter than Itoje, Beirne, and Martin, and 4cm shorter than Scott Barrett. It's not the end of the world tbh

I mean that’s a big difference compared to locks who many consider are already on the shorter end of the spectrum.

It’s fine at club level but if he’s got top international honours then you need to be a certain height.

 

[Not Mike Brown's Sock]

I mean that's a big difference compared to locks who many consider are already on the shorter end of the spectrum.

It's fine at club level but if he's got top international honours then you need to be a certain height.

Genuinely though, why?

Provided he can jump/the lineout is well oiled to make up for it, that's not a massive issue to my mind.

 

[Which Tyler]

Genuinely though, why?

Provided he can jump/the lineout is well oiled to make up for it, that's not a massive issue to my mind.

At a guess (SH):
Own lineouts - being shorter as a lineout jumper counts against you - on your own lineout everything has that bit more pressure, and that 2" of height translates to 3-4" at the top of your reach.
Opposition lineouts - taller (and wider wingspans) is VERY useful for competing.
Opposition mauls - a taller upper body and longer arms is useful for swimming up an opposition maul and trying to disrupt.
Own mauls, rucks and carrying - a longer body sets a greater distance between the 2 offside lines, making it easier/safer when securing the ball.
Opposition rucks - a longer body and longer arms gives you a better chance to get a charge down on the box kick.


Ultimately, the old addage "a good big un will beat a good little un" is as much a truism (for forwards) as "forwards win matches, backs decide by how much"

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

He's 5cm shorter than Itoje, Beirne, and Martin, and 4cm shorter than Scott Barrett. It's not the end of the world tbh

@Which Tyler summed it up perfectly.

Itoje’s at the shorter end of the lock height spectrum but gets away with it because he’s exceptionally athletic. And even then we’ve seen him come under increasing pressure from bigger opponents.

Martin’s slightly taller than Itoje but like CCS he’s more your power lump (compliment!) than your athlete. England don’t throw many to him and he’s not really a threat on opposition ball. Which is how I’d see the shorter CCS and although his jumping has come on well, I can’t see him as anything more than a 3rd jumper. And one way or another Chessum’s going to start somewhere.

 

[Geordie]

@Which Tyler summed it up perfectly.

Itoje's at the shorter end of the lock height spectrum but gets away with it because he's exceptionally athletic. And even then we've seen him come under increasing pressure from bigger opponents.

Martin's slightly taller than Itoje but like CCS he's more your power lump (compliment!) than your athlete. England don't throw many to him and he's not really a threat on opposition ball. Which is how I'd see the shorter CCS and although his jumping has come on well, I can't see him as anything more than a 3rd jumper. And one way or another Chessum's going to start somewhere.

New Captain of the Tigers.

It'll be interesting to see if England want him as lock or 6. On a side note, Lewis Chessum is back for them....that'll be an interesting watch, how he plays and how much gametime.

 

[Geordie]

And CCS named at lock for this weekend.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

No wonder he wants to leave and join Sale as first choice 8 next season

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

No wonder he wants to leave and join Sale as first choice 8 next season

Sanderson gonna mention how much of a northerner CCS is cause he grew up on NZ north island

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

New Captain of the Tigers.

It'll be interesting to see if England want him as lock or 6. On a side note, Lewis Chessum is back for them....that'll be an interesting watch, how he plays and how much gametime.

My guess is that while Itoje’s around we’ll see more of him at 6 but that the longer term plan is for him to be the athletic lock and captain.

**Longer term planning….who am I kidding?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Sanderson gonna mention how much of a northerner CCS is cause he grew up on NZ north island

 

[Ddanno]

Stop it Olyy, he's not going to Sale

 

[Geordie]

Dimes has subtly mentioned they have been in touch with Jack Willis.

Also , lots mentioned that Darcy Graham was here last night assuming he's a done deal until our Comms manager mentioned he's our Lineout coach Scott MacLeods cousin and regularly comes down

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

I mean Dimes has basically said he’s been in touch with every England international

But I just don’t see any moving

 

[Which Tyler]

If he's bringing a potential England player back from France, I think it'll be Marchant - who seems much more open to enrerurn than Jacques, who seems to have gone native.

I'd love to see either of them back in the country though