Edmonds in for Gloucester

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/17138522

The replacement for Lawson is found it seems. The 4 cap Ozzie international hooker is to join in the summer.

Delighted by this signing. His style of play will really suit us and should hopefully get the team going forward a bit more.

Just need Morgan and Cowan to sign now...

What side will they potentially be fielding next season then....

Well if all the rumours are true, and I am doubtful that we will sign them all, but potentially we're looking at:
Wood, Edmonds, Harden, Hamilton, Brown, Savage/Kalamafoni, Qera, Morgan, Cowan, Burns, Sinbad, 36, Trinder, Sharples, May

Can't see them all, but that would be great!

Tad harsh to discard Olly Morgan HKC. I thought he would be wearing the 15 jersey for a long time at Glaws.

That's a big ball carrying backrow you've got there, is there a worry that they are all going to be a bit to samey and that Glaws will be missing a bit of an animal at the breakdown?

Interesting....

Is that Ben Morgan...of Scarlets & England? Big call if you'll have him.

Is that Harden...ex Falcons academy?

Other wise....that backline could nearly be fielded for England one day...

formerly known as Sam wrote:Tad harsh to discard Olly Morgan HKC. I thought he would be wearing the 15 jersey for a long time at Glaws.

That's a big ball carrying backrow you've got there, is there a worry that they are all going to be a bit to samey and that Glaws will be missing a bit of an animal at the breakdown?

I was basing that on the start of the season and I don't think we'll see Morgs back until October/November - but I'd have him as my starting FB at the mo, as he may not have the speed of May but he in my totally unbias opinion there isn't a better FB under the high ball.

I do agree with you about the backrow. I'm not sure if its' going to be Kalamafoni and Morgan or one or the other. We do need a ball winner and Hazell will be able to play his part, but not every game.

GeordieFalcon wrote:Interesting....

Is that Ben Morgan...of Scarlets & England? Big call if you'll have him.

Is that Harden...ex Falcons academy?

Other wise....that backline could nearly be fielded for England one day...

Ben Morgan is being heavily linked with us and we have made a transfer fee for him, so we wait to see - but Castle Grim is his spiritual home after all!!

That is the very same Harden - you made a clanger let him go as he has been outstanding all season. It's rather apt we're discussing Ben Morgan, as Cinderford let him go, but it was Cinderford who got us Harden!

I've always rated Morgan as an all round solid full back. It was very unlucky he got injured playing for England on his 2nd cap as he was playing very well (Horgan taking him out in the air if I remember correctly). Having May to slot in whenever you need him is a nice luxuary to have.

Hazell is a handy 7 but that young lad Cox(?) seems pretty handy as a 6.5 sort of flanker, a grafter with a bit of gas. Is he falling down the pecking order at present?

No, Cox is doing a decent job. Long term he has been earmarked as a 7, but he seems to be playing more at 6 & 8 at the moment. He's just signed a new 2 year deal, so in time I can see him getting the start slot - but will it be 6, 7 or 8??

There is a train of thought that Qera is more a 6 than a 7, so there is potential he'd go to 6 and Cox at 7, with hopefully Morgan at 8.

Why do you think so many 6.5's are coming about. Do you think its the game in England thats not allowing us to produce pure out and out 7's.

There are very few out and out 7s in world rugby.

But they all seem to have more than we do LT

But who?

Pocock and Broussow (is he injured) seem to be the only ones around that fit the classical mould.

McCaw (plays at no8 at times) and Warburton are perhaps the new breed - perhaps 6.75s.

Dusatoir, SOB are 6.5s so I really struggle to see that many out and out 7s. I guess we have to accept that the role has changed.

I can see your arguement LT, and maybe your right about the actual numbers...that theres not a huge amount...but i just think every major nation (Ireland would be one that dont) has a top 7, or one ready to repalce the current incumbant.

McCaw has young Todd pushing him now. Pocock replaced George Smith, Warburton replaced Williams, Brussow has come through to challenge Schalk (who i would say is a 6.5) .

We just dont seem to be creating them. Im a huge Tom Wood fan...but still dont think he's a 7.

Even Scotland have two pretty handy 7's.

Why do you think so many 6.5's are coming about. Do you think its the game in England thats not allowing us to produce pure out and out 7's. .

Well the old fashioned ball stealing 7s of old would probably struggle with all the changes in the law variations these days. How is an openside supposed to specialise his sticky handed craft when the view of what is acceptable is changed every off season (sometimes during a season).

But Sam...those i listed above are managing with the changes...

How well? Brussow had an injury at his peak and by the time he came back was off the pace, at the RWC he wasn't at his best. The insistence on released the tackler before targeting the ball has had a real effect on his game. Smith hasn't been on form for a while really drifted through his time in France. Warburton's success is down more to his leadership and tackling ability than ball stealing. The only high profile 7s that have remained excellent at filching on the floor are McCaw and Pocock.

formerly known as Sam wrote:I've always rated Morgan as an all round solid full back. It was very unlucky he got injured playing for England on his 2nd cap as he was playing very well (Horgan taking him out in the air if I remember correctly). Having May to slot in whenever you need him is a nice luxuary to have.

The last thing May needs is to be treated as some sort of utility back. Morgan is a good player, May could be a great one. Let him focus on 15.

Maybe or maybe is a natural backs player ala Adam Ashley-Cooper and has the ability and vision to slot in where needed. Young players struggling to maintain form need to worry and specialise but young players who adapt well and perform well wherever? Why should they? It'll mean he gets more game time as well.