Saints lose Wilson to Ulster

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3551_7440032,00.html

Widely reported that Roger Wilson would leave Saints to head back to his native Ulster. Where do Saints go from here? They need backrow additions as it is, who should they be aiming for?

No 8's, out of contract in the summer;

Gareth Delve
Thomas Waldrom
Luke Narraway
Ernst Joubert

(any others?)

Reading between the lines it seems the MK QF sowed some emotional doubts in his mind about where he really wanted to be.

There's no place like home

That's Ashton to Sarries, Wilson to Ulster and Downey to Munster. Any more 1st team players leaving? Does this mean Mallinder will take the England job?

This and more when we return........

Is Downey going to Munster? Good move if it comes off.

formerly known as Sam wrote:http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3551_7440032,00.html

Widely reported that Roger Wilson would leave Saints to head back to his native Ulster. Where do Saints go from here? They need backrow additions as it is, who should they be aiming for?

No 8's, out of contract in the summer;

Gareth Delve
Thomas Waldrom
Luke Narraway
Ernst Joubert

(any others?)

Not out of contract, but might be interesting = Ben Morgan?

roddersm wrote:Is Downey going to Munster? Good move if it comes off.

Done deal apparently.

Nice one Jen, that's a good move for both parties I think. Mafi is playing very well though.

Hey if we go down...they'll be a few in Newcastle worth a look at...

Glad to see Wilson and Downey get contracts back home. I think they need to be seriously looked at for the Ireland team, Downey in particular. It's a joke that Paddy Wallace can get near an international squad, he is awful and D'Arcy has been average for a while

Intersting that the Saints squad is falling apart, although its something that inevitably was goign to happen due to the salary cap and budget restrictions. I gguess a lot of the guys who were on fairly cheap first contracts of contracts signed when they were down a division are up for renewal, now they are a top table club and many have become exstablished interntaionals the wage demands and market value will have inflated.

Big challenge for them to rebuild for next season if all the rumoured players do leave. I guess they will learn to steer clear of anyone like Foden Ashton Hartley Wood and Lawes who might become an England regular and maybe pick up a few more Irish lads who are happy to avoid national service for as few years.

Now Bowe home from Ospreys and we can lock the door, satisfied that all the children are back home from playing outside

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:Intersting that the Saints squad is falling apart, although its something that inevitably was goign to happen due to the salary cap and budget restrictions. I gguess a lot of the guys who were on fairly cheap first contracts of contracts signed when they were down a division are up for renewal, now they are a top table club and many have become exstablished interntaionals the wage demands and market value will have inflated.

Big challenge for them to rebuild for next season if all the rumoured players do leave. I guess they will learn to steer clear of anyone like Foden Ashton Hartley Wood and Lawes who might become an England regular and maybe pick up a few more Irish lads who are happy to avoid national service for as few years.

Thats what the Falcons policy is.....and look whats happened...

There seems to be a big push to get the good exiles home

That's Ashton to Sarries, Wilson to Ulster and Downey to Munster. Any more 1st team players leaving? Does this mean Mallinder will take the England job?

I think he was always likely to take it if it was offered. There will need to be some rebuilding at Saints but Ashton can be replaced by the young winger Elliott with Artymiev on the other winger Cato, Diggin and Armstrong to cover. Downey may go but Saints will still have May, Pisi and Clarke as centres, a new centre shouldn't be too hard to find (if Falcons go down Fitzpatrick would be perfect). Then it's back to the problem they've had since the start of the season, backrow depth. The increase in the budget plus a marquee signing should help them renew contracts and still grab an 8 or two as well as another flanker.

geoff998rugby wrote:There seems to be a big push to get the good exiles home

Any chance that we can get Bowe back Geoff?

Downey to Munster

At least we don't have to worry their going to improve their back play!

Welcome back Roger Wilson. Just Tommy Bowe to go and our shopping list will be nearly exhausted

if Falcons go down Fitzpatrick would be perfect

Yeah he's looking very good...and a monster of a unit...

Wilson and Downey moves look like Irish moves to reduce NIQ numbers. So Wannenburg might be gone once his contract is up and same story with Mafi (or more likely that Ozzie fella that hasn't played much this season).

Where does Bowe slot back in? (is he going to be the irfu sweetener if Munster have to say goodbye to Dougie or Leinster have to move Isa)!

OOhh that would be nice.

09 Conor Murray
10 Ronan O'Gara
11 Simon Zebo
12 James Downey
13 Keith Earls
14 Tommy Bowe
15 Felix Jones

09 Tomas O'Leary
10 Ian Keatley
11 Luke O'Dea
12 Lifeimi Mafi
13 Danny Barnes
14 Johne Murphy
15 Denis Hurley

Only 1 NIQ which will tie in nicely with IRFUs plan.

Don't worry Bandwagon if required Tigers will take care of Wannenburg (as replacement for Waldrom) and Isa (as replacement for one of the three wingers going in the summer). Just because we're nice obviously .

Yeah he's looking very good...and a monster of a unit....

Younger and direct replacement in terms of style. I think his defence is already better and he has the potential to be a really good boshing IC.

Johnnie Beattie at Glasgow would be a good signing.

Not in the Scotland squad and looking for a move. Glasgow wouldn't resist it I don't think. He's a class act on his day, although the risk would be that he finds form again and is then called up on international duty. Still, he's the right calibre of player for Northampton, one of the best in Europe at his peak and he's only 25. Very much a ball carrier and a like for like (better in my view) than Wilson.

thebandwagonsociety wrote: Where does Bowe slot back in? (is he going to be the irfu sweetener if Munster have to say goodbye to Dougie or Leinster have to move Isa)!

Tommy Bowe will go where Tommy Bowe wants to go - not where he is told to go.

Dougie ain't going and Isa ain't going (unless they want to or the sides don't want them) Even if that ruling does go into operation, they can damn well delay it until those two decide for themselves. Irish rugby owes it to them. But we've done all that before.

I'm not certain Bowe would be the right choice to fill Dougie's exact boots anyway. Different qualities.

Downey would do well with Munster, he’s no more or less a brainless crashball merchant than Mafi is, but at least he’s Irish.

Wilson back to Ulster is interesting, he’s not as good as Wannenburg from what I’ve seen but maybe they’ll keep them both…?

Secret Fly regardless of the new rulings it is my understanding that each Provinces is expected to reduce there NIE by 1. If Dougie doesn't go who will

For Ulster it is easy we dont replace Danielli

Mickado the intention is, I believe to have a NIQ backrower - just might not be Wannenberg.

geoff998rugby wrote:

thebandwagonsociety wrote: Where does Bowe slot back in? (is he going to be the irfu sweetener if Munster have to say goodbye to Dougie or Leinster have to move Isa)!

Tommy Bowe will go where Tommy Bowe wants to go - not where he is told to go.

The word 'sucka' really needs to go on the end of that last sentence.

geoff998rugby wrote:

thebandwagonsociety wrote: Where does Bowe slot back in? (is he going to be the irfu sweetener if Munster have to say goodbye to Dougie or Leinster have to move Isa)!

Tommy Bowe will go where Tommy Bowe wants to go - not where he is told to go.

Well no thats not true. IRFU has to sanction any move to Ireland right? So he says "Tommy Bowe wants to go to Leinster" and IRFU says "Feic off" he's goosed.

geoff998rugby wrote:Secret Fly regardless of the new rulings it is my understanding that each Provinces is expected to reduce there NIE by 1. If Dougie doesn't go who will

We just don't replace Will Chambers.

Ireland would be desperate to get Bowe back. Bowe has enough clout to decide. The IRFU would gladly sanction a move to any of the 3 main Provinces.

Bowe would be more than welcome at the Sportsground.

OK time to be realistic.

red_stag wrote:

geoff998rugby wrote:

thebandwagonsociety wrote: Where does Bowe slot back in? (is he going to be the irfu sweetener if Munster have to say goodbye to Dougie or Leinster have to move Isa)!

Tommy Bowe will go where Tommy Bowe wants to go - not where he is told to go.

Well no thats not true. IRFU has to sanction any move to Ireland right? So he says "Tommy Bowe wants to go to Leinster" and IRFU says "Feic off" he's goosed.

Why the flip would the IRFU block Bowe moving to Leinster or any of the provinces?? It's in the IRFU's interest to have Bowe in Ireland and I'd imagine that they would be bending over backwards to accommodate him.

Jees people have short memories, Bowe has been one of Irelands best players for the past 4 seasons and a proven world class player. He's just turned 28 and at the peak of his powers.

red_stag wrote:

geoff998rugby wrote:Secret Fly regardless of the new rulings it is my understanding that each Provinces is expected to reduce there NIE by 1. If Dougie doesn't go who will

We just don't replace Will Chambers.

But is Chambers contract this year as it is my understanding they want the reduction from this summer

geoff998rugby wrote:

red_stag wrote:

geoff998rugby wrote:Secret Fly regardless of the new rulings it is my understanding that each Provinces is expected to reduce there NIE by 1. If Dougie doesn't go who will

We just don't replace Will Chambers.

But is Chambers contract this year as it is my understanding they want the reduction from this summer

Chambers is gone back to league already no? He was only signed as cover.

Mafi will go. Leaving Douggie, Wian du Preeeyahhhh, Botha, and Laulala. With Borlazy as the treatment table cover.

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3824_7441520,00.html

Chambers back to the NRL