If You Could Have a Sarry or Two and Why?

So, Sarries down next year and going to "loan" out their expensive players. Who would you have for your side? I know it sounds a bit off but the fact is a lot of players are going to become available.

From a Saints perspective, George/Earl and Spencer.

BV is too injury prone for the salary.

We are okay for quality locks and props

We do not have a heavy duty carried in the back row hence Earl.

We have Haywood at hooker, but struggle after that.

Cobus is away next season, Mitchell is still learning, would like a quality 9 for a year or so.

Quite happy with our backs at the moment

Assuming Sarries come back up, their players will return and hopefully Sarries can return to being the best in Europe whilst playing fair.

Would you not prefer wigglesworth to Spencer because of mitchell? More likely to be open to sharing the workload seemingly wanting to get into coaching?

Saint's recruiting a starting 9 may work for them in the short run, but would be a bad move imo as Mitchell and Taylor should be playing week in week out.

As to the question - would not really be interested in a player on a season long loan. However if there are guys leaving permanently I woudl love to take:

George, Itoje (or Isiekwe) & Lozowski

David Flatman says he'd go for Will Skelton (his tweet was before the weekend's red card). He thinks he offers tremendous power, with the advantage that he doesn't go away on internatioanl duty.

On a one year loan?

At Glasgow, one of the foreign tightheads, probably Koch or Lamitsele. Beyond that, it would probably be Maitland due to our lack of back three talent (hard not to say B Vunipola but for a year it would demand stylistic changes that may not work a la Naiyovoro who we did not make the most of).

Permanently, I would want Lamitsele as a top level insurance policy at TH and B Vunipola.

LondonTiger wrote:Saint's recruiting a starting 9 may work for them in the short run, but would be a bad move imo as Mitchell and Taylor should be playing week in week out.

As to the question - would not really be interested in a player on a season long loan. However if there are guys leaving permanently I woudl love to take:

George, Itoje (or Isiekwe) & Lozowski

Perhaps I should have added, the costs will come under your salary cap, so you have to think about what paying a year of Sarries wages will do to your cap.

I would only want him for a year, Mitchell should be ready by then and we have to think of our salary cap after all, we are owned by a plc.

Earl would not be that expensive at the moment, in a couple of years time though............ I could see him and Harrison working very well together.

I think Leinster should take Itoje, Kruis, Skelton and give poor Dev Toner a bit of time off.

Way the vultures are circling we will need a Sarries Cap to limit the amount teams can spend poaching them

WELL-PAST-IT wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:Saint's recruiting a starting 9 may work for them in the short run, but would be a bad move imo as Mitchell and Taylor should be playing week in week out.

As to the question - would not really be interested in a player on a season long loan. However if there are guys leaving permanently I woudl love to take:

George, Itoje (or Isiekwe) & Lozowski

Perhaps I should have added, the costs will come under your salary cap, so you have to think about what paying a year of Sarries wages will do to your cap.

I would only want him for a year, Mitchell should be ready by then and we have to think of our salary cap after all, we are owned by a plc.

Earl would not be that expensive at the moment, in a couple of years time though............ I could see him and Harrison working very well together.

While the injury has delayed stuff, Mitchell should be ready next season to be a starter with Taylor on the bench and covering for possible England duties. Mitchell will have been Reinach's back up for last year and half of this - time to let him play after the South African has left.

For Tigers I would take:

- Jaime George as we lack a good hooker
- Maro Itoje as we need someone to partner Lavanini in the 2nd row
- Nick Tompkins because he's a livewire, can operate at 12 and 13, and would compliment Tuilagi well

bluestonevedder wrote:For Tigers I would take:

- Jaime George as we lack a good hooker
- Maro Itoje as we need someone to partner Lavanini in the 2nd row
- Nick Tompkins because he's a livewire, can operate at 12 and 13, and would compliment Tuilagi well

I buy the  Isekwe over Itoje argument as he will actually be playing for tigers all season rather than limited by England/Lions call ups. With 6 other locks in the current squad the chances of him becoming a regular in the near future look very remote, but its very hard to see Itoje not being central to England for the next cycle. Agree that despite having two hookers that at their peak matched George its an area tigers need to reinvent on, but unless one or both of them leaves it would be even more overkill on one position (and he misses half the season with England).
Tompkins is a traitor and should be made to go play for a region.

Gooseberry wrote:

bluestonevedder wrote:For Tigers I would take:

- Jaime George as we lack a good hooker
- Maro Itoje as we need someone to partner Lavanini in the 2nd row
- Nick Tompkins because he's a livewire, can operate at 12 and 13, and would compliment Tuilagi well

I buy the  Isekwe over Itoje argument as he will actually be playing for tigers all season rather than limited by England/Lions call ups. With 6 other locks in the current squad the chances of him becoming a regular in the near future look very remote, but its very hard to see Itoje not being central to England for the next cycle. Agree that despite having two hookers that at their peak matched George its an area tigers need to reinvent on, but unless one or both of them leaves it would be even more overkill on one position (and he misses half the season with England).
Tompkins is a traitor and should be made to go play for a region.

That's a good point about Isiekwe, but i'm not sure I couldn't turn down Itoje if given the chance to sign him. 

I'd argue that George is better than both Youngs and TPN at their peak. I think George has a more well rounded (Ahem, *Munster Dr. joke) game. 

I simply cannot argue with your point about Tompkins. But does anyone truly deserve that punishment?

We were similar in choices Eddie, though I opted for Lozowski over Tompkins due to him likely to be available for longer and covering so many positions to a really good standard.

LondonTiger wrote:We were similar in choices Eddie, though I opted for Lozowski over Tompkins due to him likely to be available for longer and covering so many positions to a really good standard.

We were. I guess that goes to show how obvious our deficiencies are! 

Loz is a great shout and I did think about it, but I didn't want to choose exactly the same as you...

as a London Irish fan, and being realistic as possible, i would take Lozowski and Isiekwe. We arent going to get the likes of farrell and itoje, but the others could be possible. We are desperately short in the centres and a hard worker like Isiekwe would be good at 6 for us.

stnick88 wrote:as a London Irish fan, and being realistic as possible, i would take Lozowski and Isiekwe. We arent going to get the likes of farrell and itoje, but the others could be possible. We are desperately short in the centres and a hard worker like Isiekwe would be good at 6 for us.

Yes, would be very happy with both of those. Isiekwe could cover lock if any injuries to Coleman or Botha. Mafi has been a disappointment so far at 6.

Ben Earl would also be very useful...

In any case, I expect these guys will end up at bigger clubs.

Tbf I think Tigers have done pretty well out of the deal getting Borthwick but if we can have a star lock who's still under 25 as well that would be a bonus.
Beyond the pure hypothetical nature of this post having Bortwick onboard could help tempt players like Itoje or Isekwe over if Tigers can find room in next years cap. They were mentored by the guy and clearly should instantly click.

I wonder what vultures talk about as they circle overhead?

stnick88 wrote:as a London Irish fan, and being realistic as possible, i would take Lozowski and Isiekwe. We arent going to get the likes of farrell and itoje, but the others could be possible. We are desperately short in the centres and a hard worker like Isiekwe would be good at 6 for us.

As a Wasps fan... exactly what you said, but for us I'd want Isiekwe in at lock alongside Launch, especially with Rowlands' Wales call up and possible departure to Wales in the Summer. We need a 12 to take the pressure off Jimmy, and as you say, Loz also offers cover across the backline.

The only one I'd definitely say no to would be Daly.

SirBurger wrote:

stnick88 wrote:as a London Irish fan, and being realistic as possible, i would take Lozowski and Isiekwe. We arent going to get the likes of farrell and itoje, but the others could be possible. We are desperately short in the centres and a hard worker like Isiekwe would be good at 6 for us.

Yes, would be very happy with both of those. Isiekwe could cover lock if any injuries to Coleman or Botha. Mafi has been a disappointment so far at 6.

Mafi is slowly improving. I'm hopeful he will come good. Not really anyone to play ahead of him at the moment. Ioane could do but has disciplinary issues and Rogerson I don't think is good enough.

Any decent scrummies going, Ulster need a half decent 9 to compete with Cooney. Send one over and we'll see how it pans out

There's a lot of talk on other forums about people taking Singleton if they had the chance. Is he really that good? Very limited time in an England shirt, but what i've seen of him in a Saracens shirt hasn't been great.

Pete330v2 wrote:Any decent scrummies going, Ulster need a half decent 9 to compete with Cooney. Send one over and we'll see how it pans out

Take Ben Spencer, he's pretty good. Given Eddie doesn't seem to like him he might find an Irish granny

Would love to get Figallo, Rhodes (only if he can play 8), Carre, Lamositele, Koch and Skelton to shore up our pack - that would make it quite the formidable one. In the backs Maitland and Tompkins to give us cover and a better attacking thread than we currently have.

My team is Dragons btw.

BamBam wrote:

Pete330v2 wrote:Any decent scrummies going, Ulster need a half decent 9 to compete with Cooney. Send one over and we'll see how it pans out

Take Ben Spencer, he's pretty good. Given Eddie doesn't seem to like him he might find an Irish granny

Though capped, so......

This life
One thing counts
In the bank
Large amounts
I'm afraid these don't grow on trees
You've got to pick a Sarry or two
You've got to pick a Sarry or two
Boys!
You've got to pick a sarry or two

LondonTiger wrote:

BamBam wrote:

Pete330v2 wrote:Any decent scrummies going, Ulster need a half decent 9 to compete with Cooney. Send one over and we'll see how it pans out

Take Ben Spencer, he's pretty good. Given Eddie doesn't seem to like him he might find an Irish granny

Though capped, so......

Details

mikey_dragon wrote:Would love to get Figallo, Rhodes (only if he can play 8), Carre, Lamositele, Koch and Skelton to shore up our pack - that would make it quite the formidable one. In the backs Maitland and Tompkins to give us cover and a better attacking thread than we currently have.

My team is Dragons btw.

Three tightheads?! Do you just want to be the new Sarries or something

BamBam wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:Would love to get Figallo, Rhodes (only if he can play 8), Carre, Lamositele, Koch and Skelton to shore up our pack - that would make it quite the formidable one. In the backs Maitland and Tompkins to give us cover and a better attacking thread than we currently have.

My team is Dragons btw.

Three tightheads?! Do you just want to be the new Sarries or something

They are back-to-back champions so why not. Lamositele is probably the cheapest but we'd take any one of the TH's so long as we get the LH. Carre and Tompkins are probably heading to Cardiff though, along with Rowlands if his contract is up.

bluestonevedder wrote:There's a lot of talk on other forums about people taking Singleton if they had the chance. Is he really that good? Very limited time in an England shirt, but what i've seen of him in a Saracens shirt hasn't been great.

Mobile, physical, aggressive and still only 23. Some rough edges to smooth off but there's a lot of potential there. Tigers are likely to see TPN go and there are rumours Youngs might retire as well. Jake Kerr is settled in and him plus Singleton with Clare backing up should be both cost effective and perform well.

I'd like Farrell to come to Edinburgh just for the fun when he has to deal with Cockers! Cockers has not time for spoilt brats!

They should get along fine then. Clearly one of the hardest working players around.

BamBam wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:

BamBam wrote:

Pete330v2 wrote:Any decent scrummies going, Ulster need a half decent 9 to compete with Cooney. Send one over and we'll see how it pans out

Take Ben Spencer, he's pretty good. Given Eddie doesn't seem to like him he might find an Irish granny

Though capped, so......

Details

Didn't he come off the bench in the RWC final? I think he made a couple of appearances in the pool stages too. His Irish granny weeps for him

I know we'd never be able to take a player for a year, we're Ulster, we don't get such luxuries. In a perfect world I'd have Farrell and Itoje for a season. Farrell would do wonders for Billy Burns' game development and Itoje simply because he's world class.

Really don't think Farrell is anywhere near being a spoilt brat...?

No 7&1/2 wrote:They should get along fine then. Clearly one of the hardest working players around.

Cockers would definitely love to have Farrell in any squad he has - the kind of 10 he like along with a diligent work ethic.

Getting better as captain as well. Did anyone see Wray have his captaincy ignored/removed?! Never seen that before.

No 7&1/2 wrote:Getting better as captain as well. Did anyone see Wray have his captaincy ignored/removed?! Never seen that before.

Happened to Saints earlier this season. I think Waller was told he was no longer captain and someone else took up the reigns. Might have been the flyhalf in that situation as well. Just because you are the captain doesn't mean you can disrespect the referee.