Quote:

james46
You have to be kidding me, I have watched Sale at least three times a season for the last ten years and they play dull, dull rugby. Even when Chaball was there, all you did was give it to him and let him run (pretty much the same as what you are doing to your Welsh 8 now).

Up until PSA arrived (for at least the previous 10-15 years) we always played an attractive, counter attacking brand of rugby. PSA shifted that and by 2005/06 we we playing much more conservatively (albeit very successfully that year). Between 2007 2010 we lost most of our best players and they style became both more conservative and of very poor quality - not a good mix. Diamond/Hanks are trying to take us back to the style of old which is what most supporters up here want to see. This season has been a mixed bag but at times (e.g Wasps at home, Leics away to give two examples) we have played some lovely stuff. Bringing in a FH who has the ability to take us to the next level is key as at the moment we lack real class in that area.

...if it's a case of getting bigger crowds, maybe we should give Cohen a contract. I understand he now has a gay following these days, so him in the 12/13 Wasps calendar might bring in some revenue as well.

Beckenham you must be kidding.....Hodgson, Flood, Burns and Farrell in front of Cips....??? Are you sure....Cips is twice the player of any of those mentioned.

If you have watched him play in the Super 15 his game has not developed at all. His defence and game management is still not up to it. So much so that he has just been dropped by Melbourne after a few indifferent performances. Though possessing undoubted talent I have never thought that Cipriani had the skills set to be a world class fly half.

And in terms of England's current fly half pecking order I would have it as Farrell, Hodgson, Flood, Burns, Myler. Meanwhile you have a raft of younger players such as Ford, Heathcote, Carlisle etc. who will be pushing the for senior honours soon enough. Cipriani is not going to just walk back into the England team. Lancaster has even said that he needs to prove him self for Sale and the Saxons first.

Anyway I have always thought he would make a much better full back than fly half. As Quade Cooper proved at the World Cup having an erratic flair player at 10 tends not to work at the highest level.

Quote:

Beckenham Wasp
His defence and game management is still not up to it. So much so that he has just been dropped by Melbourne after a few indifferent performances.

I don't think that is the case, he didn't play last weekend due to illness and is in the starting line up to play Western Force this weekend.

[www.melbournerebels.com.au]

That being said, I agree that i've not seen a noticable improvement in his overall game management.

I stand corrected. Though he has not exactly been tearing up trees I thought when he didn't start he had been dropped.

It is a shame that he seems not to have made the most of his opportunities in Melbourne. Wonder if Diamond can drum into the boy that he needs to start tackling and hitting rucks like the rest of his team mates as they are not optional extras!

Quote:

Stockbroker

Quote:

Beckenham Wasp
His defence and game management is still not up to it. So much so that he has just been dropped by Melbourne after a few indifferent performances.

I don't think that is the case, he didn't play last weekend due to illness and is in the starting line up to play Western Force this weekend.

[www.melbournerebels.com.au]

That being said, I agree that i've not seen a noticable improvement in his overall game management.

He played the whole of the second half after being ill during the week - he did not play badly at all.

Quote:

PhilH
He played the whole of the second half after being ill during the week - he did not play badly at all.

I think the overall point (second half playing aside) is that he's not shown a marked improvement since leaving Wasps.

Weirdly, despite that being my opinion I'd have him back like a shot, given the choice.

I don't care if he's weaker than the average Fly-Half in defence, his pace, vision and execution (when he gets it right) makes him a joy to watch.

It's just a shame that he's not set the Super 15 alight as he could have, though I accept the strength (or lack thereof) of the pack may have something to do with that.

This article by Sky Sports' Super 15 chap seems to hit the nail on the head.

[www.skysports.com]

In terms of Cipriani if I was his coach when he was breaking into the professional game I would have got hold of him and told him that he could be a world class outside back, something I think he would be technically and temperamentally much more suited to.

The recent history of late converts is actually quite successful. James Simpson Daniel was converted from being a fly half, Shane Williams was converted from being a scrum half, Foden did the same and I am sure that there are many other examples of half backs being converted. Neil Back even managed to go from scrum half to openside!