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Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2023:03:30:08:37:28 by Saint Ted.

Squad of 60 including 21 academy - how does this compare with other clubs?

There are 19 new recruits which seems a lot but most of these (?11 or 12) are to the academy and the others include Ethan Waller and Aaron Hinkley who are probably well integrated already, so its no more than half a dozen who are new mature players.

How impressive is 70% of squad being academy alumni?

In very round terms 60 players for 15 starting positions looks like 4 players per position so
three nominated as fly halves looks light and seven hookers looks heavy.

It would be interesting to have information on loan outs/dual registrations.

Front row needs to be the best resourced but 3 of those are academy so may not feature and also may change position over the next couple of seasons. Matevesi can also turn out at back row should it be needed.

That is an interesting shift from previous seasons where we’ve had say 48+ senior player plus maybe 8 academy making an effective senior pool of 54+ players. A 39 + 21 makes for a very youth focussed squad!

I think that looks like quite a nice little bunch!

Much focus on the young - as already said. So we must praise the confidence shown and hope it works out well for everyone. How much pitch time can they be given?

My only concern - maybe that's a little strong but I do have some doubts - is prop. Both sides.

Manny has come on in leaps and bounds this past season. So is he No.1 LH?
Alex No. 2 LH? Or has Ethan overtaken him? We shall have to wait and see.

Paul Hill or Ehren Painter to be No. 1 TH? PH needs to work out why refs do not like him or his style of play. Around the park he is "modern Saints".
Ehren needs to work on his contribution around the pitch. No idea about the remainder.

All to play for with the props, it’s up to each of them to make them undroppable. Starting/bench is probably horses for courses depending on the oppo.

With an early finish to the season, we'll have 8 Premiership games (I.e. a third of Premiership games) when there are internationals. I've set out below who that leaves if Furbank, Freeman, Dingwall, Hutchinson, Biggar, Lawes, Ludlam and Matavesi are away. Plus Coles is my dark horse for England World Cup selection.

We could be exposed in a couple of positions, particularly if we get injuries in the positions: fly half, centre and full back.

15 Collins; Hendy*
14 RAMM;
13 Proctor;     Grayson*
12 Matavesi; Litchfield*
11, Skosan; Sleigholme
10 Grayson; Arden*
9 Mitchell; BRAILEY; James,
8 Augustus;      Wilkins
7 Hinkley;       GRAHAM;
6 Coles; SCOTT-YOUNG;     
5 Ribbans; Moon;     
4.SALAKAIA-LOTO; Nansen
3 Painter; Hill; PETCH;     Heffernan
2 Haywood; Fish;     SMITH
1 Iyogun; Waller; WALLER; Hobbs-Awoyemi

It feels like we are a bit light on backs cover when the squad is looked at from that perspective whilst prop we have excellent cover (whilst hearing the prop quality question makr point made above)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:08:05:17:44:53 by Saint Maul.

It’s hard to second guess how things might turn out, how injuries may impact us and similarly international call-ups which where Eddie is concerned, have a somewhat random feel to them. Yes we may be slightly exposed in some positions and in some scenarios but maybe that provides opportunities. Look what happened when Manny was thrown in at the deep end the other year, and he’s not looked back since. As things stand I think the squad looks really good. Lots of home-grown talent and youth plus some new faces to look out for. Our core playing group grew in stature and experience last year and the season ended with a lot of positive momentum. Fingers crossed we can pick up where we left off and hit the ground running.

In modern rugby it's rare not to have a fair few players unavailable. Injuries, concussions and bans for red cards. Just Grayson and Matavesi out and you've got:

15 Collins
14 RAMM
13 Proctor
12 Litchfield*
11, Skosan
10 Arden*
9 Mitchell

21 Brailey
22 E Grayson*
23 Hendy*

Sure it's good for development. But not so good for top 4 prospects.

We are going to be disproportionately stronger than other teams in the forwards during internationals with our Aussies and others

Need to add in Willemsen, he thinks he can break through this year and he’s massive



I would much rather we have a dominant pack and the backs are a bit inexperienced than the other way round

Quote:

Spockst
We are going to be disproportionately stronger than other teams in the forwards during internationals with our Aussies and others
Need to add in Willemsen, he thinks he can break through this year and he’s massive



I would much rather we have a dominant pack and the backs are a bit inexperienced than the other way round

Re Willemsen. Have you had any feedback from his time at Coventry? My source up there has been less than forthcoming, so no idea where he is on his development curve.

Quote:

Spockst
We are going to be disproportionately stronger than other teams in the forwards during internationals with our Aussies and others
I would much rather we have a dominant pack and the backs are a bit inexperienced than the other way round

Good point, particularly given internationals r in wet weather conditions.

Quote:

Longers

Quote:

Spockst
We are going to be disproportionately stronger than other teams in the forwards during internationals with our Aussies and others
Need to add in Willemsen, he thinks he can break through this year and he’s massive



I would much rather we have a dominant pack and the backs are a bit inexperienced than the other way round

Re Willemsen. Have you had any feedback from his time at Coventry? My source up there has been less than forthcoming, so no idea where he is on his development curve.

I was lucky enough to have a few minutes with him towards the end of the season. Firstly he’s a charming lady killer, they were putty in his hands. On the rugby front he was very bullish, he’s spent the year getting to grips with the sport again after dipping into rugby league and I think he has played basketball. He believes he has elite level ball skills, so let’s see. Hopefully he gets his head down and we stick the course with him. He is bleeding massive for his age.

Quote:

Spockst

Quote:

Longers

Quote:

Spockst
We are going to be disproportionately stronger than other teams in the forwards during internationals with our Aussies and others
Need to add in Willemsen, he thinks he can break through this year and he’s massive



I would much rather we have a dominant pack and the backs are a bit inexperienced than the other way round

Re Willemsen. Have you had any feedback from his time at Coventry? My source up there has been less than forthcoming, so no idea where he is on his development curve.

I was lucky enough to have a few minutes with him towards the end of the season. Firstly he’s a charming lady killer, they were putty in his hands. On the rugby front he was very bullish, he’s spent the year getting to grips with the sport again after dipping into rugby league and I think he has played basketball. He believes he has elite level ball skills, so let’s see. Hopefully he gets his head down and we stick the course with him. He is bleeding massive for his age.

Thanks for the update.

welcome

Updated to add Fin Smith, remove Dan Biggar and Josh Weru.

I feel like I've missed something though

pretty sure that Duane RatuVilai Willemsen has retired from rugby on medical grounds

Seem to have deleted second and back rows.

Quote:

St Stokey.
pretty sure that Duane RatuVilai Willemsen has retired from rugby on medical grounds

That's the one, thanks

Quote:

Ogee
Seem to have deleted second and back rows.

If you're browsing from a phone you may need to turn it round to landscape as the stupid adverts take over the third column sometimes

I have added the stats spreadsheet to this thread so people can look up all the team and player stats in one easy place credit ESPN for having the stats, each match is linked on the 'Premiership' tab, with player stats on the other tabs.

I only keep track of the premiership in this way as it's the competition with the most consitency

Teds Stats Spreadsheet

Please don't share the spreadsheet outside of the forum, instead link this thread to drive traffic.

I thought we had signed Seabrook (winger), Odendaal (centre) and Langdon (hooker)?

For next season, this is this seasons squad and stats

Senior moment.

I’ll do it for next season when we get a bit more info