[SSR]

Just been musing on cover within the squad when we lose players to internationals.
The obvious problem with scrum half is who covers Nye if Raffi and Gus get called up.
If LCD stays and is no 1 hooker and gets called back to Eng squad who covers Tommy .
Possible problem with wing, prop and full back cover ?
Any other positions problematic if the usual suspects get called up ?
( Sorry, a bit bored )

[Olyy]

I think Axe said we're not looking to sign a replacement for Creevy so it'd be Caine stepping up,

Think we're relatively covered for all possibles, but like you said: if we get all our possible back three players called up we do start looking a little short

I think the possibles are:
Rodd,
LCD,
B. Curry,
T.Curry,
JLdP,
DdP,
Quirke,
Warr,
Ford,
Reed,
Waisea,
Roebuck,
Carpenter

bolded are my guesses at who is most likely to make full squads over the coming season (interested to see what happens with Reed moving forwards though, was he in the Scotland squad because of their injuries or is he in line for a cap soon?)

I think we can cover that:
Rodd --> McIntyre/Harrison
LCD --> Taylor/Caine
T.Curry --> B.Curry, Dugdale
Warr --> Quirke/Nye
Ford --> RdP/Curtis
Waisea --> RdP/RMW/Addison
Roebuck --> O'Flaherty/Addison/Wills

Will be interesting to see when Asher starts getting looked at at a senior level - still got another season of u20s eligibility, wonder if they might leave him there to keep developing and maybe look at him next Autumnish?

[Flumpty]

Will Addison for Full Back & Wing.
Is there an academy prop ready to cover LH prop ?

[Lord Elpus]

Will Addison for Full Back & Wing.
Is there an academy prop ready to cover LH prop ?

Tumy?

[Olyy]

Plus England are still pushing for Asher to go to loosehead/he's playing there for u20s atm, so could easily switch across is required

[RinTin]

Tumy will cover loosie for us. Stood up well last year when called on.

Doubt Naya will be leaving us for Fiji duty given his age and the sheer number of options Fiji have in their back line (Drua lighting up Super Rugby at times this year).

Realistically we'll lose 6 players to training squads (inc a Curry or 2) which is minimal impact compared to others. Jury is out on whether LCD will even be in an England squad.

Doubt this will impact much though as I would imagine PRC games will move back to their traditional position during international windows. Last season was an exception due to the world cup.

[SSR]

I have this sinking feeling that we will become a victim of our own success.
We run possibly the smallest of all the squads in the Prem and will be hit disproportionately
by any callups. I know Axe sees callups as a win situation for the club, but I don't
think we have the depth to mount a serious challenge for the top if we lose too many
players to internationals and injuries.
How many times did we field our strongest possible side this season ?

[Oh Danny Boy]

I have this sinking feeling that we will become a victim of our own success.
We run possibly the smallest of all the squads in the Prem and will be hit disproportionately
by any callups. I know Axe sees callups as a win situation for the club, but I don't
think we have the depth to mount a serious challenge for the top if we lose too many
players to internationals and injuries.
How many times did we field our strongest possible side this season ?

Taking into account the unusual amount of injuries, our European pool of death, and the ability to make a strong comeback, Axe & Co. will have a much clearer vision of how to manage the entire season.
Remember that necessity meant giving younger - bench options more exposure. Thankfully we can look forward to Addison returning, we have kept Andrews and look forward to Roets bringing some more "South African steel" and Nayacalevu that will be unaffected by international duties

[Yareet]

I have this sinking feeling that we will become a victim of our own success.
We run possibly the smallest of all the squads in the Prem and will be hit disproportionately
by any callups. I know Axe sees callups as a win situation for the club, but I don't
think we have the depth to mount a serious challenge for the top if we lose too many
players to internationals and injuries.
How many times did we field our strongest possible side this season ?

Taking into account the unusual amount of injuries, our European pool of death, and the ability to make a strong comeback, Axe & Co. will have a much clearer vision of how to manage the entire season.
Remember that necessity meant giving younger - bench options more exposure. Thankfully we can look forward to Addison returning, we have kept Andrews and look forward to Roets bringing some more "South African steel" that will be unaffected by international duties

Is that confirmed?

[Oh Danny Boy]

Taking into account the unusual amount of injuries, our European pool of death, and the ability to make a strong comeback, Axe & Co. will have a much clearer vision of how to manage the entire season.
Remember that necessity meant giving younger - bench options more exposure. Thankfully we can look forward to Addison returning, we have kept Andrews and look forward to Roets bringing some more "South African steel" that will be unaffected by international duties
[/quote]

Is that confirmed?
[/quote]

Happy to eat humble pie but I take Rugbypass as a pretty good source of news. Story below

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/superb-s ... Dfinalists.

[RinTin]

Nothing formally announced by Sale that I can see on the site.

Media session on 28 May simply said it was with agents and we want to make it work. Don't think it's formalised yet but hopefully it will be.

[FarnhamShark]

I think we also have Obi Ene for the wing, so we don't need to rely on Addison for those positions.

[SSR]

If Warr is called up by Scotland he will probably be encouraged to go to
a Scottish side will he not ? I know Horse and Redpath didn't but fans on V2 forum
seem to think he might.

[Olyy]

Does feel like they're trying to get everyone to move up north - I know Axe said Edinburgh were trying very hard to sign him this season
He's signed up until 2027 so hopefully buying that length of contract out keeps them at bay

[RinTin]

The SRU will pay extra on top of the club salary. Warr doesn't even have to end up playing for Scotland to get paid a lot more than what we can offer, SRU will just pay to have those players in Scotland playing for Scottish teams. Very similar to what James Laing and Ben Vellacott did when moving to Edinburgh.

I said it before he inked a new deal with us in the midst of the Edinburgh rumours - I do not blame him for 1 second if he takes a deal up there and leaves us.