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Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Teams Up for Aints - Charlie Starts, Jacob Benched, Lima Dropped.
« on: February 05, 2021, 02:06:50 PM »That's a pretty very Saints back division as well - Freeman on debut at 19 so I suspect Charlie will give him a few little welcome gifts. Sleightholme's 20, Dingwall's 21 I think, Mitchell 22 or 23, Grayson 22 I think. Hutchinson 23 or 24. Francis and that huge Fijian are their only real seasoned pros.
Freeman has first team appearances 4 and Sleightholme has 17. However Dingwall has 43, Mitchell 54, Grayson 51 and Hutchinson 69 + three Scotland caps.
Young? Yes. Inexperienced? Not really.
Thanks. Don't think I said inexperienced.
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Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Teams Up for Aints - Charlie Starts, Jacob Benched, Lima Dropped.
« on: February 05, 2021, 01:47:24 PM »
That's a pretty young Saints back division as well - Freeman on debut at 19 so I suspect Charlie will give him a few little welcome gifts. Sleightholme's 20, Dingwall's 21 I think, Mitchell 22 or 23, Grayson 22 I think. Hutchinson 23 or 24. Francis and that huge Fijian are their only real seasoned pros.
All much older than Charlie though obviously and Wolley's only 21 so youth all round.
Will Porter will be gutted he doesn't get a chance to match up against Mitchell - currently the highest ranked "young" scrum half on Jones' radar. Not that Porter is anywhere near thinking about England yet but he'd have loved a crack at it to at least get him on the agenda. Wolley gets the crack instead so he'll be made up. I like where we are on our scrum halves, there is no established pecking order behind Dobby. Perform and you keep the shirt. If not, someone else gets the chance.
I am worried about the platform from the forwards, we always miss Will and Joe so much in the seconds when they're away, but if we can get something near parity there, I think our backs can win this.
All much older than Charlie though obviously and Wolley's only 21 so youth all round.
Will Porter will be gutted he doesn't get a chance to match up against Mitchell - currently the highest ranked "young" scrum half on Jones' radar. Not that Porter is anywhere near thinking about England yet but he'd have loved a crack at it to at least get him on the agenda. Wolley gets the crack instead so he'll be made up. I like where we are on our scrum halves, there is no established pecking order behind Dobby. Perform and you keep the shirt. If not, someone else gets the chance.
I am worried about the platform from the forwards, we always miss Will and Joe so much in the seconds when they're away, but if we can get something near parity there, I think our backs can win this.
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Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Interesting if True
« on: February 03, 2021, 05:13:37 PM »I have never signed an employment contract, as an employee or employer, that didn't have a clause prohibiting the employee from making public statements about the employer.
Players are not employed by Premier Rugby.
It would be reasonable to have clauses for clubs in Premier Rugby competition rules though to protect its reputation, which could be enforced by the clubs employment contracts. However the tone of the article was suggesting a more draconian gagging order, which is probably not reasonable.
That's the whole point about the media isn't it? "Rugby players have signed standard confidentiality clauses like everyone else" is not an article. "Rugby players subject to draconian gagging order" is. And that's another good reason why employers don't want their people talking to the media.
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Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Interesting if True
« on: February 03, 2021, 01:36:50 PM »
I know what you're saying. This is a more complex environment than most businesses - where there is no amount of harm that is really acceptable in law. Rugby accepts harm, legally, and so there is clearly a debate to be had about where that line should be drawn and how. I still don't think it is the right approach for players to have that debate in the media. Retired players yes, but not active ones. If players are concerned - and they have every right to be - then I recommend they organise. Gain wide support for change amongst themselves, along with some detail about what that change should look like, and then have that conversation fairly but firmly with their employers through their elected representatives. Make them see that they are serious, industrial action should be an absolute last resort but it is there as an option if players feel it is really needed. All these things are their legal rights, no contract can take them away.
One-off players taking grievances to the media, that just does damage to everyone, is exploited for the media's own selfish purposes, and it rarely produces constructive outcomes.
One-off players taking grievances to the media, that just does damage to everyone, is exploited for the media's own selfish purposes, and it rarely produces constructive outcomes.
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Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Interesting if True
« on: February 03, 2021, 12:20:45 PM »Such contracts would not include (least not legally) clauses that meant you couldn't speak out about H&S issues or illegality by the employer?
They wouldn't stop you from raising them with the appropriate authorities (I'm pretty sure any contract that did would be invalid) but they would stop you going to the media with them. Why would a person acting in good faith raise issues like that with the media instead of the proper authorities anyway?
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Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Interesting if True
« on: February 03, 2021, 10:47:27 AM »
I have never signed an employment contract, as an employee or employer, that didn't have a clause prohibiting the employee from making public statements about the employer. It would be unthinkable not too, and a very asymmetric situation open to huge risk and abuse. As the employer, you certainly can't make information about your employees public, and in any case you have more to lose and automatically less public sympathy.
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Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Teams Up for Hardlywins - Malakai and Zach Return
« on: January 29, 2021, 03:39:11 PM »
Wonder who will take the shots? Would stick with Lima personally.
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Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Teams Up for Hardlywins - Malakai and Zach Return
« on: January 29, 2021, 02:01:01 PM »Like the look of that team a lot. Launchbury and Robson the one we'll miss most this weekend. Depth in front row and back row means that we are still strong in both areas. Odogwu probably wouldn't have started anyway with Fekitoa back. Fancy no 24 to go well from the bench!
Famous name on the Quins right wing.
Would definitely have picked Paulo, probably at 13 and given Malakai a short run off the bench. I think Malaki has come straight into the team through necessity rather than choice with Paulo away and JdJ having a hamstring injury. Booj is also just coming back from injury. Even if Malakai was 100% ready, I don't think Lee would have dropped Paulo. When you're on a run of form that hot, you try to keep it going. Ironically I think his England call might do more harm than good as the chances are he won't play for ages now. Will he be able to pick up where he left off in Wasps' super-competitive back 3? If not, when will he next get a chance? Could be a long time, maybe the whole season.
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Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Teams Up for Hardlywins - Malakai and Zach Return
« on: January 29, 2021, 12:34:51 PM »Was just thinking this morning about rumours Josh may be off and thought there might be something to it if he starts getting left out of the team...
Hopefully just giving Josh another week off as he has played a hell of a lot of rugby over the last few seasons and if Minozzi demanded to play with Lee and said his head was right and ‘let me play’ then I think it’s a good call.
Booj has done well to come back from injury quickly too
BB saying he (Josh) has a duff hammy, out for 2 weeks.
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Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Teams Up for Hardlywins - Malakai and Zach Return
« on: January 29, 2021, 12:33:50 PM »
Love our number 24 - go Alexander!
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Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Wasps sign Ali Crossdale
« on: January 28, 2021, 06:13:00 PM »Yes a pleasant surprise indeed, good young player with hopefully a very bright future in front of him.
Do we know if he's more comfortable as a winger or full back?
Personally I think full-back is where he really wants to be. He was fly-half at Sedburgh and later moved to full-back. I think he played a bit of full-back and a bit of wing for England U20s. Sarries seem to see him as a wing, but maybe that's because with Goode, Malins and Daly he can't get a sniff at 15.
Impossible to really know where Lee sees him fitting in for us. I think all our back 3 are contracted for next season except Josh and Callum Sirker - and then obviously Lima. I'm resigned to Lima leaving, and it would be a huge shame to see Callum Sirker go without ever really getting to see if he could deliver on his promise. But I'd be absolutely gutted, and really quite worried, to lose Josh.
So Crossdale could be a replacement for Lima (at full-back) as others have suggested, in which case great. Or I guess he could be a wing replacement for Paulo with Paulo moving over to replace Juan at centre. I'd be sad to lose Juan but also kind of resigned to it. I think that last one is unlikely though, as Paulo only started covering centre a few weeks ago as emergency cover, and Lee must have been talking to Crossdale for much longer than that.
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Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Huge surprise
« on: January 28, 2021, 05:41:07 PM »
Gutted, but completely understand. In some ways I'm glad it's official now, I can move on and stop hoping for a miracle!
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Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Elliot Millar-Mills joins Wasps family
« on: January 27, 2021, 03:29:42 PM »Welcome Elliot
That must mean Brookes is off as rumoured to France.
Could be a replacement for Owlett? No idea how good he is. Chances are you're right though.
BB confirms that JTA's current deal goes out to 2022, which is good news as well. Does that need updating on the sticky?
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Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Underhill out Willis in
« on: January 26, 2021, 02:15:09 PM »That's certainly the way I'd go. Still a great back row but we could certainly do without injuries. Not sure when Vailanu is due back? We're starting to look a bit thin.
Unless he's had a set-back, I believe he is fit now. We just haven't needed him yet with Alfie in such good form, Jammer playing 6, and then Brad and Tom coming fit. We'll need him now for sure.
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Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: New Signing Announcement This Morning?
« on: January 26, 2021, 10:10:12 AM »
If he's playing on Sunday he can't be a new signing. It must be either Lasha Jaiani or a new cap youngster.
Or it is a new signing and the shirt is just a promo.
Nice tease either way.
Or it is a new signing and the shirt is just a promo.
Nice tease either way.