Always a Wasp
General Category => Wasps Rugby Discussion => Topic started by: Neils on May 26, 2019, 08:11:38 AM
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Apparently Zach Kibirige has a get out clause and coming to us on a 2 year basis. Not impressed I must admit.
Also we apparently interested in bringing in RL Sean Long as an addition to coaching staff but so are Gloucester so expect him to go there.
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If you miss out on one Northern Shaun, go for a different Northern Sean
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Also update on Wade.
Article with Rob Miller supporting Lima and predicting better times.
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Don’t buy it... He’s been mentioned on here a few times which is perhaps where Fissler has picked it up from (which he’s certainly done before... I fed him the Heinrich Brussow rumour a couple summers back!).
Dai’s comments are that no more signings are happening (at least until the RWC stars come available). So my guess is deals have been done but yet to be announced. Like with the the London scottish SR and the Sale winter. So the report that we’re negotiating with Kibirige doesn’t ring true in my eyes
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Fissler had it before here. I posted that as a rumour. This time it goes into his recent contract conditions plus he is in receipt of a two year deal. So would suggest stronger than a rumour this time.
What does "do buy it" mean because very obviously I had already done so. Strange.
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If the Kibirige thing turn out to be true I'll be quite happy. Another solid player who can add to the squad and hopefully kick on to greater things is exactly what we need.
Plus we're kinda short of dedicated wingers.
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Fissler had it before here. I posted that as a rumour. This time it goes into his recent contract conditions plus he is in receipt of a two year deal. So would suggest stronger than a rumour this time.
What does "do buy it" mean because very obviously I had already done so. Strange.
Apologies, didn’t realise Fissler reported it first.
The ‘do buy it’ was a typo which has now been corrected to ‘don’t buy it’.
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I did wonder!
I do buy it despite it becoming the Cipriani Weekly.
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Sorry Neils I meant I don’t buy it, as in ‘I don’t buy the rumour’ / ‘not convinced by it’.
I do buy TRP online version.
I like Fissler’s pieces each week and I think he’s on the money a lot of the time. But perhaps I’m just being overly cautious with a wasps rumours this summer due to the comments from Dai.
Might message Fissler and see what his thoughts are on people’s theories about a wave of signings post RWC squad announcements.
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Not a bad idea. My other half has asked him questions in the past and found he was generally quite honest with what he knew - often no idea or wait and see!
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Absolutely loved Sean Long as a player, have not paid attention to RL for a number of years however so not sure what he coaches.
So last year we wanted Wilson to coach the forwards then Edwards as defence or head coach? Borthwick I assume as a forwards coach, what about Long? Attack?
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Thought I read somewhere he was with Orrell which is definitely a switch of codes. May be wrong though.
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Kibirige rumour gathering some pace today with a few more rugby media sources on the story
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Kibirige rumour gathering some pace today with a few more rugby media sources on the story
Yeah, i've just seen RugbyPass say that the deal is already agreed
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Described on Wikipedia as being an ambassador for the Dallaglio Foundation so might be a link there. 3 As at A level and doing an OU psychology degree so a bright lad.
Are Newcastle letting some players go so their like in the championship is not so expensive.
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I don't think Falcons are "letting players go". I think it is just a case of those that can are looking to further their careers. Falcons would like to keep as many as possible to ensure a quick bounce.
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Re Sean Long, I sometimes watch St Helens on TV and he is sitting next to the Director of Rugby so he must still be employed there.
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Kibirige has always looked decent to me. We have been light in terms of wing options of late with Watson's return to form being a huge bonus and relief. Watson, Bassett, Sirker, Odogwu (assumed) and Kibirige (assumed) represents good options and you'd have to imagine they'll all be available all season.
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Re Sean Long, I sometimes watch St Helens on TV and he is sitting next to the Director of Rugby so he must still be employed there.
Assistant coach at St Helens, been involved with Orrell RU and Samoa RL prior to that.
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What is Sean Long being look at as? I have to assume defence coach? St Helens certainly seem to have had a great defence, but a very different sport. I tend to dislike league defence coaches, as I often feel they miss the importance of the breakdown, and with a potential backrow of Carr, Willis and Young, that would be criminal.
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Blake and Davis were RL journeyman applying their trades as defence coaches, not always successful but Union became littered with them after the success of Edwards and the blitz defence.
Wouldn’t mind a RL coach coming in for defence at all if it was to do with alignment and systems. I imagine another guy working on the breakdown in amongst that would also be beneficial - although Young and Willis clearly know already what they’re doing here. Not sure we’re bad in this department at all, just some are better over the ball than others and sometimes depending on our back row and locks a bit slow to the breakdown.
I would really hope Sean Long is on skills and attack as a coach, such a fantastic player to watch in his day
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They know what they're doing at the breakdown, but if the defensive structure calls for 13 men spread in a line, with a fullback, then no one is to commit at the breakdown.
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Which is why I thought a specific breakdown guy working with a RL system guy could be a good thing, finding a good balance
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Not convinced he is what we want, was hoping for a bit more quality.
Too many players coming in over the last 2 seasons that will do a job but not convinced will help push us back to a top 4 team
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According to Rugby Pass Kibirige has put pen to paper, which is perhaps what Dai was implying when he said we were spent up to the cap (clearly Kibirige is only part of that cost)...
https://www.rugbypass.com/news/kibirige-the-latest-to-leave-newcastle-following-relegation/
Things are set to get worse before they get better, however, as RugbyPass understands that Zach Kibirige has agreed a deal with Wasps and that a contract between the two parties has already been signed.
Kibirige, 24, has impressed in the opportunities that have come his way over the last couple of seasons, but with Vereniki Goneva and Sinoti Sinoti in place at Kingston Park, those opportunities have not been as regular as he would have liked. His departure will come as a blow for Newcastle, who would have been looking to build around the offensive talent next season, during which Goneva and Sinoti will turn 36 and 34 respectively.
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I took a look over at the Falcon’s forum and they do seem to be frustrated that he’s leaving. Not simply just because it’s a player departure... but due to the fact they view him as having huge amounts of potential and that Dean hasn’t given him the opportunities (which is in some ways understandable when you view the two wingers ahead of him!).
So yes he isn’t a headline name, but the impression I get from the Falcon’s fans (who have seen the most of him) is that we have picked up a hugely promising EPQ player.
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Being honest I had to search online to find out who he was. Up until a month or so ago the cupboard was looking very bare on the wing for us but with Sirker being promoted, Kibirige being signed then things are looking a little better. I believe Minozzi can play wing as well and if push comes to shove Vellacott seems a handy stand in.
It looks like we now have pretty good cover in most positions although I mirror some other peoples thoughts about 2nd row. Is Garrat back to training yet?
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I'm puzzled. People are referring to Kibirige as having signed. Has this actually been announced officially yet? Until then I consider it is just a rumour.
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No not announced.
It was a strong rumour a few months ago then he re-signed (in April I think). However he appears to has a relegation release clause which he appears to have enacted. He seems to have told people up North where he is off to - Wasps - but correct there is no announcement.
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Also Paolo Odogwu, who is implying he is joining Wasps based on his Instagram post.
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There I was thinking it was official... so officially we're back to 3 wingers?
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Also Paolo Odogwu, who is implying he is joining Wasps based on his Instagram post.
Players have mucked around with social media before to try and create rumours for fun.
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I'm not convinced Odogwu was implying anything, as others have said, until its officially announced, its not real.
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Difference with Odogwu compared to Kibirigie is that PO is confirmed to leave Sale (destination unconfirmed). ZK is still under contract at Falcons
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So PO's agent might be leaving cryptic messages on social media to see who bites?
Again, it all comes down to "how much".
Apparently PO is from Cov so his move might kill 2 birds with 1 stone as far as he's concerned.
Kib might just be looking for somewhere else to go not wishing to be 3rd or 4th wing choice playing in the Championship.
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With Odogwu it was also the comments below his post, with multiple wishing him luck at 'Wasps' & 'The Ricoh'. Whether that was just people jumping to conclusions i don't know, but looking at a few of the people posting the comments, they looked more like friends rather than rugby fans.
I think Minozzi has been signed primarily as a Full-back. So with only 3 confirmed wingers, I wouldn't be surprised if both Kibirige & Odogwu sign to provide suitable depth.
Wonder what the club's announcement plans are over the summer.
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Wonder then if it’s Odogwu and Kibirige instead of Leyds.
Miller, Minozzi to cover FB, Watson has also been deployed there and James covering as well.
Bassett, Watson, Minozzi, Kibirige, Odogwu and Sirker give us great options.
Throw Leyds in there and we could arguably be oversubscribed. Miller gets shunted aside again and Sirker has more competition on the wing.
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It kind of looks that way. Leyds is a different class and it looks as if the rumours were incorrect.
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Wonder then if it’s Odogwu and Kibirige instead of Leyds.
Miller, Minozzi to cover FB, Watson has also been deployed there and James covering as well.
Bassett, Watson, Minozzi, Kibirige, Odogwu and Sirker give us great options.
Throw Leyds in there and we could arguably be oversubscribed. Miller gets shunted aside again and Sirker has more competition on the wing.
Gopperth can also play 15 giving a similar option to WLR as an extra first receiver to interchange with Lima, flanked by a couple of genuine quick wingers could be a decent option if Fekitoa at 12.
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Gopperth can also play 15 giving a similar option to WLR as an extra first receiver to interchange with Lima, flanked by a couple of genuine quick wingers could be a decent option if Fekitoa at 12.
With JdJ at 13, that would actually look pretty decent wouldn't it?
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The only problem with Jimmy at fifteen is he can't then play twelve. People here pointed to his absence as on destabilising factor for Lima's underwhelming start. Willie was at fifteen a fair chunk of the second half of the season, when Lima was getting a run. He popped up to support Lima as extra first receiver frequently. He seemed frustrated a fair chunk of that time too, they were not on the sane wavelength vis a vis Cipriani/WLR. I think on paper Fekitoa 12, Jimmy 15, Lima 10, sounds great, but frankly I think Lima needs a twelve who is a ten. With Jimmy at 12 Lima can play a bit further up the pitch. I am also not sure how fast Jimmy is, I know he has all the attributes I want from a full back- brave, clear headed, can tackle, can catch, good boot, but I wonder if he has the pace of a Willie. He has been such a star at twelve, why change?
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Interesting that Fekitoa is playing his normal position of 13 on Sunday. This is his preferred position unlike the wing where Toulon played him this season.
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The only problem with Jimmy at fifteen is he can't then play twelve. People here pointed to his absence as on destabilising factor for Lima's underwhelming start. Willie was at fifteen a fair chunk of the second half of the season, when Lima was getting a run. He popped up to support Lima as extra first receiver frequently. He seemed frustrated a fair chunk of that time too, they were not on the sane wavelength vis a vis Cipriani/WLR. I think on paper Fekitoa 12, Jimmy 15, Lima 10, sounds great, but frankly I think Lima needs a twelve who is a ten. With Jimmy at 12 Lima can play a bit further up the pitch. I am also not sure how fast Jimmy is, I know he has all the attributes I want from a full back- brave, clear headed, can tackle, can catch, good boot, but I wonder if he has the pace of a Willie. He has been such a star at twelve, why change?
Agree Jimmy should probably start out at 12 and see how it goes as he was a star at 12 but between Danny and Elliott with WLR at 15, new combinations might or might not gel like that, also not sure Minozzi at 15 is the sort of player to jump into first receiver which is why I think Jimmy might end up there eventually with Minozzi and others providing the pace on the wings in support.
Interesting times to see and have these discussions about it!
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I think we’ll actually see Minozzi do both. He’s got experience at 10 so would be more than comfortable at first receiver
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I'd like to see Gopperth at 12 primarily. Simply because we look so much more coherent attack wise when he is there. For the last two seasons though I think we've had great options at 13 but not so much at 12 and I'm not sure we've addressed that. If Gopperth is injured for me we're short. Fekitoa is better at 13 but can do 12. Neal is a possibility and we still have Le Bourgeois. I just feel that whilst we do have cover we're a little bit light there.
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We’re definitely going to have to add another dimension to how we play next season. With Cips and Jimmy at 10 and 12 it was all about creating space out wide as we had Daly and WLR in the outside channels ready to feed the likes of Wade.
Now we don’t.
De Jongh and Fekitoa are different types of 13 as is Miller at 15. Not seen enough of Minozzi to know how he hits the line from 15 but we might naturally change to a more direct and powerful game next season with Fekitoa at 13 so he might be the one to create space with power and an offload rather than needing someone at 12 to create more space.
Its a concern for me as we have to change style slightly again and will Blackett and Sopoaga have the technical ability to do that and get the best out of those around them?