[thomond2006]

Originally Posted by profitius

They're really splashing the cash. Its good for the Rabo league though because at least we know they'll be trying to win every game this season.

I find it a weird signing though, they let Kelly go to London Scottish and sign a foreign player instead of him. I was reading an Edinburgh Rugby message board, a lot of fans are not impressed with their team signing average foreigners.

[profitius]

Originally Posted by thomond2006

I find it a weird signing though, they let Kelly go to London Scottish and sign a foreign player instead of him. I was reading an Edinburgh Rugby message board, a lot of fans are not impressed with their team signing average foreigners.

I wouldn't be either if they were my team but last season their second team were clearly not good enough.

[thomond2006]

Originally Posted by profitius

I wouldn't be either if they were my team but last season their second team were clearly not good enough.

IN: John Yapp (PR, Cardiff Blues), WP Nel (PR, Cheetahs), Isak van der Westhuizen (LK, Cheetahs), Perry-John Parker (LK, Esher), Dimitri Basilaia (FL, Valence d'Agen), Richie Rees (SH, Cardiff Blues), Greig Tonks (CT, Northampton), Ben Atiga (CT, Otago), Mike Penn (FB, Nottingham) + Andy Titterell

OUT: Kyle Traynor (PR, Bristol), Andrew Kelly (HK, London Scottish), Ulyses Gamboa (PR), Jack Gilding (PR), Esteban Lozada (LK, Agen), Alan MacDonald (FL), Mike Blair (SH, Brive), Phil Godman (FH, London Scottish), Jim Thompson (WG, London Scottish), Chris Paterson (FB, retired)

7 foreigners (3 uncapped) + 2 SQ players arriving.

8 SQ players, 2 foreigners leaving.

[totallegend]

Originally Posted by thomond2006

7 foreigners (3 uncapped) + 2 SQ players arriving.

8 SQ players, 2 foreigners leaving.

Hmmm. I suppose the difference between Ireland and Scotland is that the IRFU and the provinces have the cash to keep the best players at home, and therefore you build a critical mass of players here which means Ireland can afford to effectively ignore players in the UK for national team selection.

With pro rugby in Scotland the way it is, I'd say the best tactic is go for short-term success, try to build more of a following and get more punters through the gates at the Edinburgh and Glasgow matches, then worry about building a national squad later.

They have to try something different, they can't continue like they have been the last few years.

[Teferi]

Full list of fan written previews here.

[PhatPiggins]

Originally Posted by profitius

They're really splashing the cash. Its good for the Rabo league though because at least we know they'll be trying to win every game this season.

Absolutely, apparently if you collected eight tokens from inside special bags of Walkers crisp and send them off with a stamped, addressed envelope you get sent Andy Titterell

[.ak]

Originally Posted by Teferi

Full list of fan written previews here.

Is this your work Thomond?

[profitius]

How do people think the Ospreys will do this season?

[PhatPiggins]

Originally Posted by profitius

How do people think the Ospreys will do this season?

Losing finalists to Munster

[CatFromHue]

Originally Posted by profitius

How do people think the Ospreys will do this season?

Other than Shane Williams and Paul James the 23 that beat Leinster in the Rabo final is still with them so they should be handy enough. They have reduced their squad size alot so could struggle if Wales call up Beck, Biggar, Adam Jones, Wyn Jones, Ian Evans, Ryan Jones, and Tipuric.

[armchaircoach]

Originally Posted by CatFromHue

Other than Shane Williams and Paul James the 23 that beat Leinster in the Rabo final is still with them so they should be handy enough. They have reduced their squad size alot so could struggle if Wales call up Beck, Biggar, Adam Jones, Wyn Jones, Ian Evans, Ryan Jones, and Tipuric.

Totally agree, top rabo teams can end up losing a huge number of first team players for big chunks of the season, so just because they retain a strong first team doesn't mean that they will be able to remain competitive if they have gutted the rest of the squad, who are the guys who pick up the slack when the first team are away on Wales duty.

[profitius]

I think the Ospreys will find it harder this season for that reason too. As well as that they won some controversial games last season and had an injury free run with fewer Welsh call ups than you'd expect. Their fans are confident and not too concerned about the players lost but they're weakened by the loss of Bowe, James and Williams.

The new coach seems to have been a breath of fresh air for them and they have young players coming through as well as bigger crowds expected. Still with other teams strengthening I can easily see the Ospreys slipping down a few places.

[armchaircoach]

And with the volatile nature of club rugby support in Wales, a season or two not making the playoffs could be very damaging.

[CatFromHue]

They (Ospreys) did have some tax issues (after the Rabo final they were issued with a winding up order) that I think have been cleared up now but I'd still view them as the most competitive of the Welsh teams. If they can continue with how they finished last season they should be able to make the play offs.

[CatFromHue]

Originally Posted by profitius

I wouldn't be either if they were my team but last season their second team were clearly not good enough.

Originally Posted by thomond2006

IN: John Yapp (PR, Cardiff Blues), WP Nel (PR, Cheetahs), Isak van der Westhuizen (LK, Cheetahs), Perry-John Parker (LK, Esher), Dimitri Basilaia (FL, Valence d'Agen), Richie Rees (SH, Cardiff Blues), Greig Tonks (CT, Northampton), Ben Atiga (CT, Otago), Mike Penn (FB, Nottingham) + Andy Titterell

OUT: Kyle Traynor (PR, Bristol), Andrew Kelly (HK, London Scottish), Ulyses Gamboa (PR), Jack Gilding (PR), Esteban Lozada (LK, Agen), Alan MacDonald (FL), Mike Blair (SH, Brive), Phil Godman (FH, London Scottish), Jim Thompson (WG, London Scottish), Chris Paterson (FB, retired)

7 foreigners (3 uncapped) + 2 SQ players arriving.

8 SQ players, 2 foreigners leaving.

It looks like Tim Visser agrees with ye:

"I know it is hampering young Scottish talent but we need to be more competitive in domestic league form than we ever have, especially with the expectations we built last season (reaching a Heineken Cup semi-final).

"Last year it was very evident that the period when the internationalists were away cost us the league. We have been able to bring players through though (Matt Scott, Tom Brown, Dave Denton and Lee Jones who won first caps last season) and that is another reason why we now have had to look further afield."

http://www.espnscrum.com/rabodirect-...ry/167904.html