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“Everyone knows whether it’s rugby, politics or whatever, front-rowers should rule the world, so to have a hooker at the helm makes sense,” Nathan Charles Western Force & Wallabies Hooker.
I'm tipping he'll be on a flight to Fiji as Williams didn't sound too promising.
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
https://thewest.com.au/sport/western...ter-c-14064521
"Super Rugby Pacific: Western Force sign 16-cap Wallaby and former Brumbies lock Sam Carter
The Western Force have bolstered their lock stocks with 16-cap Wallaby Sam Carter signing on for the rest of the Super Rugby Pacific season. The 34 year-old former Brumbies second-rower joins the Force after four years overseas with Ulster and Leicester Tigers."
That's all I could get on the public side of the paywall.
"12 Years aSupporter" starring the #SeaOfBlue
Sam Carter, Locks and Backrow implications-
For the Force, let's keep in mind Carter is now 34, with probably another two years in him at this level and expressing pleasure at having his family "back home".
We all go on about the need for depth and a strong bench, Carter can bring that as there will always be a Lock carrying an injury.
If there's no cover then said Lock has to play.
Hate to say it, because Australia (not just the Force) desperately needs a fit Rodda, but until he has a season under his belt then we can't pencil him in as a permanent starter.
If you have a Carter coming along (I'm talking after this season) in a Thrush style semi Coaching role then you have cover. If he indeed has any Coaching aspiration the Force would be mad not to bundle up a player/development pathway for him.
He's coming from Leicester as one of five (ie all) Internationally Capped Locks in the Squad (Combined 46 Caps across 3 Countries), he will have a huge amount of IP and will have been flat out every week earning his spot. It's not like coming back from Japan or NPC.
Agreed Williams would likely see more at #6 if our Locks depth was deeper long term.
He's an 80 minute player in the Tight 5 already, so would become more effective if not getting zapped in the scrums as much.
Wells is in his final year and I would easily see his journey, being by then 31, at an end.
This opens up a slot for a bigger 6-8 (Williams) who can "cover" 4-5.
Of the rest of the Locks and development, I would make the distinction there are no local products amongst the young guys, so it has to be what is best for the Squad balance at this point.
Nofoagatotoa played ok as a Rookie, Kalapu is signed until '25 anyway and looking forward to seeing him play (as Women's Squad implications...) and would want to see more of Faifua before commenting.
You could mount an argument for Franklin either way, he has been good so far, but in a choice between him and Carter then you'd be going for Carter.
We actually started the season a Lock light, so it wouldn't be a stretch to see all of them retained.
In the Backrow there is then a good balance between power and mobility with (if Williams in and Wells out) a legitimate pair of options for each jersey.
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
Has anyone got any info on Alex Masibaka? I thought he was loaned to Montpellier for a couple of years as a development opportunity but looks to have transferred to Soyaux-Angoulême
Gareth Chilcott after his last game for Bath in 1993
“I thought I would have a quiet pint… and about 17 noisy ones.”
Gareth Chilcott after his last game for Bath in 1993
“I thought I would have a quiet pint… and about 17 noisy ones.”