Not a surprise, but looks like a good addition. I hadn't appreciated that he's so young - and to be known as one of the best looseheads in the Championship at that age is a good sign.

He's at an equivalent point in his career to an academy player who's been on DR for a year or two, so at about the right point in age and experience to integrate into the senior squad, and he won't lack for people to learn from.

Got to get the lineout working, but yes.

Our first choice pack has a nice balance even if it will not have the extra Robshaw after the end of this season. We need to make sure that we keep at least a couple of hookers and tightheads fit, get the backup front rows to step up and get a bit more depth in the locks, but as a squad there is potential.

The big question really is how we balance the setpiece with having a mobile pack that can adapt to the new breakdown interpretation. If Clifford could stay fit it could really suit him, and Dombrandt is fast for his size, but some of the others will need to be sharper of mind if they can't become fleeter of foot.

I would suggest this applies to most, if not all, of the others!

We can import/develop brawn. What seems to be difficult to find/build is players with a good rugby brain. For example, I don't think we've ever properly replaced Tom Williams or the Goat.

I think we're closer to replacing some of these players than I ever thought we might. If we look at the 2012 AP Final team versus their closest replacements...

Brown vs Brown (but we don't really have a like-for-like replacement in sight. Could Lang convert to playing there?)
Williams vs Murley (still early days, but I see a lot of Williams in Murley's reading of the game)
Lowe vs Marchant (very similar in quality and reading of the game, though we still miss Lowe's phenomenal defence)
JTH vs Esterhuizen (fingers crossed he could be even better if he lives up to his reputation)
Monye vs Ashton (if he settles into the squad, Ash is arguably even better at reading the game than Monners)
Evans vs Smith (Marcus has a lot to learn but is closer to a direct replacement than we could reasonably expect)
Care vs Care (but, like Brown, we need a successor)

Easter vs Dombrandt (if he can sort his cardio, in time Dombrandt could be better than Easter. And again, the rugby brain is there)
Robshaw vs Clifford (probably... if he can stay fit, Clifford has the brains and physicality, plus a speed that Robshaw lacks. Different kind of player, though, and it's a big if)
Mo vs Chis (different kind of player again, but Chis has a good reading of the game)
Robson vs Symonds (not quite as solid as GOAT, but could get there)
Kohn vs Lewies (Lewies is probably a better rugby player, but we miss Olly's size and impact)
Johnston vs Collier/Louw (the position has changed so much that it's hard to call, even if we'd seen more of Collier or any of Louw)
Gray vs Gray/ Elia (not as settled, but it's hard to argue that the intelligence isn't there...)
Marler vs Marler (2020 Marler is less dynamic, but better in the scrum and in defence and marginally less likely to pick up a ban)

Man for man, the big gaps are in not having a clear replacement for Brown, Robshaw and Care. Overall, it's a lot rawer than the 2012 squad, not least because it's spent much less time together. But if we can keep that group fit and playing together I think it has a similar level of potential.

Little!!??

I think we're closer to replacing some of these players than I ever thought we might. If we look at the 2012 AP Final team versus their closest replacements...

Brown vs Brown (but we don't really have a like-for-like replacement in sight. Could Lang convert to playing there?)
Williams vs Murley (still early days, but I see a lot of Williams in Murley's reading of the game)
Lowe vs Marchant (very similar in quality and reading of the game, though we still miss Lowe's phenomenal defence)
JTH vs Esterhuizen (fingers crossed he could be even better if he lives up to his reputation)
Monye vs Ashton (if he settles into the squad, Ash is arguably even better at reading the game than Monners)
Evans vs Smith (Marcus has a lot to learn but is closer to a direct replacement than we could reasonably expect)
Care vs Care (but, like Brown, we need a successor)

Easter vs Dombrandt (if he can sort his cardio, in time Dombrandt could be better than Easter. And again, the rugby brain is there)
Robshaw vs Clifford (probably... if he can stay fit, Clifford has the brains and physicality, plus a speed that Robshaw lacks. Different kind of player, though, and it's a big if)
Mo vs Chis (different kind of player again, but Chis has a good reading of the game)
Robson vs Symonds (not quite as solid as GOAT, but could get there)
Kohn vs Lewies (Lewies is probably a better rugby player, but we miss Olly's size and impact)
Johnston vs Collier/Louw (the position has changed so much that it's hard to call, even if we'd seen more of Collier or any of Louw)
Gray vs Gray/ Elia (not as settled, but it's hard to argue that the intelligence isn't there...)
Marler vs Marler (2020 Marler is less dynamic, but better in the scrum and in defence and marginally less likely to pick up a ban)

Man for man, the big gaps are in not having a clear replacement for Brown, Robshaw and Care. Overall, it's a lot rawer than the 2012 squad, not least because it's spent much less time together. But if we can keep that group fit and playing together I think it has a similar level of potential.

Thank you poorfour. This is one of the best bits of analysis I have read in a long time.

Wasn't a further prop and hooker also rumoured from Ealing when the orig rumour on Els was started