ComeAllWithin

Rugby => ComeAllWithin Board => Topic started by: TomBuckQuin on Tuesday 08-Jan-2019, 09:21*

Title: Rob Buchanan
Post by: TomBuckQuin on Tuesday 08-Jan-2019, 09:21*
Robbo posted a video yesterday of a lineout drill. He himself is jumping again - suggesting his rehab is coming along well - but, on top of that, Rob B was throwing in (and nailed his dart). Really good to see - hopefully he is finally on the road to recovery.

https://twitter.com/ChrisRobshaw/status/1082361808231501825
Title: Re: Rob Buchanan
Post by: nowexnavyquin on Tuesday 08-Jan-2019, 10:51*
Hopefully we will see them both in contact training soon.
Title: Re: Rob Buchanan
Post by: poorfour on Tuesday 08-Jan-2019, 10:53*
That's very encouraging news - at the start of the season Rob was unsure whether his injury would recover enough to be able to play again, so even to be back in training is fantastic for him.
Title: Re: Rob Buchanan
Post by: Yareet on Tuesday 08-Jan-2019, 11:00*
Rob has been doing some shifts in the Meat Room on York Street (which is well worth a try anyway) and mentioned he’s a couple of months away from playing.
Title: Re: Rob Buchanan
Post by: honkytonk on Tuesday 08-Jan-2019, 11:17*
Will make the hooker situation next season interesting.  If RB makes a full recovery we will have - New Hooker, Crumpton, RB, Ward, Elia and Musk in the academy.

I dont see the need for 6 hookers (we have got through the season with 3 and 1 academy this year).  So we keep Crumpton, New Hooker and Musk. Who else stays, 1 or 2 of of Ward, Elia or RB.  I would let Ward move on.  Then comes down to RB and Elia (We could possibly keep both if the new hooker turned out to be a international, thus missing international periods)  Another big decision for PG
Title: Re: Rob Buchanan
Post by: MightyQ2 on Tuesday 08-Jan-2019, 11:20*
Agree with the above. I think if RB comes back on form then I’d choose to keep him over Elia & ward although it would be handy to keep Elia just in case due to RB injury history.

So new hooker, Crumpton, RB & Elia. Hopefully they’ll start releasing signings soon!
Title: Re: Rob Buchanan
Post by: Quinky on Tuesday 08-Jan-2019, 12:16*
I'd keep Elia definitely. He's still young and is a very good player. I notice that our lineouts are getting better, since Codling has been involved. Maybe it wasn't always down to the hooker?
Title: Re: Rob Buchanan
Post by: Gone on Tuesday 08-Jan-2019, 12:21*
Yeah agreed - Elia is a keeper.

Crumpton my favourite in the position.

100% line out on sat and two steals (I think)

Ward gone.
Title: Re: Rob Buchanan
Post by: TomBuckQuin on Tuesday 08-Jan-2019, 12:29*
I'm also happy to let Ward go - seems most people are. Too lightweight for me (our scrum functions better with Crumpton in there) and I'd rather we focussed on drilling our backrowers to get over the ball at the ruck - it's not a USP that convinces me he's a quality Premiership hooker. Interestingly though, Gussy has consistently picked him. Is he the current favourite because we lack turnover specialists elsewhere? It's the only logic I can attribute his run of games to. For me, Crumpton's number 1, Buchanan number 2 if he comes back anything like the player he was. Elia to continue to learn.
Title: Re: Rob Buchanan
Post by: honkytonk on Tuesday 08-Jan-2019, 12:31*
Im not sure what the stats are, but to the naked eye I would say the only improvement in the line out is when Crumpton plays, the others still seem very hit and miss to me (which is a shame as it looks as though we have a few nifty little moves up our sleeve now for when we do catch the ball!!).  I agree with what was said elsewhere, Crumpton the signing of the season so far.  Makes such a difference when you do the simple things well, which was the big thing on saturday for me.  Solid LO/Scrum, cant think of many handling errors, kicking was much better.
Title: Re: Rob Buchanan
Post by: honkytonk on Tuesday 08-Jan-2019, 12:32*
I'm also happy to let Ward go - seems most people are. Too lightweight for me (our scrum functions better with Crumpton in there) and I'd rather we focussed on drilling our backrowers to get over the ball at the ruck - it's not a USP that convinces me he's a quality Premiership hooker. Interestingly though, Gussy has consistently picked him. Is he the current favourite because we lack turnover specialists elsewhere? It's the only logic I can attribute his run of games to. For me, Crumpton's number 1, Buchanan number 2 if he comes back anything like the player he was. Elia to continue to learn.

I think he has been picked as he has been available.  Elia was on paternity leave I think, and international duty. Crumpton has had a few little knocks here and there
Title: Re: Rob Buchanan
Post by: MightyQ2 on Tuesday 08-Jan-2019, 14:10*
Crumptons been named in the Lovellrugby top 15 of the week alongside gabs and Marler. Good to see that.

I think Crumptons had a few knee injuries previously in his time at Bristol but as long as we can keep him fit, I’m more than happy to keep him there starting. Not only has the line out improved but also scrums. I’ve noticed we are choosing to scrummage more when he is on rather than taking kicks etc.
I read on a forum else where that RB may be back sometime early March
Title: Re: Rob Buchanan
Post by: T-Bone on Tuesday 08-Jan-2019, 15:00*
Crumpton was a big injury risk when we signed him but has played very well. Hopefully he can now stay injury free and would then be my first choice.

Elia started really well and then tailed off. I see no reason why he should be higher in the pecking order than Ward at the moment. Ward's throwing has been on a par with or better than Elia's this season I believe, though stats might not back that up.

I'll reserve judgement on Buchanan until he comes back. He's another of our hookers who has had a run of very good games, but also a run of pretty average ones, and has had his fair share of lineout issues too.

I'd agree that out of Crumpton, Ward and Buchanan, Ward has historically been the worst thrower. Elia I don't think is any better than Ward in that respect, and ward has improved this season. Shame he let himself down the other day.

Anyway, let's see if Buchanan does come back, and then how he plays.
Title: Re: Rob Buchanan
Post by: Quinky on Wednesday 09-Jan-2019, 12:06*
Crumpton the signing of the season so far.

At this stage I'd say Dombrandt was up there too.
Title: Re: Rob Buchanan
Post by: T-Bone on Wednesday 09-Jan-2019, 12:39*
At this stage I'd say Dombrandt was up there too.

Agreed, and Earle.
Title: Re: Rob Buchanan
Post by: BedfordshireBoy on Thursday 10-Jan-2019, 17:32*
All good signings by JK.
Title: Re: Rob Buchanan
Post by: poorfour on Thursday 10-Jan-2019, 19:19*
All good signings by JK.

I'm beginning to wonder if someone should have given JK the same advice Woodward gave Andy Robinson - "You don't want the England Manager job. The job you want is the one you've already got: Head Coach."
Title: Re: Rob Buchanan
Post by: Mayor West on Thursday 10-Jan-2019, 20:11*
Have any of our “in the know sources” said anything about getting another hooker. If Rob comes back ok we don’t need one as far as I can see.
Title: Re: Rob Buchanan
Post by: JammyGit on Thursday 10-Jan-2019, 21:49*
I hate to be a downer about a guy hopefully coming back from a long time out but even before injury he wasn't very good. His throwing was pretty dismal for a start.
Title: Re: Rob Buchanan
Post by: ChequeredJersey on Thursday 10-Jan-2019, 22:30*
We might lose another hooker anyway