Looks like an inexperienced replacement for Jamie Roberts from NFL and USA rugby.
A seemingly good acquisition but time will tell.......
Does Lasike make Quins a top 6 club???
I was going to let it go but nah, you spout too much nonsense. Has someone stolen your toys or is there another reason you bleat all the time? Seriously, get a grip,
Did anyone say it made us a top 6 side? It’s hard to tell what you think coz in par 1 you deliberately deployed the word inexperienced then in par 2 you give him a qualified welcome only to effectively slag him again in par 3.
What has upset you so much about people saying he looks handy?
Also - you really expect top 6 this year?
As predictable as ever Blucherquin to any response I make.
What's your problem?
Having said Lasike was a good acquisition he is, in my opinion, on paper, no substitute in terms of experience for Jamie Roberts. Hence my comment - 'Time will tell'.
As to top 6 finish, I personally don't think Lasike will play a prominent role - he is a bench player. Whether Quins are a top 6 team - time will tell. I sincerely hope Quins win the Premiership but something tells me it won't happen this season.
What's your problem??
My prediction is, like you, Quins are likely to struggle as they rebuild.
However, last season I was willing to put my comments up to public scrutiny in the prediction league and came second in the final analysis.
On the other hand you seem to have adopted a person vendetta without any substance and in the end seem to agree with the original point being made.
What's your problem???
With the greatest respect, how much did Roberts' experience get us last season?
JammyG - Jamie Roberts did very little for us last season, but is this down to the way he was used by the coaching team?
Roberts is a seasoned international with near 100 appearances for Wales - isn't their a cliche about quality always being there, where as poor performance is temporary. Bath seemed very happy to employ him!!
However, my point was that as a replacement Lasike was not, 'on paper', in the same class. Hopefully Gustard sees some potential from a player looking for a career in rugby union having spent much of his recent time in American Football playing as a fullback.
Before Blucherquin lets rip, let me say this is no criticism of anyone, the club, Lasike, Gustard, Ellis or any poster on this site. However, both the coaching staff and the player have to make some major adjustments for him to adapt to the intensity of Premiership and European rugby.
If Lasike does prove to be a major factor in Quins' season then what an excellent and perceptive acquisition from the Utah Warriors - but what does it say about the other backs - Marchant, Saili and Aussie international Tapuai or the talented academy?
And just to help everyone put American rugby union in context see:
Teams in the first year (this year) of the Major League Rugby played 8 games. Utah Warriors won 3 and lost 5. They lost to Glendale Raptors in the play-off semis.
No doubt Northampton Saints will say there are some exceptional US rugby players. Fingers crossed for Lisike.
Yeah, I'm also rather cautious about him. He doesn't have much of a track record and he seems to be being judged on one game against Scotland.
If he played New Zealand rugby until his teens he's probably got better basic skills than most of the team.
If he played New Zealand rugby until his teens he's probably got better basic skills than most of the team.
Exactly. This is someone who grew up with a rugby ball in his hands in NZ. The fact that he was playing American Football in the US is a side note. He is first and foremost a Rugby player.
Remember, Naas Botha (of Texas Harlequins fame :-) ), could also be described as a failed Dallas Cowboys player.
As predictable as ever Blucherquin to any response I make.
What's your problem?
Having said Lasike was a good acquisition he is, in my opinion, on paper, no substitute in terms of experience for Jamie Roberts. Hence my comment - 'Time will tell'.
As to top 6 finish, I personally don't think Lasike will play a prominent role - he is a bench player. Whether Quins are a top 6 team - time will tell. I sincerely hope Quins win the Premiership but something tells me it won't happen this season.
What's your problem??
My prediction is, like you, Quins are likely to struggle as they rebuild.
However, last season I was willing to put my comments up to public scrutiny in the prediction league and came second in the final analysis.
On the other hand you seem to have adopted a person vendetta without any substance and in the end seem to agree with the original point being made.
What's your problem???
That you're so negative when we haven't even started the pre season matches.
I'm not saying everyone has to be positive but whenever a thread talks about something being a good prospect or encouraging - you say that it's also a potential disaster. I've got nothing against you at all but no one is saying these things are amazing, but the guy looks like a decent squad signing compared to the dross we've got at the moment.
I'm just not sure that anyone looking a brand new coaching set up and a fresh start for a club in total chaos and lacking any coherence is waiting for anything other than signs of improvement.
Relegation would be about the only reason to judge the new set up as a failure surely?
I wouldn't have said anything except you seem to be a bit gloomy this year when for the first time a lot of us have signs of hope.
Looks like an inexperienced replacement for Jamie Roberts from NFL and USA rugby.
A seemingly good acquisition but time will tell.......
Does Lasike make Quins a top 6 club???
We don't know until we see him play, but Lasike brings physicality that looks to rival Roberts at his peak and I would imagine he is a lot hungrier and has a longer useful career ahead of him. If he integrates well into the squad, he could become the focal point for the attack that we've been lacking since JTH's injuries started to take their toll.
Any signing is a risk, but Quins have historically done better at unearthing unsung heroes like Kohn, Ross or Ward than hiring in big names. If Lasike gives us consistent go forward, then potentially he does make us a Top 6 club.
If he played New Zealand rugby until his teens he's probably got better basic skills than most of the team.
Same with Winston Stanley.
If he played New Zealand rugby until his teens he's probably got better basic skills than most of the team.
Same with Winston Stanley.
Ouch! Hadn't thought of that, best to reserve judgment, but wish him, and us, well.
JammyG - Jamie Roberts did very little for us last season, but is this down to the way he was used by the coaching team?
Roberts is a seasoned international with near 100 appearances for Wales - isn't their a cliche about quality always being there, where as poor performance is temporary. Bath seemed very happy to employ him!!
However, my point was that as a replacement Lasike was not, 'on paper', in the same class. Hopefully Gustard sees some potential from a player looking for a career in rugby union having spent much of his recent time in American Football playing as a fullback.
Before Blucherquin lets rip, let me say this is no criticism of anyone, the club, Lasike, Gustard, Ellis or any poster on this site. However, both the coaching staff and the player have to make some major adjustments for him to adapt to the intensity of Premiership and European rugby.
If Lasike does prove to be a major factor in Quins' season then what an excellent and perceptive acquisition from the Utah Warriors - but what does it say about the other backs - Marchant, Saili and Aussie international Tapuai or the talented academy?
It's not a zero-sum game, if he is a big success why should it say anything bad about other players (including one who's a 13, not a 12)? You seem to be laying groundwork for negativity on that one, it's a lose-lose - if he's bad then it's a bad signing, if he's good then it somehow makes other players bad.
He's not the replacement for Jamie Roberts. Tapuai, who was more effective in the last 2 seasons, is the replacement for Roberts. He's there to make sure we don't lose too much in terms of having a big midfield presence should injuries dictate it. But it is fair to say that despite Roberts' experience, he offered us nothing that suggested he was a 100 cap international with major Lions experience.
He's a punt that might turn out to be an astute one. Or he might be Stanley mk2. Or somewhere in the middle, like Luamanu. I can't imagine it's costing the club much.
If history is anything to go by, our big name centres have limited impact and game time (remember Abbot, Ollie Smith, Luscombe, de Wet Barry?) and our best performances have come with a combination of home grown talent and players unearthed from lower leagues (JTH, Lowe, Hopper).
Of course, we *may* get lucky and Saili and Tapuai stay fit for long enough that Lasike gets time in the A league and the odd bench slot. But it's likely given the past few seasons that we will see him fairly regularly, and I am excited to see what he can do alongside Smith and Marchant.
Of course, this is Quins, so it could still all go wrong, but I have not yet reached the point where I am going to look for the negatives in everything before a ball has been kicked in anger.
And I hope I never do. Maybe it's just the way online comments come across, but the apparent unwillingness of a small hard core on this board to allow even a little bit of optimism go unpunished is off-putting to me as a long term fan and must be a serious deterrent to new members.