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#Post#: 22600--------------------------------------------------
Re: Second row shortage holding Quins back ?
DIR By: poorfour
Date: April 25, 2019, 9:17 am
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The academy output in locks has been disappointing, especially
when compared to what we've achieved in the front and back rows.
Presumably they broke the mould after they produced Robson.
Possibly trying to stretch it to 6'7".
#Post#: 22601--------------------------------------------------
Re: Second row shortage holding Quins back ?
DIR By: never sleep
Date: April 25, 2019, 9:23 am
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I thought that Twomey went to Ealing??
#Post#: 22602--------------------------------------------------
Re: Second row shortage holding Quins back ?
DIR By: TomBuckQuin
Date: April 25, 2019, 9:29 am
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--- Quote from: T-Bone link ---
>
> Alex Shaw tweeted about our record with academy 2nd rows. I'll
try to find the tweet. Stuff we all know, but saying it's
unfortunate that we let Kruis and Launchbury go early (I didn't
know Kruis was with us) and since then other England u20s in
South, Matthews, Twomey and Treadwell have all left, either
because they never fulfilled their promise (South, Twomey and
arguably Matthews) or in the case of Treadwell, just left to try
for higher honours.
>
--- End Quote ---
This is all a bit of a red herring I feel (and I recognise I'm
talking to Alex Shaw here really rather than your good self). So
many variables at play when it comes to player development. Each
year the intake is based on what's out there at that particular
time and you have to just go with the best available. There will
be vintage years and then serious droughts. In terms of the
individuals that are taken on, they all come good (or not) at
different rates - you've got the Marcus Smiths versus late
bloomers like Nick Easter.
I'd argue that Launchbury/Kruis are the only ones in that list
that have actually proven to be unfortunate releases. Matthews,
Treadwell, South are all mediocre at best in my eyes and Twomey
could have been a decent Prem player if it weren't for injury
problems but I don't believe he was ever going to be in the same
league as Launchbury.
And we're surely not the only club who happen to let a player or
two slip through the net early doors that goes on to be a class
act somewhere else.
However, I would like to see an absolute hulk of a lock come
through our academy at some point. Do I have to make a ritual
sacrifice at the temple of Johnno or something? 'Cause I'll do
it.
#Post#: 22604--------------------------------------------------
Re: Second row shortage holding Quins back ?
DIR By: T-Bone
Date: April 25, 2019, 9:42 am
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--- Quote from: TomBuckQuin link ---
>
> This is all a bit of a red herring I feel (and I recognise I'm
talking to Alex Shaw here really rather than your good self). So
many variables at play when it comes to player development. Each
year the intake is based on what's out there at that particular
time and you have to just go with the best available. There will
be vintage years and then serious droughts. In terms of the
individuals that are taken on, they all come good (or not) at
different rates - you've got the Marcus Smiths versus late
bloomers like Nick Easter.
>
> I'd argue that Launchbury/Kruis are the only ones in that list
that have actually proven to be unfortunate releases. Matthews,
Treadwell, South are all mediocre at best in my eyes and Twomey
could have been a decent Prem player if it weren't for injury
problems but I don't believe he was ever going to be in the same
league as Launchbury.
>
> And we're surely not the only club who happen to let a player
or two slip through the net early doors that goes on to be a
class act somewhere else.
>
> However, I would like to see an absolute hulk of a lock come
through our academy at some point. Do I have to make a ritual
sacrifice at the temple of Johnno or something? 'Cause I'll do
it.
>
--- End Quote ---
I need to find and quote the tweet so I don't do him a
disservice. He wasn't saying we were wrong to let certain
players go, or have been bad at developing them, more that it's
a bit of an anomaly with our academy products and unfortunate
for us as a club that we've not managed to bring through any
second rows who've turned out like Itoje, Kruis, Launchbury and
others, so means we have to bring people in instead. It wasn't a
criticism, just an observation from him really
#Post#: 22605--------------------------------------------------
Re: Second row shortage holding Quins back ?
DIR By: TomBuckQuin
Date: April 25, 2019, 10:23 am
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Fair enough! It's definitely true that we haven't brought a lock
through our academy and into a regular starting berth since
Robson! I know this is an unpopular opinion on here but I
actually don't think Merrick was far off turning into a serious
player before he decided to take up the offer in France.
#Post#: 22606--------------------------------------------------
Re: Second row shortage holding Quins back ?
DIR By: T-Bone
Date: April 25, 2019, 10:29 am
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I'd forgotten Merrick!
#Post#: 22613--------------------------------------------------
Re: Second row shortage holding Quins back ?
DIR By: Quinky
Date: April 25, 2019, 12:13 pm
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We also had Simon Shaw at one time. Apparently.
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