The v2 Forum
Would you like to react to this message? Create an account in a few clicks or log in to continue.

Cameron Shepherd rejected by Saints

+7
funnyExiledScot
HammerofThunor
Kingshu
ScarletSpiderman
beshocked
formerly known as Sam
bsando
11 posters

Go down

Cameron Shepherd rejected by Saints Empty Cameron Shepherd rejected by Saints

Post by bsando Mon 06 Aug 2012, 9:00 pm

Didn't see that one coming. Apparently the saints have cancelled their signing of Cameron Shepherd from the Western Force due to fitness concerns.

"We needed more certainty about his ability to handle the tough demands of our long season," director of rugby Jim Mallinder said.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/19148227

I'm a Force supporter and think Saints have lost out on a fantastic player, but I'm sure their reasons must have been well justified.

What does this mean for Shepherd now? Will he stay in Aus or find another club in Europe? Oi Michael Bradley! Ya got any cash spare to bring Shepherd to Edinburgh? Very Happy

bsando

Posts : 4440
Join date : 2011-11-27
Age : 35
Location : Inverness

Back to top Go down

Cameron Shepherd rejected by Saints Empty Re: Cameron Shepherd rejected by Saints

Post by formerly known as Sam Tue 07 Aug 2012, 10:10 am

Hmm that might leave Saints a little short at full back. Since Tonks left for Scotland they now only have Foden as a specialist 15. Diggin or Artymiev might well cover but they are really wingers and surely the Saints management remember only to vividly what happened against the Scarlets when Pisi had to cover full back!

Saints have a couple of classy young wingers on the way through so I wonder if one of those, probably Jamie Elliott might slip in to 15 with a bit of training.

Perhaps another signing is on the cards then.

formerly known as Sam

Posts : 20435
Join date : 2011-07-13
Age : 37
Location : Leicestershire

Back to top Go down

Cameron Shepherd rejected by Saints Empty Re: Cameron Shepherd rejected by Saints

Post by beshocked Tue 07 Aug 2012, 10:38 am

Sam don't forget Saints will also lose Foden to England for chunks of the season as usual.

I would expect Diggin to cover but as you say they could do with reinforcements.

beshocked

Posts : 14849
Join date : 2011-03-08

Back to top Go down

Cameron Shepherd rejected by Saints Empty Re: Cameron Shepherd rejected by Saints

Post by formerly known as Sam Tue 07 Aug 2012, 11:30 am

Yeah, I'd have thought they would dip into the market again. Shepherd wouldn't have been a particularly cheap signing so there should be some more wage budget kicking about. Unless of course they are happy to promote from within again, it was 2 or 3 years ago they signed Dusty Hare the Tigers academy scouting guru to help transform their academy so maybe he's unearthed a gem at 15.

formerly known as Sam

Posts : 20435
Join date : 2011-07-13
Age : 37
Location : Leicestershire

Back to top Go down

Cameron Shepherd rejected by Saints Empty Re: Cameron Shepherd rejected by Saints

Post by ScarletSpiderman Tue 07 Aug 2012, 11:37 am

Did Pisi step back to fullback for a few games last season, and I think Pisi Jnr can step in if needed too.
ScarletSpiderman
ScarletSpiderman

Posts : 9944
Join date : 2011-01-28
Age : 39
Location : Pembs

Back to top Go down

Cameron Shepherd rejected by Saints Empty Re: Cameron Shepherd rejected by Saints

Post by Kingshu Tue 07 Aug 2012, 11:44 am

strange that everthing was signed and sealed, and they only had the medical now, or maybe not since they prob had a clause that he has to pass a medical at end of super xv before moving, don't want to sign a guy how breaks both legs in super xv only to have to pay him for a year.


Kingshu

Posts : 4023
Join date : 2011-05-30

Back to top Go down

Cameron Shepherd rejected by Saints Empty Re: Cameron Shepherd rejected by Saints

Post by formerly known as Sam Tue 07 Aug 2012, 11:48 am

Did Pisi step back to fullback for a few games last season

Yes, they were a disaster. He's not that great under the high ball. His younger brother may be better at 15 but he has no AP experience and is pretty young. Is Voyce still on the market? He would be an experienced 1 year stop gap.

Kingshu, I suspect they knew he had, had a long term niggle and wanted to make sure he was right at the end of the Super 15 season rather than risk signing him and then having the double cost of his wages and his medical bills.

formerly known as Sam

Posts : 20435
Join date : 2011-07-13
Age : 37
Location : Leicestershire

Back to top Go down

Cameron Shepherd rejected by Saints Empty Re: Cameron Shepherd rejected by Saints

Post by HammerofThunor Tue 07 Aug 2012, 1:02 pm

Kingshu wrote:strange that everthing was signed and sealed, and they only had the medical now, or maybe not since they prob had a clause that he has to pass a medical at end of super xv before moving, don't want to sign a guy how breaks both legs in super xv only to have to pay him for a year.


I work for the NHS and we have a clause in our contract that it's only valid if we pass a medical assessment (even if it's after you've started). So I think you can bank on a rugby contract have something like that. Him coming over to be assessed would probably be harder due to him being in Australia.

HammerofThunor

Posts : 10471
Join date : 2011-01-29
Location : Hull, England - Originally Potteries

Back to top Go down

Cameron Shepherd rejected by Saints Empty Re: Cameron Shepherd rejected by Saints

Post by funnyExiledScot Tue 07 Aug 2012, 1:12 pm

bsando wrote:What does this mean for Shepherd now? Will he stay in Aus or find another club in Europe? Oi Michael Bradley! Ya got any cash spare to bring Shepherd to Edinburgh? Very Happy

Hope not. We have Tom Brown hoping for a big season, and new signings Ben Atiga (NSQ) and Greg Tonks as cover. Not a player we need, particularly if his fitness isn't up to scratch.

Saints look like they really need cover at 15. Jim Thompson, just left Edinburgh and signed for London Scottish, would have been good and cheap cover. Silky runner and composed under the high ball.

If they had sufficient funds and LI could be persuaded (doubtful on both counts), Tom Homer would be an outstanding acquisition. Would allow Saints to use Ryan Lamb as a playmaker without having to rely on his (albeit improved) goal kicking, and give them a proper long boot from the back.

funnyExiledScot

Posts : 17065
Join date : 2011-05-31
Age : 43
Location : Edinburgh

Back to top Go down

Cameron Shepherd rejected by Saints Empty Re: Cameron Shepherd rejected by Saints

Post by formerly known as Sam Tue 07 Aug 2012, 1:53 pm

If they had sufficient funds and LI could be persuaded (doubtful on both counts), Tom Homer would be an outstanding acquisition

They managed to sign Waldouck from Wasps, though that says more about Wasps financial status than about the compensation package Saints were able to offer. Can't see LI taking the cash for Homer, he's a young talented player with the best points kicking skills in the country. They'd be mad to let him go.

If they were signing someone from another club then I imagine they'd have a look in the Championship. There's the ex-Falcon Manning kicking about, he should be cheap.

formerly known as Sam

Posts : 20435
Join date : 2011-07-13
Age : 37
Location : Leicestershire

Back to top Go down

Cameron Shepherd rejected by Saints Empty Re: Cameron Shepherd rejected by Saints

Post by formerly known as Sam Tue 07 Aug 2012, 4:07 pm

http://www.northamptonsaints.co.uk//news/6286.php?

Replacement already signed it seems.

formerly known as Sam

Posts : 20435
Join date : 2011-07-13
Age : 37
Location : Leicestershire

Back to top Go down

Cameron Shepherd rejected by Saints Empty Re: Cameron Shepherd rejected by Saints

Post by yappysnap Tue 07 Aug 2012, 5:23 pm

Homer isn't worth it in my opinion unless they wanted to change their whole gameplan. He adds little except a decent boot from the tee.

yappysnap

Posts : 11993
Join date : 2011-06-01
Age : 36
Location : Christchurch, NZ

Back to top Go down

Cameron Shepherd rejected by Saints Empty Re: Cameron Shepherd rejected by Saints

Post by HammerofThunor Tue 07 Aug 2012, 7:34 pm

That's a bit unfair. He seems decent in the tackle and has scored some cracking tries with the ball in hand. He's much much better kicking goals than other aspects but that's not all he offers.

Also with Geraghty coming back and not being the most reliable kicker, Homer takes that pressure off him, freeing him to play his game.

EDIT: But I agree he wouldn't be the best candidate for Saints or suit their style.

HammerofThunor

Posts : 10471
Join date : 2011-01-29
Location : Hull, England - Originally Potteries

Back to top Go down

Cameron Shepherd rejected by Saints Empty Re: Cameron Shepherd rejected by Saints

Post by yappysnap Tue 07 Aug 2012, 8:46 pm

Maybe, I guess I just don't see him as that much of a threat at fb, yes he did finish some good attacks but in general i'd put most other prem 15's above him for attacking.

His kicking though as you say is near perfect and should take a huge amount of responsibility off Geraghty when he's playing. But he still lacks pace and the ability to conjure an attacking threat himself. I suppose it's all about the trade off for kicking over attacking threat, but then when you have Ojo, Geraghty, Joseph, Taniphacembou etc in that backline it becomes less of a concern.

yappysnap

Posts : 11993
Join date : 2011-06-01
Age : 36
Location : Christchurch, NZ

Back to top Go down

Cameron Shepherd rejected by Saints Empty Re: Cameron Shepherd rejected by Saints

Post by MBTGOG Tue 07 Aug 2012, 10:43 pm

Yeah, Homer is a limited player. Fantastic kicking option, but he doesn't add a very dangerous weapon to the Irish backline.

Artemyev has played full back for Russia and would add an overtly offensive option to the full back position for Northampton.


MBTGOG

Posts : 4602
Join date : 2011-04-19
Location : Chester

Back to top Go down

Cameron Shepherd rejected by Saints Empty Re: Cameron Shepherd rejected by Saints

Post by Cumbrian Wed 08 Aug 2012, 8:26 am

They won't be signing anybody before the start of the season apparently (End of the article):


http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/19162782
Cumbrian
Cumbrian

Posts : 5416
Join date : 2011-01-28
Age : 40
Location : Bath

Back to top Go down

Cameron Shepherd rejected by Saints Empty Re: Cameron Shepherd rejected by Saints

Post by funnyExiledScot Wed 08 Aug 2012, 1:59 pm

Some harsh stuff about Tom Homer on here. Yes, he's not Christian Cullen, nor Ben Foden for that matter, but he is pretty quick and has plenty raw materials to work with to develop his attacking game. Josh Lewsey was a good example of a player who worked hard to improve his attacking game, and Mike Brown has certainly done so over the last few season. Add in Homer's kicking and I personally think he's going to be a very good 15 indeed. He also allows you to pick a proper playmaker at 10, so there could be a big net attacking benefit there.

funnyExiledScot

Posts : 17065
Join date : 2011-05-31
Age : 43
Location : Edinburgh

Back to top Go down

Cameron Shepherd rejected by Saints Empty Re: Cameron Shepherd rejected by Saints

Post by Cumbrian Wed 08 Aug 2012, 2:57 pm

funnyExiledScot wrote:Some harsh stuff about Tom Homer on here. Yes, he's not Christian Cullen, nor Ben Foden for that matter, but he is pretty quick and has plenty raw materials to work with to develop his attacking game. Josh Lewsey was a good example of a player who worked hard to improve his attacking game, and Mike Brown has certainly done so over the last few season. Add in Homer's kicking and I personally think he's going to be a very good 15 indeed. He also allows you to pick a proper playmaker at 10, so there could be a big net attacking benefit there.


Agree with that, it seems a little harsh to write off the attacking skills of a lad who is only just 22 and was last season's top points scorer. He might not have had quite the same running threat of someone like Foden but he offers more considered all round play. His kicking from hand for instance, is far better than Foden's. I feel people sometimes overlook what a useful tool a good boot can be for a fullback.

His try scoring record doesn't suffer that badly against the contenders for the England shirt either.

5 in 22 Tom Homer
7 in 22 Mike Brown
6 in 13 Ben Foden
3 in 23 Alex Goode
6 in 19 Jonny May
2 in 18 Nick Abendanon

I reckon there will be more from Homer with the ball in hand this season and will see him and Miller start to put pressure on the England incumbents. Happy Days.
Cumbrian
Cumbrian

Posts : 5416
Join date : 2011-01-28
Age : 40
Location : Bath

Back to top Go down

Cameron Shepherd rejected by Saints Empty Re: Cameron Shepherd rejected by Saints

Post by George Carlin Wed 15 Aug 2012, 12:42 pm

George Carlin
George Carlin
Admin
Admin

Posts : 15718
Join date : 2011-06-23
Location : KSA

Back to top Go down

Cameron Shepherd rejected by Saints Empty Re: Cameron Shepherd rejected by Saints

Post by Sponsored content


Sponsored content


Back to top Go down

Back to top

- Similar topics

 
Permissions in this forum:
You cannot reply to topics in this forum