robdinsdale wrote:gowrie wrote:Telegraph reporting that Sam Skinner has already agreed a deal to join us next season.
Excellent signing if true, he and Gilchrist have definitely not looked out of place for Scotland this year. We have a few locks already though, and two great young players, which makes me wonder who we might be losing. Gilchrist? Having a good year and might be looking for a big final contract. Toolis? Been out injured for a long time unfortunately.
A good signing if he's available but probably bad strategy for the SRU. I am expecting Hodgson and Sykes to be fairly well established by the end of this season and this would mean that we potentially have 5 of the available Scottish international locks (plus Glen Young who presumably has international aspirations). Glasgow have Cummings, Harley, who is not an international lock, and Richie Gray who seems to have retired from international rugby?
We are carrying 6 second rows now, and have had to use a back row already this year IIRC.
Toolis is 30 before the end of the season and GG is 32 before the start of next season. Both are OOC I think. If we lose one of those (as we probably should) then we still have 6 which is the minimum required really.
Glasgow have went non SQ for their second row signing but it isn't clear when Skinner was made available. He is a lad local to Exeter so may have been giving them every chance to find a way to make a deal.
The Feral Goat wrote:Skinner is a good player but difficult one to assess if he is "needed" given Sykes and Hodgsons rise, unless we are losing established 2nds in one or both of Gilchrist or Toolis.
Toolis has not played in over a year(?) i think and he does not appear on any of the injury updates with expected return but just on the "unavailable due to injury" hope he is not heading same way as Fraser McKenzie.
Also given no timelines have been given on contract lenghts for last few seasons we have no idea who is out of contract or not this season.
Mata could have signed for only another year and be off, Chamberlain is getting zero game time and may look to move on so could be looking for a 10 again. Is McInally likely to be out of contract cant recall his last renewal, Bradbury?
Gilchrist was reported to be OOC in 2022. Bradbury and Toolis extended in Jan 2020 so may be OOC.
Second rows are expensive, it is the highest paid position group in Europe. The SRU having potentially 3 internationals OOC at their clubs looking for new deals (and the money that comes with it) is tough for them. Given their performances as a pair in some big international wins, Skinner and GG would be one of the best pairings around in the URC. The one big thing that Skinner has that most in the squad don't is that he is a winner. He has won leagues and cups and started in some big games. At 26/27 he fits the type of profile we should be looking at. The only reason Exeter is letting him go is due to the slashed salary cap.
Chamberlain appears to be 4th choice 10. Not sure we'd spend a great deal replacing him.