Whose name will be on the 7 shirt next season
By Phill the Warrior
March 7 2013
It has been widely discussed that we are losing one of the hottest English rugby talents in the game. Matt Kvesic is leaving, not only leaving but going to local rivals Gloucester. Interestingly though there has not been too much discussion about how he will be replaced.
Jake Abbott - Jake is a Worcester boy, born in 1988. Standing at 5'11" and weighing in at around 15st 10lb (100Kg) and has played in the senior team since the 2008 - 2009 season, though he has been at the club for almost 20 years!
A senior debut game against London Irish in 2008, playing in the EDF Energy Cup was soon followed by his first senior try against Harlequins.
Always described as an athletic back row, Jake started his rugby career, well from the age of 6 to 12, as a winger. When, partially through being bored on the wing, a Worcester coach suggested a switch to back row, the position he has claimed his own ever since.
England 7's exposed Jake to a running game and gave him the taste for scoring tries. Making his debut in December 2009 the then 21 year old scored 3 tries in his first 2 competitions.
In May 2012 Worcester Warriors extended the specialist open side flankers contract. Though a typical off the pitch gentleman Jake has had a few public skirmishes making the press. Around the time of his new deal a negative story broke, followed shortly by a statement of full support from the club. The matter was dealt with in private, so I guess we will never know the full details.
The injury gods have not been kind to Jake over the past few seasons and most recently having literally put his head on the line, fairly extensive mouth and tooth surgery was required, resulting in a pretty gappy smile!
When you compare Abbott and Kvesic you find few statistical differences:
Age: Abbott 25 - Kvesic 21
Height: Abbott 5'11" - Kvesic 6'
Weight: Abbott 100Kg - Kvesic 105Kg
Played: Abbott 58 - Kvesic 59
Tries: Abbott 14 - Kvesic 8
Team Wins: Abbott 55% - Kvesic 46%
Though looking at team performances it would appear Abbott scores more points and we win more often, when he plays. Last season Jake played in 18 of our Aviva Premiership games, starting 15, whereas Kvesic played 16, but only 8 of those were starts. This season the roles have reversed with Jake making no Premiership starts and Kvesic playing in 17 including 14 starts. Is it possible we have two very good open side flankers fighting for the same shirt? The stats seem to demonstrate two very similar performers.
With Jake's winning performances, try scoring prowess and Kvesic's ability and future status as an England 1st XV flanker the ideal would be to keep both, but that is no not an option.
So just who will replace Matt Kvesic next season when he runs out for Gloucester?
For me it is Jake Abbott and I feel we will be no weaker in the open side flanker position next season than this.
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Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2013:03:20:16:18:29 by Powick Eastander.
Jacko
Personally I think we need another 7 for next season Jake is ok but for me he gives away to many penalties and offers less with ball in hand than Matt. He is good at the breakdown and agressive in the tackle but does not have the all round game to help take us to the top 6.
WBW, do you know anyone in the Prem who is a better out and out 7 than Jake? I don't
Quote:WBW
Jake is ok but for me he gives away to many penalties ... .
I've seen Matt K give away his fair share of penalties, too - fact is that any 7 worth his salt will give penalties away because they will play on the edge, push the boundaries, etc. Sometimes, the ref will notice and ping them. Occupational hazard (unless you are Richie McCaw
).Whatever you do, do it safely!
Quote:Warrior7
WBW, do you know anyone in the Prem who is a better out and out 7 than Jake? I don't
Seymour of Sale?
Quote:Warrior7
WBW, do you know anyone in the Prem who is a better out and out 7 than Jake? I don't
Kvesic
Quote:WarriorPhill
It's funny, when Sir Clive was asked about the top EQ 7's he did not mention Seymour or Kvesic, but he did mention Abbott as being in the top 3!
Yes your correct on that after the Bath game last year in which Jake played very well. But how many articles has he featured in since by Sir Clive?
I would have Jake in the squad but not as my starting 7 he lacks the required all round game he is good at the breakdown but offers little else. A 7 in this era of rugby is the link between backs and forwards always on the shoulder.
Also with RH letting Cowan go is Jake really an option for 7 he is smaller than Cowan. People will correctly say Neil Back was small and world class but he stopped playing 8 years ago we are now having 20 stone plus players who are quick attacking the breakdown.
May be me being cynical, but his lack of opportunity seemed to coincide with Matt K stating that he would only consider a contract playing 7. Lot of good that did us...
Quote:WarriorPhill
It's funny, when Sir Clive was asked about the top EQ 7's he did not mention Seymour or Kvesic, but he did mention Abbott as being in the top 3!
But who were the other two in SCW's opinion?
I think that once Jake has a decent run at 7 he will be able to shine. Just needs to avoid injury IMO
Also Jake is underrated in terms of his ability to link with the backs, remember that he is also a talented 7s player and is just as quick as MK. Maybe not the straight up power, but he makes up for that in defence as a far more aggressive tackler than MK.
Last season our best games were when we had all 3 of Abbott, Betty and Cowan in our backrow, its a shame Cowan is leaving but I still think that Betty and Abbott together are our best 6 and 7
He will not be our starting 7
I'm all for everyone entitled to their own opinion, but if you're going to come out with bold negative assertions like that, you could do with providing some evidence / reasoning....
Otherwise you'll carry on getting the same reaction from all the other posters.
Just sayin'
WE
I still would like another top quality specialist in that position as a) Jake may not get back to where he was b) You need back up anyway in case of injury.
Jakes pluses: excellent in the tackle area, getting over the ball and winning penalties, high tackle count, highly mobile - all things you need in a good 7.
We will miss Kev, but no point crying over spilt milk...
WE
Matt is in the build of McCaw is size and he has been the best 7 in the world for some time, he will not end up a 6 or 8 he will be a 7 at the 2015 WC.
Jake was talked up after 1 game on TV against Bath by Sir Clive and it was a fine game he had as well. However he has not hit those heights since then and he rarely hit them before. He is an ok player and worth a place in the squad but if we as a club are serious about top 6 club then we need a top 7 which next season we will be missing.
If Jake starts at 7 next season I will of course be delighted and support him and wish him well it is just if truth be told I would prefer him not to start at 7.