Is Ignacio Mieres any Good(e)?

Ignacio Mieres

Player profile on the Worcester Warriors new fly half

"Nacho" as he's known to many rugby fans was a complete bolt out of the blue and one signing in particular that I never expected especially as he was contracted to the Chiefs for next season. I guess he was the signing that showed Goodey was surplus to requirements at Warriors.

I personally rate Ignacio highly, but he still has some improvements to make on his game management in my opinion. Even so I still think he's a very good modern day fly half with great attributes such as his speed and eye for a gap in the opposition defence.

The season before last,he was rated as one of the stand out performers in the league for the Exeter Chiefs, but last year he struggled to nail down a starting place due to Gareth Steenson's impressive form and some personal issues See Position Profile Fly Half

It's difficult to say how to rate this signing as Goodey was a "fans favourite" who had fantastic vision and a great kicking percentage that was always at the top of the charts in the Premiership.

All in all my personal view is that Nacho is the perfect age and will only get better as the years go on and not only that, I also think Paul Warwick will help improve his game with his guidance and input. 

With Meires I think he will add more to our attacking game with the "ball in hand" attacking game we're trying to adopt and is potentially a better passer of the ball than Goodey as many times last season I witnessed Goode incomplete a fair few passes on a regular basis.

One thing Warriors fans shouldn't forget  is that Nacho is a International player, but doesn't currently feature in the Los Pumas Argentinian squad, which will only make him more hungry to do well with our club so he can get himself into the minds of the selectors in time for the upcoming World Cup. 

With this in mind I can really see him playing out of his skin and in my view can only benefit our team and I think we have a very good fly half on our books indeed. 

AJ Bailey

Position Profile - Fly Half

Is it possible for there to be more change than we have had at 10 this season?  First it was announced that Joe Carlisle was leaving for Wasps.  Obviously expecting to get out from under the shadow of 1st choice fly-half Andy Goode, who a month or so later announced that he was also leaving at the end of the 2012/13 season and that his new pastures were also in Buckinghamshire!  Good(e) luck Joey!

Is it possible this was the double deal clincher?

So what is the role of a fly-half?

This is an extremely important position within the match day XV and arguably, regardless of who is named captain, the man that runs the match day tactics.  It is therefore extremely important that the #10 understands and implements the tactics derived by the coaching staff (something Richard Hill stated was not being done by Andy Goode).
Set piece movements are directed through and by the fly-half, passing, kicking, tackling and positional play are essential.  Open-side flankers like to eat 10's for breakfast and if you have a fly-half considered weak then they quickly become an attacking target for the opposition, with the "10 channel" becoming a favoured attacking direction.

What do you want in a fly-half?

In 2 words "Johnny Wilkinson" but more detailed - tactical awareness, passing ability, kicking ability from hand and place kicking, great vision, a certain level of physicality and strong leadership skills.

What have we had in the past?

Some would say it is a who's who of journeymen, former internationals and potential talent that never quite made it.

What do we have at #10 for 2013/14?

With 1st and 2nd choice 10's leaving, then head coach Richard Hill signed up the services of Ignacio Mieres and Paul Warwick.  Two less similar characters and players would be hard to find.

We have already looked at Paul Warwick in detail Paul Warwick #23 though I would not consider him a fly half.  As the title of my article on him suggests, I would see him as more of a specialist 23 than a first choice 10.

Lets not forget Danny Gray!

To be fair to Danny, he had time out last season and fell behind Joe for the supporting role as Warriors 10, but when he did come on the pitch he looked great!  His first proper start was away to Bath, when Andy Goode, having just announced he was leaving Sixways, fell ill as he warmed up for kick off.  Though the game ended in our tears, Danny played very well and in my opinion deserved more game time as the season drew to a close.

The major signing at 10 has been that of Ignacio Mieres, who will be reviewed in detail by AJ Bails in the coming days.  To be fair he is arriving at Sixways under a bit of a cloud.  An 'unknown' issue at his now former club Exeter has meant he missed the 2012/13 season, but hopefully he arrives having served his time and more importantly learning what you do not do in and around other team members!

The future of the 10 shirt

Something we have missed in recent years is competition at the academy level for fly half. We hear about the Ford brothers and Burns brothers and we are now starting to see the fruits of their age group battles at Tigers (Bath), Leeds (Sale) and Gloucester, but we have not really had that... until now. 

Last season our lack of young 10's was so apparent that on more than one occasion our Cavalier side fielded Dr. Who - it turns out he is a lad that lives near former head coach Richard Hill.

The 'real' Tom Baker

The lad did OK but it was quite embarrassing that a top flight rugby club had to resort to such a level to field a specialist fly half.

In Elliot Davies and Tiff Eden we have two very talented future 10's, both still teenagers and both on the books for the 2013/14 academy season.  I will be watching these guys closely to see how they progress!

Paul Warwick #23

Last night  (Friday 17th May 2013) Paul Warwick played in the final of the Amlin Challenge Cup.  A game lost by Stade Francaise 34-13.  I say lost because of the amount of wasted possession in the first half.  By the time Leinster had put 21 points on the board SF had 69% of the possession but not a single point to show for it.  To be fair Leinster were amazing and deserved the title, Warwick came on at half time and played the game at scrum half... this is our new #10 I'm talking about!  So, who have we signed?

Paul Warwick

Born:       1981

From:      Australia 

Height:    5' 11"

Weight:   90Kg

Position: Scrum half / Fly half / Full back

His playing career started with Manly in Australia, the same team that the now Sir Clive Woodward ended his playing playing career with back in 1990.  

He joined Connacht for the 2004/05 season.  Scoring 97 points in the challenge cup, which saw him secure a further 2 year deal and catch the eye of many top flight rugby clubs.

2007 Warwick joined Munster.  In the same season they signed All Black legend Doug Howlett.  He had 4 good seasons at the club making 95 appearances and scoring 461 points.  Warwick played his last game for Munster against Scarlets scoring 8 points in April 2011.  He was on the bench for 4 further games but didn't actually make it onto the pitch.

During his time at Munster Warwick was caught up in a bit of controversy when he signed with London Irish for the 2009/2010 season but, for personal reasons, he changed his mind.

February 2011 saw the official announcement that Paul had signed for Stade Francaise and would be playing the 2011/12 season in the Top 14. He has played 48 times for Stade in a mixture of positions including scrum half, fly half and full back.

The 2012/13 season sees Warwick join up with the Worcester Warriors, described as a 'winner' by Richard Hill part of the reason for him being signed was his attitude to playing rugby, but I would imagine the main reason is his versatility.  Mr. Hill used the term 'utility player' a lot of time when talking about building for the future and Warwick is certainly one of those.

Primarily signed as a  fly half to support the work of another Warriors new boy, Ignacio Mieres, Paul has a lot of experience playing at 15 for Munster and as he showed last night, in the Amlin Challenge Cup final, he is a very accomplished scrum half too.

Although he does not have any full international caps, the Australian has played for the Barbarians and 7's rugby for his country.

International or Premiership rugby experience he is not bringing to the club, but he does have bags of European experience and has been brought in to spread his 'winning' mentality. 

If his performance in the final is anything to go by we have signed a quality player. Considering I have not seen any profile description state him as a scrum half he was more than capable in that position.  Very early to the break down, extremely physical in retrieving the ball and in the tackle.  You could see him controlling the forwards and at times he would also take on the role of fly half and be controlling the backs.

Warwick was interviewed by the Irish Times prior to the Amlin final and said of his time with Stade “Yeah it’s been . . . eh . . . interesting,” but he did confirm that he is really looking forward to his move to England, so hopefully we will avoid a repeat of the London Irish episode of 2009.

It has been reported by the club that Warwick will be the back-up 10 for Mieres but also that he will be the player mentor for new academy recruit Tiff Eden.  

Tiff made his Warriors debut in the Greene King 7's in Bury St. Edmonds.  A 7's specialist (or as specialist as you can be at anything when you are 18 years young) and fly half he received very good reports from players and coaches alike.

A big welcome to the club Paul, of the signings Dean Ryan has inherited surely this is one that he will be happy with, I'm really looking forward to seeing Warwick playing in the blue and gold of Worcester Warriors.