Royce/Team Selection : Sat Jul 16, 2011 9:23 am  

Time for Royce to make some very, very difficult decisions. It seems that the general consensus on here would want Eastmond to continue at full back until the end of the season. Does Wellens still make the 17 if that is the case? Does he become our utility back on the bench or does the impending return (again) of Gary Wheeler win that debate? Does Leon stroll straight back in at 6?

For me, the stand off debate is the easiest to solve, especially after last night. Whilst Gaskell has done well, Pryce HAS to start at 6 for the remainder of the year. His organisational skills and general all round play is a must there.

The full back debate is painful. What we lose in Eastmonds defensive abilities in comparison to Wellens is outweighed by Eastmonds attacking prowess. His speed in the line and ability to create an extra half back whilst giving the three quarters more room to create is far, far better than Wellens. I'm afraid, for me, it's Eastmond at 1. I'm pretty sure Royce won't see it like that though and Wellens will be reinstalled back at 1. Don't get me wrong, it won't make us infinitely weaker and he'll save us points that Eastmond wouldn't be capable but the whole balance of our attack seems so much better with Pryce and Eastmond back in the fold

For the Cas match on the 31st July,when I expect us (fingers crossed no more injuries) to be nearing as full strength as we'll be this year, I would go:

Eastmond
Foster
Shenton
Meli
Makinson
Pryce
Lomax
Graham
Roby
LMS
Puletua
Soliola
Wilkin

Moore
Wheeler
Clough
Flannery

Thoughts? Is there a case for playing Wellens at centre and moving Meli back to the wing? Personally, i wouldn't with the form meli has shown at centre this year.

Re: Royce/Team Selection : Sat Jul 16, 2011 9:33 am  

I'd like to see Kyle have a run at fullback while wello is out and if Kyle continues to play well then wello shouldn't be picked in the 17.

I'd stick with Gaskell next week and put Leon on the bench again, we need to ease Leon back in because his fitness IMO will make or break our season.

Wheeler is a tough one, we won't drop shenton, meli is the only back that can beat a man so might stay centre and soon enough pryce and lomax will be the halves.

Re: Royce/Team Selection : Sat Jul 16, 2011 9:52 am  

Keep Eastmond at full back! At last, people are starting to see what's been said on here for the past two or three years. We need speed at number one not positioning, graft or heart. We need speed.

Re: Royce/Team Selection : Sat Jul 16, 2011 9:58 am  

McClennan wrote:

Keep Eastmond at full back! At last, people are starting to see what's been said on here for the past two or three years. We need speed at number one not positioning, graft or heart. We need speed.

We do need speed but also positioning. No point having a fast as fook fullback if he has to run 20 meters to get the ball because he's out of position.

It's not just speed Kyle brings, he brings the ability to beat the first man in a kick chase, he brings the ability to join the line as a extra halfback and also link in outwide and offer his explosive power and speed.

In theory it looks good having Kyle at fullback but let's see how he deals with high kicks first which is vital for a fullback as a high kick can win or lose games.

Re: Royce/Team Selection : Sat Jul 16, 2011 10:09 am  

I would go with Eastmond at fullback.

He wont stop a 16 stone player bursting through at fullspeed 10 yards from the line, but in other areas such as catching the ball and positioning himself, i didnt see any glaring issues.

Offensively he was massive. His pace linking in to the line, gave room for the threequarters, which resulted in us scoring a number of long range trys.
This pace also resulted in our first tackle field position being well up field. Often we were on the 40 metre line on the first tackle. As a result this made the forwards job far easier.
Contrast that with Wello over the last 2 years, and we have seen a pack that has had to battle its way from the 20 metre line. The lack of pace from fullback has meant that the threequarters havent been given the space to attack, because the defence can easily slide across to cover any defensive gap, as a result our trys have tended to be short range efforts from 20 metres out.

Re: Royce/Team Selection : Sat Jul 16, 2011 10:14 am  

CM, you've hit the nail on the head. Our first tackle so often is far to deep in our own half but with Kyle we are much further upfield and IMO has been a big problem over lady few years.

Re: Royce/Team Selection : Sat Jul 16, 2011 10:23 am  

Meli has to stay at centre, he was arguably our best player last night. In my opinion, Wheeler should have to wait for an injury before he regains his place.

If I was Wellens, I would be in the gym and eating like a horse as I think his full-back days could be numbered. He is certainly a bigger frame than Scott Moore who seems obsessed with size, but we'll have to wait and see how he turns out a few kg heavier.

I wouldn't like to see him playing full back for a lower club, it would be painful to watch.

Re: Royce/Team Selection : Sat Jul 16, 2011 10:28 am  

Smurf wrote:

Meli has to stay at centre, he was arguably our best player last night. In my opinion, Wheeler should have to wait for an injury before he regains his place.

If I was Wellens, I would be in the gym and eating like a horse as I think his full-back days could be numbered. He is certainly a bigger frame than Scott Moore who seems obsessed with size, but we'll have to wait and see how he turns out a few kg heavier.

I wouldn't like to see him playing full back for a lower club, it would be painful to watch.

I love wello and has been awesome for saints but I don't think he can play anywhere else and certainly don't wanna be putting weight on.

IMO if Kyle plays fullback then wello shouldn't make the 17.

Re: Royce/Team Selection : Sat Jul 16, 2011 10:42 am  

St pete wrote:

I love wello and has been awesome for saints but I don't think he can play anywhere else and certainly don't wanna be putting weight on.

IMO if Kyle plays fullback then wello shouldn't make the 17.

I agree, however having him for another year in that position when there are better full backs in the team would be a waste of (probably) a large chunk of the salary cap. I have no idea what he would be like with an extra 25 pounds and a year of proper training for the role, but if Scott Moore is good enough to play second row then Wellens with a similar gain certainly is. Whether he wants the bruises at this stage of his career is another thing.

Re: Royce/Team Selection : Sat Jul 16, 2011 10:48 am  

The Chair Maker wrote:

I would go with Eastmond at fullback.

He wont stop a 16 stone player bursting through at fullspeed 10 yards from the line, but in other areas such as catching the ball and positioning himself, i didnt see any glaring issues.

Offensively he was massive. His pace linking in to the line, gave room for the threequarters, which resulted in us scoring a number of long range trys.
This pace also resulted in our first tackle field position being well up field. Often we were on the 40 metre line on the first tackle. As a result this made the forwards job far easier.
Contrast that with Wello over the last 2 years, and we have seen a pack that has had to battle its way from the 20 metre line. The lack of pace from fullback has meant that the threequarters havent been given the space to attack, because the defence can easily slide across to cover any defensive gap, as a result our trys have tended to be short range efforts from 20 metres out.

Eastmond got steam rollered for one try, but never seemed to be out of position, although kicks never really tested him.

He was a lot more dangerous when linking in attack and the final Foster try showed how easily he could take a turnover and turn it into attack.

While Gaskell has alot of plus points and will make a good SL standoff, the difference when Pryce came on was immense. It can be summed up with cliches like "time on the ball" and "presence". Never mind the defensive saving.
For me, Shenton's try at the end was the best bit of rugby of the night (i was sat right by it). The danger of him as an individual will also mean the focus is drawn away from Lomax and Roby.