Royce's substitutions : Mon Feb 06, 2012 11:58 am  

Didn't go down to London on saturday but am i right in saying Ade Gardner was not used?
If so with the interchange rule dropped to 10 i find this strange again from Royce with forwards having to do more minutes and a sub not used for what ever reason?

Re: Royce's substitutions : Mon Feb 06, 2012 12:18 pm  

It's a lingering question. I suppose Royce would answer his interchange policy was good enough to get us to a Grand Final. And let's be honest - there HAVE been games where playing a specialist back off the bench has paid off. I mean, I still find the practice counter-intuitive. But whether it's as serious as others suggest I have my doubts.

Re: Royce's substitutions : Mon Feb 06, 2012 12:49 pm  

Might well have worked last season.But there are 2 major differences this season.Interchanges down to 10 and no Jammer.The policy baffles me.

Re: Royce's substitutions : Mon Feb 06, 2012 12:54 pm  

I have to say I thought it was strange too, the back on the bench policy is going a little too far. Flannery could have been there and rotated the forwards a bit more. At a push he could have even have gave Ade a run at Second Row.

Re: Royce's substitutions : Mon Feb 06, 2012 1:05 pm  

BackrowSaint wrote:

Flannery could have been there and rotated the forwards a bit more.

No he couldn't. He took ill. Andrew Dixon was played as his direct replacement.

Royce has said he is going to rotate his squad for a few weeks and give 'everyone a chance' at playing.

I'm a fan of the back on the bench and had Shenton not dislocated his elbow in the grand final, taking our backline injuries to three (including Lomax who couldn't walk with his ankle), that policy might have won us the championship. It certainly saved us in a number of games last year. For that reason alone I'm content to trust his judgment on this.

Re: Royce's substitutions : Mon Feb 06, 2012 1:14 pm  

SaintsFan wrote:

No he couldn't. He took ill. Andrew Dixon was played as his direct replacement.

Royce has said he is going to rotate his squad for a few weeks and give 'everyone a chance' at playing.

I'm a fan of the back on the bench and had Shenton not dislocated his elbow in the grand final, taking our backline injuries to three (including Lomax who couldn't walk with his ankle), that policy might have won us the championship. It certainly saved us in a number of games last year. For that reason alone I'm content to trust his judgment on this.

I was a fan last year, but this year is different. We haven't got Jammer doing big minutes and we have only 10 interchanges. I think if we still use the back on the bench policy, they need to be used in some way otherwise our forwards will burn out. If he rotates the squad from game to game it would preserve match fitness but may do harm come the end of the season.

Re: Royce's substitutions : Mon Feb 06, 2012 1:17 pm  

SaintsFan wrote:

No he couldn't. He took ill. Andrew Dixon was played as his direct replacement.

Royce has said he is going to rotate his squad for a few weeks and give 'everyone a chance' at playing.

I'm a fan of the back on the bench and had Shenton not dislocated his elbow in the grand final, taking our backline injuries to three (including Lomax who couldn't walk with his ankle), that policy might have won us the championship. It certainly saved us in a number of games last year. For that reason alone I'm content to trust his judgment on this.

True, flannery was due to start in the backrow as I was told Friday night by a player, when I seen him yesterday and I told him The team was wrong that he told me, he told me flannery dropped out Saturday.


I still can't work out why any coach in the right mind would constantly play with 16 men.

Re: Royce's substitutions : Mon Feb 06, 2012 1:21 pm  

I'm with Backrowsaint in that Ade could have been used in the second row or maybe use Flannery on the bench next match (if fit) that can cover the centres and back row?
Wello will probably be back this week so more movement in the squad? headache for Royce

Re: Royce's substitutions : Mon Feb 06, 2012 1:55 pm  

With Lance in the squad, it could work. Lance could be used off the bench as a hooker or 13 in order to spell our forwards and in the backs if there was an injury.

However, if he impressess sufficiently at #1, perhaps wello will end up as our reserve back?

Re: Royce's substitutions : Mon Feb 06, 2012 1:56 pm  

Rommel wrote:

Wello will probably be back this week so more movement in the squad? headache for Royce

gaskell will take the bench spot and Gardner will drop out flannery will come in for Dixon if tp fit clough will drop out shenton will come in for wheeler when he is fit