Top Saint wrote:
He's been playing stand-off since he was 7 years old. I would suggest he is very much a stand-off. I doubt you have ever seen him play in that position to make a valued judgement. Stand-off halves have a range of skills which should be complimented by their half back partner. I suggest Lomax should be our stand-off and the search should be for a complimentary scrum half.
If Lomax isn't tactically astute enough to play seven he'll struggle at six, which is arguably an even more challenging role. Besides, what relevant attributes (other than a good step) does he have over Gaskell? Perhaps he's quicker over the first ten yards. But he's certainly not over the remaining eighty. His kicking game is vastly inferior and he doesn't possess anywhere close to Gaskell's leg strength. I suppose you could argue he's stronger although only because he's eighteen months ahead in terms of physical development.
You only need look at side-by-side shots of Gaskell and Lomax attacking the line at first or second receiver to realise which player of the two has greater spatial awareness. Lee can track three or four different play options and usually picks out the optimum choice. It's not that Lomax can't execute a play. I just feel that when the defence anticipates such and gears up to smash it he finds it difficult to think creatively and come up with a solution.
This is not to say I think Jonny is an inferior player. The problem is his talents are better suited to another position - just as Gaskell would be completely useless at prop.
