No1 Saint wrote:
When LMS lined up at 13 we were just using 3 starting props, I imagine in the games Brown chooses to use this tactic we might well see him there again or another one of our regular props. I suspect we mainly went with that tactic because our only ball playing 13 was being used as an emergency scrum half and our pack was performing like pansies and needed the extra big man on the park to give us go forward.
If we are making the hard yards as we should be with the forwards we've now signed I suspect we will play with Wilkin in a more traditional loose forward pivot role which will mean we will hopefully play with a bit more invention and be able to work up a real plan b. Saying that if Hohaia continues to be useless and Wheeler stays as resilient as glass nails I wouldnt be shocked to see Wilkin partnering Walsh with maybe Flash playing 13.
I think Wellens will fit in where required, personally I think its a waste of cap space and I dont see any real benefit to having him take up a bench spot but it looks like sentiment has come before sense and we have another year to watch Wello struggle around the park (getting in the way) looking lost and a shadow of his former self
I think most people expect Brown to use both Percival and Jones in the centre with Jones doing stints in the back row where I personally think he'll end up when Percival is ready to nail down left centre permanently
I agree with you on the wello comment. He can only play fullback. If he's not our fullback then he shouldn't play at all in the 17. He's absolutely awful in any position other than fullback.
Also, IMO wello is behind lomax, swift and tommy at fullback which makes keeping him a totally amazing decision in a sport that has a salary cap!