Fifteen men : Fri Jul 01, 2011 11:15 pm  

Why does Royce insist on playing 15 men. The last three games he has had Dixon/Ashurst and Eastmond on the bench and not brought them on until the 65+ minute. Meanwhile our forwards are knackered. Intact it was 14 men tonight due to biscuit bones Perry, he's gonna burn them out!

Re: Fifteen men : Sat Jul 02, 2011 12:12 am  

WidnesExile wrote:

Why does Royce insist on playing 15 men. The last three games he has had Dixon/Ashurst and Eastmond on the bench and not brought them on until the 65+ minute. Meanwhile our forwards are knackered. Intact it was 14 men tonight due to biscuit bones Perry, he's gonna burn them out!

Because he's got no forwards to play? Clough - injured. Perry - useless. If he had Clough and Perry then they would be on the bench with Moore and a back, presumably Eastmond. Doesn't that look like a better bench already? No good putting Ashurst or Dixon on the pitch unless desperate as they are both not up to it IMO.

Perry being continually injured is what is putting pressure upon Jammer.

Re: Fifteen men : Sat Jul 02, 2011 12:24 am  

There simply has to be a prop in the academy somewhere. How do we field an Under 20s side most weeks if we don't have any?

Re: Fifteen men : Sat Jul 02, 2011 12:28 am  

Saddened! wrote:

There simply has to be a prop in the academy somewhere. How do we field an Under 20s side most weeks if we don't have any?

Jordan Hand is a prop who appears to get good reviews from those who watch him. He was promoted to the first team during the injury crisis but didn't get a game. Maybe he will get a go against Wakey if Perry isn't playing (if? what do I mean if?). I can understand him not having his debut against Wigan or Warrington!

Re: Fifteen men : Sat Jul 02, 2011 1:02 am  

If Perry hadn't got injured again the bench next week would of been:

Perry / LMS
Clough
Moore
Eastmond

That's considerably stronger than the bench we had tonight. As it is we will probably see:

Flannery / Soliola
Clough
Moore
Eastmond

That is still a lot stronger too.

Re: Fifteen men : Sat Jul 02, 2011 7:24 am  

It was more a rhetorical question really. I appreciate why I just think he has to give them more minutes for the sake of the other forwards. Over the last couple of seasons both Ashurst and Dixon got more minutes and looked better for it. Alternatively as has been suggested he needs to look for a prop from the Academy.

God how much have we missed Cloughy!

Re: Fifteen men : Sat Jul 02, 2011 8:16 am  

and why is Eastmond on the bench?

He is only used for 10 minutes at the end.Totally pointless exercise.I would rather see a young player used who is going to be at the club next season.

Re: Fifteen men : Sat Jul 02, 2011 8:20 am  

Saint from Prestwich wrote:

He is only used for 10 minutes at the end.Totally pointless exercise.I would rather see a young player used who is going to be at the club next season.

When fully functional, Eastmond is a fantastic player. He can cover fullback (poorly, granted), centre and halfback. He is useful in that respect. But why have a young player on the bench when theoretically we have a superb scrum half there? Much better to have the latter. Plus, it gives him game time to keep him ticking over in case we need him fulltime to cover an injury in the backs. I think Royce has been sticking with the future players by keeping Lomaskell in the halves rather than dropping one of them for Eastmond.

Re: Fifteen men : Sat Jul 02, 2011 6:51 pm  

SaintsFan wrote:

When fully functional, Eastmond is a fantastic player. He can cover fullback (poorly, granted), centre and halfback. He is useful in that respect. But why have a young player on the bench when theoretically we have a superb scrum half there? Much better to have the latter. Plus, it gives him game time to keep him ticking over in case we need him fulltime to cover an injury in the backs. I think Royce has been sticking with the future players by keeping Lomaskell in the halves rather than dropping one of them for Eastmond.

Unfortunately eastmond has been nothing more than a "theoretically" superb scrum half this year. I would suggest that his performances have been inferior to a player such as Ashe, and certainly nowhere near good enough to oust lomaskell. I believe once wheeler is fit again, he will get the bench spot ahead of eastmond.

Re: Fifteen men : Sat Jul 02, 2011 7:00 pm  

Saint from Prestwich wrote:

and why is Eastmond on the bench?

He is only used for 10 minutes at the end.Totally pointless exercise.I would rather see a young player used who is going to be at the club next season.

seconded