Who's in your starting 17 for the CC Semi? : Mon Jul 27, 2015 11:41 am  

5 days to go to the semi. Rovers are coming off the back of a 9 try drubbing and indifferent performances and Wire are cruising off the back of a 9 try crushing of Cas and some good recent performances. Form counts for nothing in a one-off game. Who would you pick to start?

Here's my 17:

Dixon
Mantellato
Welham
Horne
Sio
Chisholm
Kelly
Puletua
Lunt
Tilse
Blair
Larroyer
McCarthy

Bench - Green, Donaldson, Boudebza, Walker

Re: Who's in your starting 17 for the CC Semi? : Mon Jul 27, 2015 12:24 pm  

1- Cockayne
2- Mantellato
3- Welham
4- Blair
5- Sio
6- Chisholm
7- Kelly
8- Walker
9- Boudebza
10- Green
11- Horne
12- Larroyer
13- McCarthy

14- Puletua, 15- Tilse, 16- Lunt 17- Donaldson.

I think the FB position is the toughest to call as neither Cockayne or Dixon played well last game. its more of a subjective choice for everyone. Although i think Dixon is the better attacking option for the position i also believe Cockayne is the better defensive option so i went with him as Dixons attacking prowess can be nullified against an organised defence & a good kick-chase.

i do like the Horne at centre choice in the 1st post though.interesting choice.

Re: Who's in your starting 17 for the CC Semi? : Mon Jul 27, 2015 12:38 pm  

notice salter isn't in your teams, thought the kid on the times ive seen him played looks ok?, FB is a dodgy one as Dixon is so elusive but so dodgy defending,you shouldn't have got rid of s Briscoe lol,think you lot have a chance and semis are a great occasion

Re: Who's in your starting 17 for the CC Semi? : Mon Jul 27, 2015 5:09 pm  

Dixon
Sio
Horne
Welham
Josh
Chisholm
Kelly
Walker
Boudebza
Puletua
Larroyer
Blair
Mccarthy

Green
Tilse
Donaldson
Lunt

Re: Who's in your starting 17 for the CC Semi? : Mon Jul 27, 2015 5:19 pm  

Salter is not a good attacking centre and his defence in recent games has been found wanting. Horne has a knack of playing well at centre, can draw in the opposition and has a good one handed offload. He will stiffen the defence on our right, where Ben Currie provides additional threat for the Wire.

Lunt and Boudebza - neck and neck IMO.

The conundrum is at FB. We have coughed up a lot of points from this position in recent games, whether Dixon or Cockayne is the incumbent. Dixon has a couple of mistakes in him inside our 20 every game, can't tackle poop but has an X Factor. He is a game breaker. Cockayne makes as many mistakes as Dixon but organises the defence better and links up with the attacking line better, but overall no X Factor. Because of the occasion, Dixon for me, but hope the pressure of the occasion doesn't overwhelm him.

Re: Who's in your starting 17 for the CC Semi? : Mon Jul 27, 2015 5:44 pm  

Can Chisholm play?

Re: Who's in your starting 17 for the CC Semi? : Mon Jul 27, 2015 5:48 pm  

Dave K. wrote:

Can Chisholm play?

Apparently he can, although I don't know how.

I'm not sure a cup semi is ideal to try a brand new half back pairing though. This is offset with the advantage of Blair in the back row where he has been excellent.

Re: Who's in your starting 17 for the CC Semi? : Mon Jul 27, 2015 6:01 pm  

SirStan wrote:

Apparently he can, although I don't know how.

I'm not sure a cup semi is ideal to try a brand new half back pairing though. This is offset with the advantage of Blair in the back row where he has been excellent.

Apparently he can he was sign before the deadline and he is French /oz so did not need a visa so i understand

Re: Who's in your starting 17 for the CC Semi? : Mon Jul 27, 2015 6:06 pm  

Stan. Are you still with Dixon at Fb for this game? How do feel about Horne in the centres?

Re: Who's in your starting 17 for the CC Semi? : Mon Jul 27, 2015 6:45 pm  

Dixon/Chisholm
Mantellato
Welham
Salter
Sio
Blair
Kelly
Walker
Lunt
Tilse
Horne
Larroyer
McCarthy

Boudebza
Donaldson
Puletua
Green

Not sure about the fb role, lets face it we dont actually have a full back in the squad. If it wasn't a semi I would definitely chuck Chisholm in but not sure Saturday is the time to be trying new things, even if the current plans haven't exactly been a roaring success.