It is an incredibly difficult side to predict, which is probably why everyone seems reluctant to guess, so I will have a go and am fully prepared to be told that half of them are injured, on international duty, etc:
1. Ayerza
2. Briggs
3. Logo
4. Thorn (hopefully)
5. Kitch
6. Gibson
7. Salvi
8. Crane
9. Harrison
10. Bai (assuming Burns is out due to the concussion)
11. Goneva
12. Roberts
13. Loamanu
14. Morris
15. Tait
subs: Rizzo, Thacker, Balmain, Parling, Pearce, Mele, Bell, Benjamin
Niki Goneva is certainly not having the season he had last time out.
Don't get me wrong I'm a big fan of his and I would have him in my side every week, as he is the sort of player like Manu that can make a couple of good line breaks that can inastantly turn a game.
I would just love to see him come off his wing more in attacking play and straighten the line, by coming from deep through the 10/12 or 12/13 channel.
Downsouth wrote:It is an incredibly difficult side to predict, which is probably why everyone seems reluctant to guess, so I will have a go and am fully prepared to be told that half of them are injured, on international duty, etc:
1. Ayerza
2. Briggs
3. Logo
4. Thorn (hopefully)
5. Kitch
6. Gibson
7. Salvi
8. Crane
9. Harrison
10. Bai (assuming Burns is out due to the concussion)
11. Goneva
12. Roberts
13. Loamanu
14. Morris
15. Tait
subs: Rizzo, Thacker, Balmain, Parling, Pearce, Mele, Bell, Benjamin
Not too far away, though I would expect Parling to start at the request of Slancaster.
"If you want entertainment, go to the theatre," says Edinburgh head coach Richard Cockerill. "Rugby players play the game to win.15/1/21.
Would be nice to see Loamanu come off the bench with 25 minutes to go.
I can see the back line looking as follows
11: Thompstone/butterfingers(Benjamin)
12: Bai/Roberts
13: Catchpole/Loamanu
14: Morris
15: Tait / Bell
I refuse to have a battle of wits with an unarmed man
I see that Benjamin has become this generation's Leon Lloyd then.
Benjamin is one of the few players we have who gives us genuine pace and a step, as demonstrated by the try against Saints for instance. He appears though to lack confidence in his ability sometimes and overthinks things, resulting in some catastrophic knock ons from time to time.
However I wouldn't be starting with him at this moment in time as I'm not sure what we gain from having a tricky speedster on the bog-like pitches we have been playing on lately.
Labelling him 'Butterfingers' starts a slippy slope towards the crowd getting on his back at games. It is neither helpful nor particularly becoming.
Iain wrote:I see that Benjamin has become this generation's Leon Lloyd then.
Benjamin is one of the few players we have who gives us genuine pace and a step, as demonstrated by the try against Saints for instance. He appears though to lack confidence in his ability sometimes and overthinks things, resulting in some catastrophic knock ons from time to time.
However I wouldn't be starting with him at this moment in time as I'm not sure what we gain from having a tricky speedster on the bog-like pitches we have been playing on lately.
Labelling him 'Butterfingers' starts a slippy slope towards the crowd getting on his back at games. It is neither helpful nor particularly becoming.
When the doom mongers are against you they can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Games are won and lost in the top two inches.
I am neither clever enough to understand nor stupid enough to play this game