Tigers best back row combination poll

[Tigerbeat]

Taken from Trendys post:

Just a bit of serious fun but I wonder what is out best back row when fit - vote for your best 6, 7 and 8 and I will collate the vote in 7 days and send it to Matt O'Connor cos I don't think he knows what it is.

To start us off here are my votes:

6 Hamilton - hard to play him here instead of 8 but would have him just ahead of Williams or Mapapalangi and would want him in the 1st choice back row

7 O'Connor - just ahead of Evans in my book

8 Kalamafoni - just think he is the best we have though would also be happy with Hamilton when he is unavailable.

bench

20 Williams - just because he covers 2nd row as well

[MrPartridge]

No Thacker?

[Tigerbeat]

No Thacker?

Now added

[Andy W]

At the moment I am not sure Tigers would play any worse if they didn't select a back-row at all. Just so ineffective.

Proper signings have been needed in the back, and second rows for years.

The inability of the forwards to get over the gain-line is embarrassing, yes, although whether any of that is to do with game plan and strategy, I don't know, ie if they were told to come from depth (and not on their own), and players were told not to shovel the ball on to static forwards, then that might conceivably help. I accept that in general they don't seem robust enough, however.

Tigers desperately miss a "proper 7", when they don't play one, but then are even further short of "grunt" when they do. A difficult circle to square.

I'd be tempted to play Fitz at 6, Map at 8, and Evans at 7, for what it is worth.

Incidentally, Kitch has come in for quite a lot of stick on this forum, and some of it has been probably deserved, albeit it is not his fault that he is not more heavily built. Anyway, IMO, against Exeter he was at least not hiding, and was there to be counted, taking some responsibility when others didn't/wouldn't. Not his most effective game, sure, but far from a hanging offence (as it were).

[Leicestertinytiger]

Difficult to judge Ryan tbh. I always impressed with him when I saw him play and he has been capped for Ireland. Good in the line out also but can’t remember him much ball in hand. Have heard he is back playing so a man with much to prove in a Tigers shirt.

[Tiger93]

Wells and Williams in the second row for me.

Hamilton, Kalamafoni and O'Connor back row.

6-2 split on the bench with Fitz, Evans and Mapapalangi

[JWM]

I chose three from among those who aren’t out and out locks.

[JP14]

Does anyone else think that Hamilton could be a captain?

[Tigerbeat]

Does anyone else think that Hamilton could be a captain?

Think you posted on the wrong thread.....there is a thread on captain currently under discussion.

[JP14]

Does anyone else think that Hamilton could be a captain?

Think you posted on the wrong thread.....there is a thread on captain currently under discussion.

Hahaha no I meant to post on here before I saw there was the Captain thread

[strawclearer]

Give him a couple of years and I suspect this young man will be a regular starter - with us, hopefully!

http://www.pukaarmagazine.com/4053-2/

[Rugbyflanker]

Should be playing now,you dont outplay Kvesic in your debut or Francois Louw.in your first season if you havnt got a bit about you. Criminally underused and would be a superstar by now if at Sarries or Chiefs

[voice of the crumbie]

Should be playing now,you dont outplay Kvesic in your debut or Francois Louw.in your first season if you havnt got a bit about you. Criminally underused and would be a superstar by now if at Sarries or Chiefs

He should at least be getting more opportunities. I'd have him on the bench for the remaining European fixtures and premiership games against the "stronger" premiership teams and ensure he got a minimum of 20 minutes game time. He can start in the other premiership games and must definitely feature in all remaining AWC games. We'll then see just how good he is / can be.

[ghdav27]

Top prospect I hope he gets selected for the Irish game. He's another one though like Holmes, Worth, White, Simmonds and Wells to some extent who always seems to play well but hardly gets any game time. I'd love to see us start developing some of these players. If it's going to be a 'transitional period' we might as well try and build for a better future rather than keep selecting the likes of Fitzgerald, Joe Ford or Williams at 7!

[glenn]

6 Hamilton
7Evans
8 kala