TTRITH wrote: ↑Fri Oct 07, 2022 12:14 pm
ay2oh wrote: ↑Fri Oct 07, 2022 9:51 am
baz1664 wrote: ↑Fri Oct 07, 2022 6:16 am
With Pollards injury and the issues at Centre the boy Willliams from Worcester would be perfect for a return to the tigers, must have the option of injury dispensation.
Williams is no better than average and offers nothing apart from a big boot.
Would be a better option than the aging Gopperth, mind!
I'd actually argue that. If you put Owen in the depleted XVs and midfields Gopperth's been in so far I think he'd have struggled similarly. They have quite similar weaknesses to their game IMO.
Gopperth has had some poor performances in a so far brief Tigers career but they've come in XVs with obvious flaws that run deeper than Gopperth. Lacking carriers, missing our best centres, depleted back three with out of position Ashton at fullback, limited bench impact in several games, etc.
Last season we had very good availability as a whole. That's not just luck of course. Good recruitment, S&C (Sir Aled), rotation, etc goes into it. Luck also does though. Ford getting dropped by England for instance not only gave us an international 10 but meant Burns could cover 15.
Availability so far this season has been far worse and with it the XVs have been as well.