So how do we see this one going?

Not sure if Doro is going to be fit for it. His return would be a timely boost. I'd probably go with Sammut over Gaskell at standoff if recent form is anything to do with it. Taufua should be back from suspension so it's a toss up between Lehman and Franco on the other wing. I'm assuming Lawrence was just rested for the Swinton game..

Holmes, Lehman, Myers, Gill, Taufua, Sammut, Lilley, Bayliss, Souter, Lawrence, Fulton, Davies, Appo - Ott, Scurr, Makin, Pele.

I would say Franco over Lehmann, although is Okunbor available? because he is picked over both of them.
Lawrence & Appo come back in. How about Fulton? He came off early last week. Precautionary?

Totally forgot about Okunbor who as you say should come in on the right wing if he's fit.

Fulton looked to have hurt his shoulder vs Swinton. He was in a lot of pain but carried on with it for a bit before being subbed. He was feeling it a bit on the sideline once he was subbed.

No pressure on Fev, which is when they're most dangerous IMO. They've probably had more success in the play-offs when there's no pressure on them and have a free hit sort of speak.

Having Doro back would be massive for us. Hopefully Fultons OK. I think EOC may go with Gaskell over Sammut. Wasn't much opposition for Sammut on Sunday TBF.

In a different position to last year with some selection headaches rather than us just choosing the only 4 props available.

Yeah we don't look as shot as we did this time last year. At the same time we aren't playing as fluently as we did this time last year. Smashing Swinton didn't really prove anything. The Fax game is more of an accurate yardstick of where we are against a team that is pumped up and has a bit of quality.

If Doro is fit then he starts at loose forward IMO. Bayliss, Souter, Lawrence, Fulton, Davies and Doro with Scurr, Pele, Makin, Appo and Ott being five left to make up the four bench players. Quite a bit of depth there.

If Doro and Fulton are out then Smith at 13 and Appo in the second row. Scurr, Pele, Makin and Ott has plenty of impact off the bench.

Yeah we're not exactly playing well at the minute. Swinton were terrible. Fax we werw poor. Batley we were poor and lucky to come away with the win. Beat Fev though and no one will remember how we're playing.

I don't remember us going into the playoffs with much confidence last year tbh. We had two home losses against Fev and York, and only just scraped wins at London and Sheffield. The home playoff game vs York was probably the turning point and I just hope that will be the case again with Fev this coming weekend.

That said, i'm probably less confident this year than last.

I think we've a stronger squad this year than last. I think all our experienced leadership players are available. We had a relatively comfortable game at their place early in the season but Ford does seem to have worked out how to frustrate us at Odsal. Kicking will be important once again.

I remember us playing quite fluent rugby but got the feeling that the small squad size and injuries caught up with us at Toulouse. We may have scraped home versus London and Sheffield but they were both very decent sides last year so we did well. I'm less confident versus Fev for the reasons Highlander mentions below:



Fev do know how to stifle us at Odsal, and they're not the only ones. Think the small field really impedes us against the better drilled sides. Kicking has let us down many times. I remember Addy outkicking us last time around and others have done the same. Lilley's kicking is too inconsistent IMO and I'm still in two minds about playing Gaskell. We need to be showing more patience with the ball when we get into the opposition 20m zone and build some pressure with repeat sets rather than turning it over on the last or kicking dead (or dropping it cold like at Fax).

Going big on the bench will get us into the right parts of the field but we don't seem to make the most of the possession and field position. I'd be interested to see some stats on the number of sets we have in the opposition red zone and the percentage that ends positively (e.g. a repeat set or a try).

LBB, Doro, Pele, Scurr, Lawrence with LBB and Lawrence starting and id have Makin as a loose. If doro isnt fit personally id go smith not a fave among fans but we tend not lose when he playes

Smith seems to be a steadying influence even if I can walk quicker than he can run.

Smith doesn’t look a physical specimen and has been injured a lot of the season but when he does play he provides an attacking link that no one else can do in the team. He a bit of a throwback as an old fashioned ball playing forward. Wether EOC goes down that route or just goes for a power option will be interesting to see.
With Fev having a big pack as well I think he will go down the power route.

It's been a strange end to the season having known our finishing position for a few weeks (even pre-fax realistically speaking).

Entering the play-offs will (or certainly should) bring a different mentality and focus to the group. It has the makings of a great contest, but I'll go out on a limb and say we should have enough quality in the squad to see us through.

Ok, one decision made. Gaskell isn't in the 21man squad

Good news. Didn't look interested recently.
Strong team too

Holmes
Okunbor
Myers
Gill
Taufua
Sammut
Lilley
Smith
Souter
Lawrence
Appo
Fulton
Doro

Ott
Pele
Scurr
Davies

Bayliss to replace Doro if not fit.
To miss out
Hallas
Lehmann
Makin
Bayliss/Doro

God I hope Hallas doesn't play. He is a liability in games like this and ends up getting drawn into one-on-one battles instead of doing his job.

Squad looks strong overall and its going to be interesting to see who EOC goes with in the pack. Makin has been pretty good for us but is inexperienced, whereas Smith has had a stop-start campaign but has that game smarts that only experience brings.

Tough call to make whatever the decision.

Ok, so the backs are fairly straightforward to pick:
Holmes
Okunbor
Myers (nominated for Championship young player of the year!)
Gill
Taufua
Sammut
Lilley

Forwards more complicated. I think Doro will be fit so the decision I think will be between Bayliss, Makin and Smith.
EoC rates Makin & Hallas which will make this difficult.
Makin has been playing well, but he is on loan. I think we prioritise our own players.
The bench I agree with.

Smith/Bayliss
Souter
Lawrence
Appo
Fulton
Doro

Ott
Pele
Scurr
Davies

Looking like our strongest squad of the season. Our forwards look very strong! Backs pretty much pick themselves with Okunbor and Taufua coming straight back in to the starting line up.

Correct decision to drop Gaskell. He's been poor for a number of weeks. Sammut can be a liability but he also has that spark to come up with some individual brilliance and can be a game changer.

Bring on Sunday!

I have a good feeling about this one. Not sure why, but I can imagine it being a great performance where our attack is completely on point and we win 27-8. I will of course edit this post at 4.30 on Sunday.

Well to counter that I’m feeling confident think we’ll have too much for fev, we are stronger in the forwards, an embarrassment of riches there, hope mr Patton is in their ranks, think he might get a tad frustrated.

Probably the only game in the plays off where we will be favourites to win and with that added pressure. I expect it to be close and it could be another match that is decided by successful conversions.

Discipline needs to be good as I imagine Ford will be keen to drag it towards a grubby and niggly game.

Over the entire season this squad has been better than 2023, but in play off rugby that counts for nothing.

Hallas at 9. Dear god. Feels Dejavu of Jimmy Lowes playing Jean Philipe-Baille at Hooker despite not playing there all year...

I know, I said EoC rated Hallas. But I didn’t expect Ott to make way to fit him in.
Smith over Bayliss, fine , I can see that.
JD missing out as well.
This is a powerful pack. Hallas can always rotate to Loose as well I suppose.

EOC vindicated. Must say I was bemused by that selection.

GET IN!