we are 4th because teams around us are beating each other not because of our players or style or we would be bottom.

Spot on Paul. I had just about written him off following the Crusaders away game, but he came back and was just hitting his best form when he got injured again. Saturday was no indicator IMO as he played a short stint at hooker for some bizarre reason. Hopefully he can get back the form he had reached early season - we really need him to.

My two concerns are that he will struggle because of Long's absence and that just maybe his overall fitness/health has declined enough to make him prone to injuries. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

I'm pretty sure that if the latter is true Rich will have the sense to retire and not put himself at risk.

Ok well that's not what I'm saying. IMO three years of not being fit for any extended period of time is proof enough that he's finished, we just can't keep carrying one of our highest paid players in the unlikely hope he suddenly gets over all his problems. If there's rumours around that he's gonna retire I really hope it's true and I admire him for doing what's best for the club aswell as himself.

One of those three years was down to a single serious injury that could have happened to any player of any age. The injuries he's suffered this year are of more concern, but his latest layoff IMO has a lot to do with being rushed back from his prior injury and played while clearly unfit.

I wrote him off early season and he proved me wrong. I won't write him off again until we see how he's recovered and plays for the rest of the season. I'm sure that if his long-term health/fitness issues are not capable of being resolved then he will retire - he's far too sensible to risk his health and too much of a clubman to cause problems for the team.

Fair enough, I really hope you're right... I just struggle to think of any professional sportsman who has managed to return to consistently near their best after a such a long period out, let alone in a game as demanding as ours.

cusack, calderwood and dennis tuffour then?