No doubts..but Horney has not performed top drawer for a while, plus he plays a pivotal position which we cannot afford to do.

The team has quality players in it. I've posted it on another thread, but we have Fitzgibbon, O'Meley, Berrigan, Briscoe, Lauaki, Manu, all internationals. It's the coach's job to build a gameplan around optimising their strengths. And if we're so short of creativity in the halves when Long is absent, what are we paying Horne, Washbrook and Turner for?

Somethings gotta change with Horne, and if that means he gets dropped then so be it. I'd give Turner a go first though.

I'd go with that and Tickle straight back in if fit

Tansey
Briscoe
Yeaman
Whiting (Turner)
Calderwood
Horne ( Turner, Whiting)
Long ( Horne, Berrigan)
O'Meley
Houghton ( Berrigan)
Radford
Tickle
Manu
Fitzgibbon

Moa
Dowes
Lauaki
Washbrook

Half Back combo if long not fit we be brave and go for something totally different
We use Washbrook at 13 give Fitzgibbon a break and more handling skills

1. Whiting
2. Calderwood
3. Turner
4. Hall
5. Briscoe
6. Washbrook
7. Tansey
8. O'Meley
9. Berrigan
10. Cusack
11. Manu
12. Tickle
13. Fitz

14. Houghton
15. Lauaki
16. Dowes
17. Moa

Really don't want to move Tansey away from FB but just can't see any other way.
Oh, and Yeaman and Radford can eff off aswell.

1.tansey
2.calderwood
3.turner
4.yeamo
5.briscoe
6.horne
7.long
8.omeeley
9.berrigan
10.radders
11.tickle
12.manu
13.fitzy
subs
14.lauaki
15.moa(please)
16.dowes
17.washbrook

Long wont be fit for next friday.

is that offical if so then crap erm .......

1.tansey
2.calderwood
3.whiting
4.yeamo
5.briscoe
6.turner
7.horne


8.omeeley
9.berrigan
10.radders
11.tickle
12.manu
13.fitzy
subs
14.lauaki
15.moa
16.washbrook
17.dowes

Like that team but fear it wont happen.

First chance for agar to show he means business by dropping under performing players

You think a one dimensional dweeb like Agar has the cojones to drop underperforming players?

1) Whiting
2) Calderwood
3) Hall
4) Yeaman
5) Briscoe
6) Horne
7) Tansey
8 ) O'Meeley
9) Berrigan
10) Radford
11) Manu
12) Tickle
13) Fitzgibbon

14) Moa
15) Dowes/Yak
16) Lauaki
17) Washbrook

Washy at 6? After today?

The question that needs to be asked is what type of Stand Off do we want in the team? Do we want the Richard Horne type, running stand off, or do we want a ball handling type, who can run at defences and put people through gaps. Richard sadly at this moment is not the player he was be it due to his illness/injury.

For the first time ever, I am doubting horne. I hope he comes through and plays well, he is Mr Fc for me in todays times.

Washy is a 13, play him elsewhere and ask for issues I reckon.

Whiting to 6, said it for the last 2 years

I think that is were the problem lays.
It seems he has one game plan, and tries to fit the players in to it.

It might be a good game plan, when all his team are available, but he seems unable to adjust if any of his main pivots are missing. he seems incapable of thinking outside the box.

Horne needs to be dropped. Golden boy or no golden boy. He has been totally ineffective for too long now. Put Turner or Tansey in there but please drop golden balls.

whiting
calderwood
hall
yeaman
briscoe
turner*
tansey
o meley
berrigan
dowes
tickle
manu
fitz

lauaki
cusack
houghton
moa

* not seen much of this lad admittedly but if hes played for eng/gb at any level in this position he must at least have a clue how to play it!!! sorry if this upsets some on here but ive said to friends for while that horne/washbrook just arent good enough creatively,dont really buy into this "running half back" stuff your half backs are there to create,lead the team around the park and make space for your outside backs....all my opinion,of course!!!!

So he only gets one game? How many has Horne had...?

Washy has had plenty of games at 6 - enough to show that he just isn't one. He was no better or worse yesterday than last season, apart from maybe being a little ring-rusty. If we're looking to improve on what happened last season then Washy is not the answer at 6 any more than Horne is at 7 IMO.

Spot on Kosh, they've both been tried numerous times in those positions over the last few seasons with absolutely no effect. Time for something different.

Washy is a 13 but can do a job at 6 for the team. Pair him with Long and it could work, problem is Horne is not a 7. Also it was Washy's first run out of the season behind a pack that was not on the front foot. The one thing he lacks is pace and Turner has that but not sure he has the skills to play 6.

Jeeshush, only a few weeks ago before a ball was even kicked, we were saying we have cover in the majority of positions but our 6 and 7 was a worry.
How right we were as only three weeks in the fan is covered in brown stuff !!!





At least we are at home on Friday so I can drink loads of ale !!!!

what was up with tickle anyway ? anything serious not heard any reports as to why him and long didnt play ?