Fair enough. Although you do know that the top teams have on average 3 overseas players in their backlines, don't you?

See my response to GU above.

Hall scores more tries per game than anyone else in the side, and has done for the last few seasons. Without half backs and with no real service. For some reason this is continually overlooked or dismissed because of his unarguable problems in defence.

So we are both in the same boat.

But the thread was started to slate him for his performance last night.

No it doesnt Briscoe has the better ratio

By 4%.

OK fair point but his net contribution is what counts and if anything his defence is getting worse and not better. I've said a few times if he could defend he would be an outstanding centre.

And if Whiting had dealt with a bog standard high kick they wouldn't have scored their first. Does that mean we ought to slate him as well?

Most player made mistakes yesterday - even Whiting made a few. With different luck some of those mistakes would have cost us points. There's often a fine line between success and failure.

Oh sorry for stepping so badly out of line.

And if he was kept in the centres and taught to defend like a centre he would be.

I adjusted it to compensate for tries scored against teams that had put the cue on the rack.

The point is that Whiting 's performances are consistently better than Hall's. If Hall could defend to the required standard do you think these threads would appear ? Of course they wouldn't. Instead there would be threads calling for his international inclusion. The fact that these threads appear and the international calls don't says far more than anything.

Like Welham you mean ?

Niiiccceee swerve!

That's not what I meant.

The discussion has broadened out to encompass his entire career, but the OP intended simply to slate him for last night's performance. Which tied in with PAUL M's point about his performance last night not justifying a thread of it's own.

I don't think he defended very well last night. A couple of times he was saved by his team mates.

Welham might miss a few due to the jumping out of line but he has also made some trysavers. Thing is Morgan believes and he has scored 7 in 5 and been ever present unless injured. Take him or Hall over Yeamon anyday.

7 in 11 you mean

Yeaman's try scoring record is good but he also has his faults. None of them are what I would class as top quality centres but at least Yeaman has played international football.

I really don't have a problem with people criticising Hall's defence. It's worthy of criticism. What grinds my gears is the exaggeration that goes on and the reluctance to notice any of the positives. And I'm not entirely convinced by the argument that players who are in better form should be forgiven any mistakes they make without question. Plus it hasn't just applied to better players this season.

No matter. I've had enough now and I'm off to finish my wine and watch Dr. Who.

Do me a favour. Remember when? cos I dont!

Thats were our coaches differ! imo.

7 in last 5 but 7 in 11 overall.
Still a shoe-in for your team. Satisfied?

Didn't forgive Whiting for his errors check my post in the MOM thread.


For me it's the same mistakes being made regular as clockwork that is the issue. If he can remove them from his game as I've said many times he will be a good SL centre. We can't wait forever though just ask Tommy Lee.

One thing's for sure it's easier to remember Yeaman's internationals than Welham or Hall's.