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 ?

We're not talking about who partners Long though, are we? Long is pretty much sure to be out for the next game at least. I agree that Turner doesn't look like he has the skills either, but the only other options IMO would be Hall or Whiting. I think either of them would be better at 6 than Washy in terms of skills and, in Hall's case at least, pace. Trouble is that means moving around half the side to accommodate the switch.

No easy solution TBH. We're still short of creative players to cover the halves.

Looks good to me

I would agree with this but possibly think Radders may be a doubt as he seemed to take a hefty knock late on.

Thought we were talking about Washy playing 6? Anyway whilst Long is out Tansey has to play 7 no question. I don't like moving him as he has done superbly at fb but we need his creativity, spark, enthusiasm and pace in the middle of the pitch. It's a question of who he plays with, if fit then I would play Horne. If not fit then it's Whiting, Turner, Washy or Hall.

Whiting - Needed for FB is Tansey plays 7.
Hall - Prefer to see him play centre.
Washy - Definately an option and will be better for having had a game now.
Turner - Not sure he is a 6 but maybe worth a gamble, not sure Agar will be brave enough.

Good question..But surely Agar must throw caution to the wind or he could pay the price heavily!

I slight muscle tear, he wanted to play but was given the week off to avoid worsening the injury.

Really hope he's back for Friday. We need him.

Post match interview with Agar suggested he will be (seemed he could of played yesterday but wasn't risked - so why play Horne strapped up?!!!!)

Agar now needs to prove that he IS a decent coach after all and drop underperforming players, utilising this "strenght in depth" that he keeps talking about. How many times does Horne have to show us all that he is NOT a scrum half ?? He is actually a very ordinary SO who is supposed to be showing us all that he is over his problems of the last two seasons but alas, for me, he is not even a shadow of his former self and has to be dropped from the 17.

Washbrook will make a decent 13 but is not, and never will be, anymore than a below average halfback.

For me, Tansey and Turner should be 6 and 7 against the Quins and Moa has to be given a bench spot. If Agar has got any ability/balls, he needs to show it NOW.

Whiting
Calderwood
Hall
Yeaman
Briscoe
Turner
Tansey
O'Meley
Berrigan
Radford
Tickle
Manu
Fitz

Dowes/Yak
Moa
Lauaki
Houghton

Tansey
Calderwood
Briscoe
Yeaman
Hall
Turner
Horne( No one else available)
Dowes
Berrigan
O'Meley
Tickle
Manu
Fitzgibbon
Subs
Washbrook
Moa
Cusack
Lauaki
No need for Houghton on the bench at all.

id have that team aswell

that would be my preferred starting line up against quins, doubt we will see it though, stevo got it right about horney when we played saints, he (horne) isn't a leader or organiser, when paired with long he was able to play his natural game

Agar will not pick that 17. He doesn't seem to have the ability/vision/courage to make the changes that are necessary. What Moa and Turner have done wrong I just don't know ? And R Horne seems to be exempt from having to justify his place with performances on the pitch.