Me too, it's a genuine option now although I don't think it will change for tomorrow night.

Hence my guess work,was just sat on my dinner today thinking of the options for tomoz and thats the team i came up with,hope im right,but then again id rather see fitz play.

I heard today that Fitz won't be playing. Not sure how true it is but a blow if true.

But should it?

I can see the positives but is it too much to ask of Tansey to play there? When was the last time he played there and has he been training for it?

I think it is a hard one to answer because at FB he joins the attacking line well as and when he wants to, his defence is not the greatest and he is prone to making some blunders. Stick him in the middle and will any defense frailties become more apparent or will he revel in it? Will his attacking play come to the fore or will he become stiffled like a lot of players tend to do when they are in the 6/7 position?

Ideally these things would have been tested when we had games won etc but i think it is now coming to the point where we really need to try something different because what we are doing is getting us nowhere in the long term.

His mistakes wouldn't be as critical in the halves.

It's a tough one. But things are getting desperate at 7.

Totally agree. Wouldn't be the right game for me.

I agree on both points we need to be trying something different that is for sure.

As the Zebra says, i just don't think it's the right game.

When is the right game though? Lose tomorrow and the next game it becomes a "We have to stick with what we know" situation.
I know a derby is not the ideal time to try these things, but these are not ideal times for us either.

I see your point and it could turn out to be a master stroke.

Agar still wouldn't get the praise though!

I would be happy that he could see we had the problems and was doing something about it, instead of the current bury head in sand and hope it improves.
At least this way he would be being proactive and if it fails at least he has given it a go.

Tom Briscoe is out
















his mum wont let him stay upthat late on a school night

Don't worry - Agar says in the HDM "We're going to mix it up, that's for sure" as we created so little last week and won't reveal his hand on the team selection. Wonder what that means? Hopefully Tansey in the halves. Just had a thought - anyone think Moa should start? I know it's the obvious thing to go with Dowes and Cusack to try and contain Clinton/Vella, but a bit of go forward early on might not go amiss.

Agar seemed to suggest at the forum that Tansey would be in the halfs and Whiting to FB.

Also heard a rumour Clinton pulled up in training and possibly wont play? Probably just wishful thinking though.

I've always been dead set against it. The thing is Berro looks completely useless at 7, the odd take on of the line is about it, his handling is awful. Washy and Horne have been tried before and it has not really worked and how fit is Horne? It means we are out of options really.

The trouble is Tansey will try a bit too hard and it could end up costing us through him pushing the ball too much. Plus we would lose the valuable link to the backs he provides. The positive things are he would provide pace and a spark in the middle of the pitch and would also add some organisation.

Tough call.

For me I'd leave Tansey at FB where he adds an attacking threat anyway with his link up play, put Hall in at Centre (a position he can play well) Calderwood on the wing (his specialist position) which frees up Turner and Whiting, Turner to link up with Horne in the halves and Whiting to play at LF so we actually have more options and may well ask questions of the opposition and make then have to think about how to defend against us instead of being predictable.

Turner has been less than impressive in the halves when he has played there, whereas he has been good recently at centre. So I wouldn't move him. Tansey hasn't really played in the halves therefore if we move him there we will remove some of the predictability you describe. Whiting was named MOM at FB earlier this season. So, with all the injuries needs must ...


1. Whiting
2. Calderwood
3. Turner
4. Yeaman
5. Briscoe
6. Horne
7. Tansey


It is in the forwards where the game will be won and lost however. I just hope we're not as soft as we were at Wakey in this department. Oh for a fit Ogre.

I'd be happy with that staffs.

If agar can use his bench right and we don't give away stupid penalties (my main worry) we could be in with a shout.

Cheers, couln't give one for your opinion mate

I suppose you didn't PM me the 1/2 back combo last week then

I wouldn't disagree but didnt think Turner was that bad in the halves earlier, agreed Whiting was outstanding at FB but would just like to see him at LF as I think the team would benefit massively (with his rugby brain) in at 13.
If 1 to 7 are as you put, would you want Washy in at 13 or go with the same old and play Radford?

For this game I think Radford at 13 wouldn't be a bad choice especially if the wind and heavy rain does arrive. Not sure if Fitz is officially ruled out yet though is he ?