Butcher:

Squad's out. No surprises, but notable that Nikotemo's in (though won't play) and Stephenson's not. Nikotemo easily replaced by Vagana, and Rodwell's absence covered by 4 top props. I'd like to see Croft picked over Griffin, but don't think I will. And I'd definitely like see Walmsley back on the wing. 


The debate rages on, and I'd still prefer to see Max at 6. You've explained your thinking, Trojan, and I fully get your points, but let me explain mine. It's not - as you've mentioned previously - to get Rourke in the team. Max is clearly a better full back, but the drop from Jowitt to Rourke at 1 is much smaller than the gulf between Max and Pitts at 6.


Many of the things we all love to see from Max - chiming into the line, throwing cut-out balls, backing up to score - can be done from both 1 or 6. All you have to do is set up for that in training. There's no reason he wouldn't have scored his try against Cas from 6 - it wasn't because he was playing full back as such, just that he was second receiver/out the back for Lino. He can do that in good ball from 6 (as Jerome Luai used to do at Penrith) with Rourke hovering on the inside (like Dylan Edwards).


He's a great organiser, miles better than Pitts. We could confidently play to our left side (best side) because he'd be more confident calling it and throwing it, it also sets him up more obviously in the line for in-play kicking, which he's good at. And you get Pitts back to 13, where he's one of our best. 


I don't know what Powell will go for, but I disagree that if he was going to pick Max at 6, he would've done it against Cas already. Mainly because we were atrocious for 50 minutes. The best coaches learn and change. In fact, if he goes with the same team next week I'll probably put some money on us losing by more than 12.


My team would be:


Rourke
Johnstone
Pratt
Scott
Walmsley
Jowitt
Lino
McMeeken
Hood
Uele
Vagana
Croft
Pitts


Smith
Atoni
Faatili
Cozza

Butcher:

The only thing Griffin has on Croft is his ability to bust tackles. He does run good lines. But Croft has line speed, tackle technique, wrestle and work rate over Griffin.

Butcher:

Squad's out. No surprises, but notable that Nikotemo's in (though won't play) and Stephenson's not. Nikotemo easily replaced by Vagana, and Rodwell's absence covered by 4 top props. I'd like to see Croft picked over Griffin, but don't think I will. And I'd definitely like see Walmsley back on the wing. 


The debate rages on, and I'd still prefer to see Max at 6. You've explained your thinking, Trojan, and I fully get your points, but let me explain mine. It's not - as you've mentioned previously - to get Rourke in the team. Max is clearly a better full back, but the drop from Jowitt to Rourke at 1 is much smaller than the gulf between Max and Pitts at 6.


My team would be:


Rourke
Johnstone
Pratt
Scott
Walmsley
Jowitt
Lino
McMeeken
Hood
Uele
Vagana
Croft
Pitts


Smith
Atoni
Faatili
Cozza

1315trinity:



Very good reasoning .That would be my team