Dukes wrote:
Not entirely sure what's going on with these selection policies. We drop some people for poor performances but it has a bit of a shifting deckchairs on the titanic feel to it.
Round 1 (and the whole of preseason) we had a forward set-up of Fev, Cloke, Garlett, Betts with Wiggins and Russell as the high half forwards. Within 10 weeks the whole set-up has changed and now I'm not really sure even the coach knows who is in our best team at the moment ... that's the worrying part.
Stevens was awful last week and probably deserves to go although people forget he was great against the Saints the week before, ditto Browne. Because Stevens was played at half back, Scotland didn't have a role to play and he now pays the price. With all these changes I'm not sure who will play as a rebounder off the half back line given we also lose some of Bower's run and carry. Johnson must play.
And for those calling for Houlas to be dropped (yawn), he's been given the role as a tagging forward and done it perfectly. Fisher was well hedl against the Saints and Dempsey didn't get near it for the whole night even though we got destroyed. Better conversion and he would have been in our best players. Can't see a Russell, Wiggins or Bannister having better conversion though.
You expect run and carry from Johnson? Do you expect him to defend as well? Would be nice, but its a pipe dream. I can see him looking elegant when he takes the kick out but thats about all.
Edit : apologies, this wasn't meant to be personal.