Unless Ali and Eastwood can get through the Catalans game unscathed I wouldn't play either of them, we can't afford to be going down to 16 or 15 during the final if we have fully fit fowards available to play.

If we don't suffer any injuries then there will be some tough decisions for Bluey, hope Clarkson isn't the fall guy.

Nobody?

I think last night's 17 will be the 17 at Wembley, if Lauititi is considered fit.

This seemed to me to be Bluey's intention as soon as I saw Donald wasn't playing and Senior was. Let the 17 hit their straps for next week, have Donald/Ablett/Ambler in reserve in case there's any injuries. Obviously missing out would be unfortunate for Carl, but he got suspended at the wrong time and it coincided with the team's best form of the season.

Right,

After consideration to form and our best interests this would be my team for next week.

Webb
Smith
Delaney
Senior
Hall
Burrow
McGuire
Bailey
Buderus
Leuluai
Ablett
Clarkson
Sinfield

Diskin
Jones-Buchanan
Lauiti'iti
Eastwood

Kirke

Eastwood and JJB can rotate as props and do plenty of damage. Lauiti'iti cant be left out because he's a game breaker and has started showing glimpses over the past few weeks. Clarkson cant be left out IMO and Ablett is our best 2nd row forward so he gets a place.

Burrow, as patchy as he has been, frees up McGuire to play a natural play makers game. McGuire should be 7 too because at 1st receiver he is more devastating with more time on the ball. With Burrow at 2nd receiver he has more room to work in when McGuire creates the gaps.

Kirke is the weakest link in the forwards as far as his go forward is concerned IMO. It'd be harsh I suppose to drop him but thats what happens when you have a squad as good as ours is.

I still have reservations about leaving out Donald's pace.... on the LEFT wing (putting Smith on bench instead of Diskin)....but on the whole I have to agree. This looks our strongest 17 without Peacock.

I would still be tempted to have Kirke in over Diskin.....because for the life of me I still can't see what Diskin really offers from the bench ( we know Burrow/Sinfield can 'spell' Buderus ) ?? If there is to be no sentimentality for Donald ....we should have none for any other either surely. Tough I know. Maybe too tough.

Aye, I nearly named a team with Diskin missing and Burrow on the bench, with Sinny and McGuire in the halves and Clarkson at LF.

It's a tough choice as it is. Can you imaging how disappointed a certain few would have been if Peacock and Burgess had been fit...


Oh, BTW!!!!!

I was told by an old guy at the golf club today who sits in the NS that Peacock was jogging up the stairs to get to his seat yesterday...