Quote: Holmes "Being able to start sets with 3 decent carries from Peteru, Cuthbo & Merrin made a big difference. It didn't matter too much if individually they weren't getting big metres when as a unit they were regularly coming up with 25+ to get us on the front foot. There were some good combinations between Merrin & Cuthbo as well. No coincidence that the game opened up for Parcell to get back to his best either.'"
All three have an offload game to be fair too. You're right it's just that direct middle approach we've lacked which lays the platform for everything else. I do like our back row options, we have skill and punch with Merrin partnering Ward, Ferres, Smith et al. Peteru has made a real difference coming in at prop for me.
We only need 1 or 2 more 1st grade quality props and we will look very decent, potentially. My view though is that we should free up cap space and wait for the right player, because we need someone who is at or very near international standard if we're going to build a side to win something again. We've been in sticking plaster mode for a while in some cases. A real quality prop would be good for competition and good for the development of a couple of exciting younger players we have in that position now.
I would prefer not to see us signing yet more players who are projects and hopefuls, and end up having to buy twice again. Our academy just provided half of the England side which beat the Aussies, and it's now about building the structure within which some of those lads can come through to first team with quality around them.