We need to seriously overhaul the squad at the end of this year. Senior is 35, Peacock will be 34, Leulaui is 33, Buderus is 33, Lauitiiti will be 32, and Cross 33. Too many players have been allowed to stay on while getting past their best, and retarding the development of younger talent. See Gibson, Fox, Broughton, Tansey and Scruton.

There are good, young, british players available but we don't seem to have any interest in signing them. Pryce & Clubb at Harlequins, for example. The pack is being carried by Bailey, with Burgess a decent defensive prop who offers little yardage, and JJB having reverted to his 150% effort, 50% product routine.

If we're to get better we need serious changes. We have tremendous talent in the backs: Jones-Bishop, Smith, Watkins & Hall are going to be the future of our outside division, while Hardaker & Kettlewell could be replacements for McGuire & Burrow. Up front Ambler has been impressive, as has Pitts (when he's had game time), while Ablett & Clarkson are already first teamers, and McShane has outshone Buderus.

If we drop the deadwood, move Delaney into the pack (where he's Bigger & faster than JJB), start Bailey & McShane with Ambler & Burgess benching, we have a team looking something like:

Webb
Jones-Bishop
Smith
Watkins
Hall
McGuire
Burrow
Bailey
McShane
?
Delaney
Ablett
Sinfield

Ambler
Burgess
Kirke
Pitts

If we can find a new starting attacking prop, and a replacement for Webb from next year so BJB can slot in at fullback, i think we'll be fine.

When I got to here, I just thought WTF. You don't watch really do you?

You forgot about Kyle Amor too - can't be worse than Cross??

Geez ... What's this guy on. ? Burgess a good " defensive " prop ? He will be going to Oz anyway. Sign Pryce, retain Kirke... Webb to continue holding back Smith, BJB AND Hardaker.

And JJB must've slept with his Mrs or something if we're in a world where he's the "deadwood" and Messrs Kirke & Burgess are our first choice 17.

Goodbye, be seeing you, see you later, cheerio, farewell, so long, adios, ciao, adieu, au revoir, arrivederci, sayonara, auf weidersein, shalom, bon voyage, das vidanya .... etc

If we're talking a complete overhaul, I'd like to see us line up like this;

1. BJB
2. Hardaker
3. Smith (Unless we'd like to sign a proper Centre, which I'd be fine with btw!)
4. Watkins
5. Hall

6. McGuire
7. McShane

8. Bailey
9. Buderus
10. Peacock
11. Ablett
12. Delaney
13. Sinfield

14. Burrow
15. JJB
16. Clarkson
17. Pitts

That would involve dropping ; Leuluai, Lauitiiti, Burgess, Kirke, Senior, Webb & Cross.

Edit - I agree with the OP on one point; I would like to see us get a decent, proper, attacking, "future JP", new prop.

Why Pitts instead of Ambler ? Singleton ? Clarkson is not a bench forward... McShane good as a stop-gap scrum half only but admittedly better than Burrow at the moment.... Still think Hall or BJB would make a better right centre than Smith (FB for me). What about Wilson ?

How out-muscled would that pack be?

Ambler, Pitts, Singelton all competing for the bench spots depending on form. I didn't say we should drop them. Just didn't name them in my 17!

Clarkson is a Loose, but isn't likely to get that until Sinnie goes so he'll have to make do with stints from the bench.

McShane looks lively and talented, but is by no means Buderus. Burrow (heart & desire aside) is looking less lively and less talented. Makes sense to me to have McShane on the pitch over Burrow.

BJB is better than Smith at FB.

And where's all this come from about Wilson?! He's not even had his début yet and people are having him as the first name on the sheet?! He can shine all he wants in the U20s, I'm not putting him in my squad until I've seen some SL game time.

Starting pack wouldn't be that out-muscled!? Peacock, Bailey, Delaney?! I agree bench is light, but read the edit.

How many games has Delaney played in the backrow for us?

We bought him as a . He isn't producing the goods in that role, so we just accept that he is a backrower now and everybody says that's where to play him?