I toyed with the idea of using 'eight months' but decided '12 matches' sounded even more recent given the off-season inbetween.

I have been thinking that Senior should not be in a full team, full stop. But I'm coming round to the idea of him as an impact 40-50 minute back-rower.

1) His defence nearer the middle will be solid, and his workrate is good. Nobody runs over or through him, and his defensive problems have been about positioning and leaving gaps out wide which he now can't cover by his old speed off the mark.

2) He can still run hard, draw defenders, and hit gaps up the middle, particularly if he comes on fresher against tiring defences.

3) Less opportunity for flick-passes straight into the crowd.

All told, for this year I think he'll offer a lot more as number 16 or 17 than Clarkson, Pitts or Kirke.

if all else fails laugh.