'Maybe' is the operative word, which is why I did not presume to make an authoritative statement. We simply don't know and are therefore in a position to comment, but not to judge.

Webb;
Smith, Watkins, Hardaker, Hall;
McGuire, Burrow;
Bailey, McShane, Peacock;
Ablett, Hauraki;
Clarkson.

Hood, Moore, Griffin, Delaney.

If the injuries to Jones-Buchanan, Sinfield and Leuluai are bad enough for them to miss the match.
If Hood is still injured, Id be tempted to start Ward with McGuire, and Burrow off the bench.

The pairing of Watkins and BJB worked a treat last time round, funnily enough against the pairing of Carmont and Richards.

Didn't BJB make Richards looks a fool on a couple of occasions by stepping him and leaving him for dead?

Got to say, BJB looked happy after the game on Friday but wouldn't you when Smith just put in that performance?

So you've gone from dropping Hauraki totally to putting him straight in the run on side when his impact worked so well off the the bench last week? Then in turn, have taken Delaney, our leading meter maker last week who goes through a hell of a lot of work, and put him on the bench?

I sometimes wonder about you when you pick these teams

So if you accept your use of the word 'only' has to be set alongside game-time played you presumably must have the count of the relevant minutes the props played to justify making such a comment. Do you?



Props defend in the middle third. If they are introduced from the bench at a time that coincides with the ball being spread away from the centre field it becomes very relevant to the amount of defence they can be expected to get involved with.

The criticism of Kirke (as you mention him) I believe stems from his inability to get hold of the ball often enough and take it forward far enough with real determination.

Defensively would you rather run at Leuluai or Kirke?

The BJB comment was more tounge in cheek

But I'm not sure Smith has the speed or skill level to go around Richards like that. And thinking about it now, smith will be attacked all night with the kick when there's that height advantage.

Which begs the question, why would people prefer BJB in for this match. He's looked absolutely awful with kicks in preseason, and was very vunerable at Old trafford with the kicks.

I'm not saying I want BJB to start over Smith. I have no horse in this race and feel that Coach McDermott, who sees these players every day, knows best.

But I feel out of the 2, Jones-Bishop has more to offer when he's game fit and ready to go. Smith, as I mentioned on another forum, though has the ability to be a top winger too. His defence lets him down massively though and he still doesn't look hungry to me.

Quite agree it all comes down to ifs and buts and maybes which allows everyone an opinion.

I feel we won't see the best of Smith unless he moves to what I think is his best position on Fullback. But unless Webb shows poor form and is dropped or injured, I doubt we'll get to see him there with BJB on the wing.

My comment is based on my impression that Griffin had the least game time with Kylie next (of the props) Do you have the relevant number of minutes each prop played in order to justify your complaint at my use of the word "only"?



Possibly or possibly not. Do you have evidence of your theory in this case?



As a back I tried to run into space rather that "at" a player but I quite liked props as they were good to side step and used to always buy the dummy. But IMO Kirke is the more reliable defender with a poor go forward game while Leuluai has the better go forward game but lazier defence these days. If I were Sam Tomkins I would prefer to have Kylie in front of me.

If I were Sam Fox I'd prefer Kirke because I reckon I'd still out muscle him.