Quote: SFW "He's ran his blood to water out of position for two years'"
I wish people would stop saying he's been played out of position. Although he's played most of his rugby at 2nd row, he's never been a stranger to the prop position. As far back as the 2005 season, he played several games at prop for Wests - including in their Grand Final victory.
I can think of several absolutely top class props who played 2nd row for a big chunk of their career before switching to prop. Peacock & Morley spring to mind.
Laffranchi has the build of a prop and was signed as a prop. In his first several games for Saints, he even looked like a decent prop (and one, you'd have thought, who would have just have got better as he bulked up more and adapted to the demands of being a fulltime prop). But he's gone backwards, sadly.
I don't even think he's cut out to be a modern-day second row, either. He's not quick or mobile enough. We have better options there, and I find it depressing to see so many Saints fans advocating a big, heavy steamroller pack. Our best years in SL were founded on a mobile, quick, agile pack. I don't want Saints to be like Bratfud were. Zzzz...