It certainly didn't help our cause. However, it was losing Shenton that killed us. We then had to stick our worst goal line defenders down that side, losing a forward (Soliola) in doing so. We might still have won without Wello but without Shenton as well (not to mention a limping Lomax) and we didn't have a chance.

Wellens is shot as a starting fullback. However, I do think he could prove useful in the role Phil Veivers played off the bench when his legs went. Simmons is fond of having a cover option and Wellens really would be ideal as he can take up just about every position with the exception of prop.

I used to think Lomax was the logical replacement but I now feel he will either continue at scrum half or move into the hooking role where his footwork would be most effective.

Meli has to go and Wheeler is the ready-made replacement. I'm not particularly worried by his injury record. Bad luck will always follow someone. Years ago it was Tommy Martyn but he eventually overcame his problems and I'm sure Wheeler will, too.

Gaskell is a certainty at stand-off but I do think he could be very dangerous at fullback also.

The key issue is whether Hohaia has been offered any guarantees over where he will play. If he has then Lomax will either go to fullback or work in tandem with Roby. If not then I'd move him to fullback in a heartbeat.

So the starting back line is either:

Hohaia
Foster
Shenton
Wheeler
Makinson/Gardner
Gaskell
Lomax

or

Lomax
Makinson/Gardner
Shenton
Wheeler
Foster
Gaskell
Hohaia

or (wildcard)

Makinson
Gardner
Shenton
Wheeler
Foster
Gaskell
Hohaia

with Lomax and Roby in tandem at hooker

I wouldn't even consider wello for the centre spot. His attacking is basically next to nothing. He can't beat a man and would look silly as he's so slow.

I wouldn't let him anywhere near the pack either unless we've got serious injuries.

I wouldn't even have him as the back on the bench as he's offer nothing in any sort of impact off the bench.

I voted for wello at fullback. It's his best position. He's experienced there. He's usually safe as houses. You can't buy what wello brings to the side. I'd hand pick games for tommy to play fullback gaining him all important experience while giving wello a rest.

If makinson out plays wello then IMO wello should be out the 17 altogether. So it's either fullback or out for me.

Yeah, we took the lead.

The subsequent injury to Shenton was the killer for us, we didn't recover from the disruption from losing both.

Plus a limping Lomax who we couldn't take off.

I suspect, with Scott Moore moving on, we may well see Hance Lohaia and Lomax rotating as scrum-half and hooker wherever necessary until either stakes a definitive claim for the 7 shirt.

Thing is I dont think Lomax could have stated a stronger case than his performances this season. He stepped into the scrum half role with no pre season there (I believe while pryce was injured Gaskell was training with eastmond as a 6 & 7). Lomax needs to be playing 7 to develop there as Longy did and just like Longy he will take time but be worth it

I still remain to be convinced that Lomax is the long-term answer at #7, but we have few other choices there next season and simply just don't have a "natural" SH at the club at the moment (not there's much in the way of difference between 6s and 7s these days, more's the pity) - I'd definitely plan with him and Hohaia as the likely #7s we'll be going with next season and get him to do some serious kick training in the off-season. Hopefully by this time next year he'll have improved his vision, kicking and passing games enough to nail the #7 shirt permanently - he's still more likely to end up at #1 eventually though for me.

Anybody but Wello.