With players coming back from injury and a return to the unussual senario of the team not picking itself.

Who would you choose as the first choice starting 17 for the rest of the season, I'm not saying Royce's choice, but yours.

For me it would be

FB Wellens
Wing Foster
Wing Eastmond
Centre Shenton
Centre Wheeler
Halfback Lomax
Halfback Gaskell
Hooker Roby
Prop Graham
Prop TP
2nd row Soliola
2nd row Clough
LF Wilkin

Subs
LMS
Perry
Flannery
Moore

I knew thus thread was on the way with the discussion this morning

Yeh I felt, it was creeping into alot of other threads and did not want to hack off anyone wanting to discuss the game or detract from Gardners injury.

Providing everyone is fit: ( obviously ade is out)

Wello
Foster
Shenton
Wheeler
Meli
Pryce
Lomax
Perry
Roby
Graham
Wilkin
Sia
TP

LMS
Clough
Flannery
Gaskell/Moore/eastmond ( I can't decide out of these 3 and would depend on who we was playing)

I'd have magennis as 18th man with Ashe, Dixon, ashurst, makinson and hale all missing out.

I wasn't a fan of having a back on the bench as I liked the old tried trusted way of having 4 good forward on the bench but with having TP at prop gibes us that extra prop I like and can interchange as a prop with clough, LMS.

Will the Royce Philosophy break through with the fans?

For me it would be:

FB Wellens
Wing Foster
Wing Makinson
Centre Shenton
Centre Wheeler (or Meli, I can't decide!)
Halfback Lomax
Halfback Gaskell (or Wheeler, I can't decide!)
Hooker Roby
Prop Graham
Prop TP
2nd row Soliola
2nd row Magennis
LF Wilkin

Subs
LMS
Perry
Eastmond/Wheeler (depending on decisions above!)
Moore/Clough (rotate)

Wellens
Makinson
Shenton
Foster
Wheeler
Pryce
Lomax
Perry
Roby
Graham
Soliola
Magennis
Wilkin

TP
LMS
Clough
Moore / Eastmond

It's interesting that some have not picked Leon Pryce. It seems we've spent the last year and half using him as a excuse to losing to teams yet now some don't pick him.

Is this because of the way Gaskell has come into the side?

Some say Leon has a poor long kicking game, but I thought in recent years (when he's been fit!), that he's developed quite a decent long kicking game. So I don't see that as an issue. Also Wilkin can do any kicking duties from SR/LF.

IMO having somebody with the talent of Leon Pryce in your squad and not playing him would be nothing short of insanity. A fit Leon would feature in any SL side.

I agree, Leon is important to what saints do and win. Providing he's ok from his injuries he's got to play.

Leon is hit and miss with his kicking game as is wilkin and lomax and that's my only worry but I agree that Leon has to play.

That's true and would be my only concern. But all 3 of them can't have a bad one at the same time, surely. There's also the option of moving Wheeler infield on the last and putting Pryce/Lomax attacking out wide, doesn't take too much intelligence to manage that.

If fit and on form Pryce will play, it would be nice to be able ease him back from the bench though. Eastmond in my opinion should just be used as cover as and when we need him, in the halves I'd have Lomax, Pryce,Gaskell and Wheeler all ahead of him.

Pyrce was always good for creating our 2nd phase of attack plus his natural ability to break the line occasionally, so he would always be in my team. I noticed prior to his ankle injury Gaskell was using the 2nd phase but not as effectively.
Makinson would be choice on the wing (Gardner) giving the right hand side loads of pace.
Wheeler/Eastmond for the bench spot ideally coming on the field against a tired defence. My concern is that Shenton and Roby need a weekend off, maybe Wheeler can slot in at centre for a game or two, with Moore obviously at 9.
It would be great if Royce could develop Wilkin into a permanent playmaking loose forward (sinfield). If we have the luxury of stability in player positions, saints can still challenge for that top 2 position.

Wellens
Makinson
Shenton
Meli
Foster
Leon
Lomax
Perry
Roby
Graham
Wilkin
Flannery
TP

Subs
Sia
LMS
Clough
Wheeler