Burgess has the 21 shirt which could be construed as an honour

Re Jeffries, I will reserve judgment until I see how he plays alongside Gale. However as the established player, it would have been surprising if he'd been demoted unless we had actually splashed out on a marquee 6. Sammut strikes me as a man not lacking in confidence, so I doubt it matters a toss to him, or the efforts he'll be making to get into the starting 13.

But I don't think Jeffries is as bad as some seem to want to make out, I do think he has had too much responsibility and instability directly as a result of our problems at No. 7. He is the sort of player that could grow into a decent partnership with a decent partner. But he will have to pull his finger out from day one, and Sammutt will inevitably get an early chance whatever happens, unless Jeffries and Gale tear down all before them.

exactly what I was thinking. Also didnt potter make a comment last year along lines that existing players had first shot at lower numbered shirts in positions they played over new signings? hence BJ getting first shot at 6. Think people are reading way too much into it TBH.

Yes he did

If that was taken to its conclusion then Sykes and Platt would be 3 and 5, and Lulia and Purell would be 28 and 29

Is probably somewhere near the right answer. If there is a right answer, that is.

not sure there is,once we get a few games in anyway

Higher than almost everybody else?

The thing is, we've got 4 half backs in the side for 2012. That gives us 6 different combinations. So let's see which one clicks the best before bemoaning player selections hmmm?

There is always one person who has to spoil it all by being sensible...

Ten games!

That old chestnut lol

Ah, but is that 10 games of the season or 10 games for each permutation?

Platt was given number 1 last year but played no games at fullback didn't he?

Fact is our squad has a few weaknesses so we can quibble about selections in a few areas. Take Jeffries at stand off, I'm certainly no fan but he is the incumbent. The onus is on Briggs and Sammut to put pressure on him and that's exactly what he needs as I think his performances get stale eithout pressure from others. I fully expect Sammut to figure off the bench at the very least.

In the backs we're short of a specialist centre, Purtell is rated by almost all that have seen him as a better winger than centre so it makes some sense to give him the number 2 jersey. The rumours about Platt and Sykes made it more likely Walker would get the other centre jersey. I think Walker is a much better second row but we are where we are with the squad we have. Ainscough still has a bit to prove though that's more down to him being unlucky with injury and being quite young and not really finding consistency yet in his career.