Quote HuddsRL5="HuddsRL5"Completely agree on the defence, and I don't like the idea of pryce coming back for such a big game after so long out, if he was going to play off the bench Watson would have run with it against toulouse.
However im just pointing to the fact that often in big games if both defences are tight you need some magic or individual to win it. And pryce offers that. Unfortunately for Golding he's good defensively but that's the end of it.
Regarding hooker cover both Russell and Fages have played there plenty previously.
If Russell doesn't play Cogger will play imo'"
Watson couldnt play pryce on the bench against Toulouse as his ban was still in force.
russell and fages cant be cover for hooker as the point is we are likely to have either one or both of those not available. and we really do not want to be taking out our main attacking player to put into the hooking role to cover injury in a cup final.
golding offers cover across the whole of the backline and hooker. allowing tui to move in to cover the halves, with forwards on the bench that then gives us cover across every position on the field! to me that's preferable than playing a green kid who's been out for two months and has actually got to prove himself yet.
I know this wont go down well but I feel a lot of this stuff surrounding Pryce has been hyped up out of proportion. he's good but he's very raw and hes not the messiah. Im sure there will be a backlash to that statement but the reality is he's played half a season so far