I think that would be very hard on Barthau who has been outstanding last couple of games and made some fantastic early plays. Though Sammir on bench to sub for Cunningham if foster leaves?

Got the impression from Hendo that Foster is here to stay until at least Ackers is fit.

Still think we are lacking a leader on the park, someone to give direction and guide the boys round the park. The bombed chances did seem to hit the confidence, think it was initially looking like a stroll in the park, then what was it 3 chances bombed.
When we went down to 12 men it was a worry, but we coped with that pretty well. Justified yellow though, was funny Swinton bench were screaming at the officials saying it should have been a penalty try! Give em there due they were shouting for everything for 80 mins.

Having watched the video on Facebook Garside and Pearce-Paul were pretty awful and woefully out of position for the Swindon tries. Dixon couldn't be worse!

Bring back Macani and Naiqama

Just in case anyone is interested, when we were "winning" the first half the penalty count was 7-2 when we were Losing the second half the count was 4-8. Goes to show win the ruck you earn the penalties.

FWIW I thought Sunday's red was pretty good.

To be fair to KPP he made one try saving ( and ultimately match saving) tackle late on. He's young, he'll improve with a decent centre inside him.

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don't disagree, I also like Garside, but they were very clearly targeted on Sunday. Wonder if playing walker in the centre with Dixon or Sammut at full-back is a better option?

Poor old Garside can't have played on the right-hand side of the field for years - never mind two places nearer the touchline. An odd option even without hindsight.

Agreed.

I thought our defence round the ruck area was pretty poor also.

Why is our defence around the ruck poor? Look at the tackle technique we very rarely turn the tackled player on to there back, they probably 50 or 60% of the time landed on elbows and knees and were getting a quick ptb, we were generally getting turned, it's an issue in our game.
If the attacker is landing on hands and knees they will be up quick so the markers are on the back foot getting in position.

Because when our team have tries to do this they always get pinged for laying on. Some teams can get away with slowly turning the opposition on their backs others can't. Unfortunately we are the former. Some teams are extremely quick and good at doing so - great why cant we, me thinks train, train and train again at this and then we may be able to use this style of play.

are you suggesting this is match officials again? Am asking not accusing btw. Teams don't get away with slowly turning the player at all, teams are just much better at executing the tackle, if the bloke hits the floor on hands and knees then you don't have the right to turn him, you can stay on him a little longer if the ref calls surrender though.
What we are very poor at is turning the bloke before he hits the ground. The ideal tackle is with them on there back head towards there own posts. The important thing is staying in control as you take him to ground, and listen to the dominant and surrender calls.
As the tackled player the ref is looking for an attempt to regain yr feet, dragon has been caught out here a few times he dives back on the ground doing the flopping fish trying to claim interference. Placing a foot soilidly on the ground and making that positive attempt to stand up is what is looked for.