I think "the point" is Goulding has to playing out of his skin to get in in front of Gelling, Sarginson, Thornley, Hughes and Tomkins whereas Pettybourne is given a chance straight away at prop because the competition for places isn't as great and after being unfit all year he goes straight into the team.

So he is comparing a centre to a prop in the way they are being treated for team selection.

How's that Dave O?

Pettybourne's done ok in the games he's played this season. Some seem to have him down as a big fan's favourite and others as a complete flop, when I don't think either opinion is justified.

There is an argument that we shouldn't have signed an overseas player with his recent injury record, but he's been unfortunate with multiple injuries rather than recurring ones. We've seen over the last few seasons you need 7 or 8 quality props in the squad to cover injuries.

FWIW I don't think he would make our first choice 17, and I think he'll struggle even more when we have Tautai.

He may well struggle.

This season:
Taylor
Flower
Clubb
are looking like the backbone with one from:
Crosby
Pettybourne
Sutton
Dudson
Being the 4th choice and other back ups to cover injury.

The back row will be pretty easy to pick when Joel Tomkins comes back into the team (assuming he can play to a similar level he used to). Farrell and Tomkins would be 11 & 12 and Bateman off the bench. So Pettybourne and Clubb who can play in the back row should be focused on the prop places.

Next season you would assume its Tautai in, Taylor out.

We've also got James Greenwood returning to us for 2015.
From the list above, if Taylor stays for 2015 that's eight props we'll have.