Clean bill of health from the disciplinary so 1-7 picks itself but the pack is a different kettle of fish, looks like a couple of players who don't deserve to miss out are going to miss out, for my tuppence worth I'll go

Thompson
O'Neil
Cooper
Farrell
Walters
Havard

Leeming
Mago
Dupree
Nsemba

Thought about a pack/bench, decided, then changed it, then changed it again and again and then decided and changed that as well. In my mind Thompson, Havard, O’Neill and Farrell are the only 4 cast iron certainties. I’ve got others in on this seasons form (Mago and Dupree) but that could change. I’d want both of Nsemba and Walters in to share that second row spot but it’s next to impossible to then decide who is in/out elsewhere.

Going to be a difficult game and we’ll have to have one eye on the Cc semi

Got me Ellis misses out I think he’s been a little off this season so far.

I think we need to run with 3 secondrow so 1 on the bench along with Leeming and Walters also being able to play prop helps so we only have room for 5 middles.

I’d personally agree with starting Thompson, Cooper and Havard however I’d have Thompson at 13 with Dupree and Mago off the bench along with Nsemba and Leeming.

Hill is the player I feel bad for missing out as I think he’s not put a foot wrong whereas both Ellis and Byrne have been a little out of form.

I think it would be highly beneficial for their development to get Eseh and Hill out on loan preferably to SL clubs as soon as the opportunity presents itself.

Agree with all of that.
I thought Ellis started the season reasonably well but recently he’s not having the same impact on the game.
Not sure if Byrne was playing to instructions but I was very disappointed with his performance against Catalan. I’m a Byrne fan and was expecting a lot more from him after his absence due to suspension.

Only after the semifinal though.

I just don't see how Byrne makes the 17 with all the other front rowers and now Walters available.

I think he will tbh because I think Peet rates what he brings extremely highly. He's a bit different to the other guys, in that he might not quite make the ground most of them do but his defence is brutal when he's on. He needs to be better than last week but I do think he'll get another chance this week (and beyond).

I think it's easier to guess what the pack will be than it is to choose one myself. Mine would probably be slightly different but I expect we'll line up exactly as we did last Thursday. I want to see Walters play but I could see him having to bide his time for a while.

I think the answer to that is probably because we'll need him during the season so need to get minutes into him after a month off and that he's a coaching staff favourite.

On form, I agree, there are players who don't deserve to miss out. Not that Byrne has done anything wrong. More that players like Hill, Mago, Dupree and Thompson have been excellent, Harvard is our best prop so needs to get game time and even Cooper has been solid in the limited games he's had. The competition for places in that front row is very tough right now.

I think he'll be looking to get Walters into the frame as 2nd row is perhaps where we have least cover with Isa out for a lengthy period. If Nsemba or Farrell get injured he could get thrown into the CCSF, for example, with literally no proper first team game time since last September. I can't see Peet taking that risk, especially as he can play prop too. He'll play for mine.

If Walters does come in I could see it being a straight swap for Nsemba but we'll see. That would get him in a position where he can play in the semi if needed and Nsemba would still be match sharp, even if he doesn't play on Saturday.

We've played plenty of games this season with no second row cover on the bench, including the WCC and we didn't use Nsemba on Good Friday, so I'm not convinced Peet will go down the route of having 3 in his 17. I would want the 3 of them in the 17 for this weekend and for the semi tbh. I love what Nsemba is bringing but I don't think he's ready yet to be playing 80 minutes every week, especially in a challenge cup semi.

My thinking was Walters will be chomping at the bit to make his 1st team debut, give him the first 20/25 mins then bring on Nsemba, Walters back for the final 20, if things are going really well then we could take Farrell off for that last quarter

It's a tough one but my best guess would be Walters from the bench as he gives us cover options at both 2nd row and prop. If we go a prop light (well 4 rather than 5 anyway ) that extra versatility could be useful.

I think that Walters will start on Saturday and the following Saturday in the CCSF. Nsemba is coming along nicely but I get the feeling that his defence could let him down particularly against an athletic centre or 2nd row forward.

At some point in the near future Farrell will have to do less than 80 minutes in quite a few games and even be excluded from the starting 17 re his available minutes left for the season. It’s a potential issue as the season progresses. As well as missing Isa’s excellent defence we will really miss his leadership when Farrell cannot be on the pitch. I think having a second row forward on the bench going forward will be standard practice with possibly the CCF being the exception if we get there plus maybe the 2 remaining Saints fixtures.
Playing Ellis/Thompson/Mago at 13 ensures that we will always have at least 5 props in the starting 17.