It was yeah, he caught French in the semi. He's definitely not quick off the mark but as you say once he gets going he's deceptively fast. He has a strange posture for me and I always think of Alex Ferguson's comments about Henderson and his gait when I see Welsby walking. My 11 year old lad commented on it as welll, its a very strange posture he adopts when he is walking.

Couple of questions for you Wigan fans though...

Where does Tommy L fit into a first choice Wigan team? Can you afford him to take up a bench spot over someone like O Neill who can offer something different against tired defences? Smith has to be one of the first names on the team sheet now, he also seems to rarely miss with his goalkicking and Cust looks a good player fully fit. That's not even taking into account the prospect of Field at 6.

I know TL is a leader and hits like a sledgehammer but where does he fit in now

Secondly where does KPP play in a fully fit team? Centre or back row. Does he replace Thornley or Bibby in a fully fit team or is he a bench option for the back row? Looks like he can comfortably play 80 mins so in some ways would be a waste of minutes if he was on the bench.

He didn't nearly close a not match fit French down on GF. He was losing ground and only a last ditch diving ankle tap saved the day. French did get to him for his try on Saturday over a very short distance and giving Welsby a start. He didn't stop the try but that's a different argument. Welsby is quick but he isn't length of the field quick. Not even close.

Tommy needs to be in the match day 17. We don't win the CC without him. Whether that's off the bench or starting depends on the opposition. KPP in the centres all day for me, simply because that's our weakest position. Neither Isa nor Bibby are centres. I've seen enough of both shooting out of the line to be honest. Enough is enough. Thornley is being underrated. He has been excellent for us, injuries notwithstanding. KPP and Thornley at centre when fully fit.

Welsby is pretty quick but I don’t think he’s as fast as French, Field and Grace and he’s nowhere near their acceleration. Bibby waltzed round him in the cup semi didn’t he and he’s hardly fast? That said I think you’re right, in a 20/30/40m race he’s not the quickest but full pitch probably not that far off. I do think he had the run on Field though in the semi and Field had run further plus was carrying the ball, i don’t think he’d get close in a straight race.

I agree with this, Tommy was having a really good season before the injury, for me I’d be looking at having him on the bench at the very least and then you have the option to rotate the halves and even one of Tommy or Cust can drop in at hooker.

I’m with you in terms of him not being as quick as those but he’s surprised me just how quick he actually is. I’d have thought French would get him on Saturday. Maybe French took a while to get going due to noticing LMS has played basketball in the build up!

Welsby had a 10yrd head start by the time French had turned around so he did well to get back and get a challenge on him

Not sure what you mean when you say you thought French would get him? Do you mean stop him scoring or catch him because, whilst he didn't manage the former, he most certainly did the latter.

Whilst everyone is saying French/Field/Grace is rapid,Welsby is fast,Makinson/Percival is pretty fast no one mentions Marshall who out paced Makinson and Percival in the semi.
So we have 3 very fast players Saints have 1,I personally would swap any of our three for any of their wingers/full back .

Welsby got French with a nice fend at the start - that's what gave him the momentum to get away.

He's one of those players who seems to glide around the field with more time to play than most others. Didn't think he was a realistic England contender at the start of the year - now I think he has to be in the spine somewhere. Probably best to stick with the Saints pairing of him and Lomax although Wane may decide to stick with Williams if he improves his form late on in the season.

Disappointing result for Wigan when it was in our hands twice but being in the contest right till the end is all we can hope for against Saints this year. I would be very happy If the same situation is replicated in the playoffs - we're definitely not going to beat them comprehensively that's for sure. Then it will all be about who handles the pressure best in the last 15 and I'm sure both coaches will refer to these earlier games when giving the playoff team talks.

3 game ban for Singleton.

We also have Matautia with a 1 game ban, late hit on passer.

Should have been sent off. WE WERE ROBBED!!!!

Also Sir James Roby charged with a high tackle but zero matches, IT'S A FIX !!!!!