Forber is a must for me, his delivery from the ptb can be the difference in winning and losing.

Forber also provides the option to move Leeming into the halves if needed.

As I keep saying Itchy, he has. Several times last season and he went fine. That's why I don't understand the reluctance this season. He doesn't look any less fit.

*I'll try to find the relevant threads from last year if I get chance.

I believe you Phuzzy but Peet must have his reasons for not increasing his minutes and the same can be said for Byrne, Walters and Hill. My initial thoughts were that he doesn’t trust them but maybe they maybe carrying injuries which means that they aren’t able to train properly? I’m not sure what it is but I’m pretty sure that it isn’t that Peet doesn’t want to rotate his squad.

Actually Byrne is the better example. He was always regarded as a long minutes prop but now plays the same 15 minute cameos that Mago plays. It's quite strange. My own take on it is he just likes Thompson, Harvard and Ellis better but running them into the ground is short sighted to say the least.

I’d be a little disappointed if Peet’s lack of rotation is because he just wants to play his best 3 props at the maximum for every game. What would be the point in having so many props in the squad if he didn’t think at the beginning of the season that he would need to rely on a good depth of available props?
I haven’t got a clue what it is but Peet has more than enough credit in the bank to make mistakes and I for one can accept the mistakes as long as we learn from them. There is a bit of pressure now on Peet and I’m confident he will learn and pull through our current malaise. I can’t wait to see the 21 for Saturday particularly who is going to play 6.
I’ve always given Byrne maximum support even when he’s not always deserving. I really thought that he was going to kick on but he’s regressed this season and I suspect that he along with Walters is struggling with the tackle technique now required. I hope he’s selected for Saturday and Waney is in his ear on the need to stifle Walmsley when he comes on.

3 matches for Smith

Reduced from 6 because it was Bentley

There's so many different directions he could go in but based on what I've seen from Wellens' selections this year I'd take a stab at the following:

Robertson
Makinson
Davies
Blake
Ritson

Bell
Mbye

Lees
Burns
Walmsley
Sironen
Whitley
Paasi

Subs
Matautia
Batchelor
Stephens
Fuck knows, but thinking it will be Vaughan/Royle

Would like him to give roberts his debut instead so bell can play loose forward and I think the side would be overall a little more balanced that way, but it's a big big call to make against you lot at Magic so I'd be pretty surprised. Think he will go Bell for his defensive capabilities or at a push, Davies at half and Whitley/Vaughan at centre

What would your 17 be Stu based on what you have seen this season?

Difficult one really. I’d love to see Robertson at 6 but it would be a mismatch defending against Nsemba. I can see him putting Davies at 6 for his big boot in kicking and he’s a bigger body in defence. Mbye will have to play 7 but then he can’t spell Burns who looks like he’ll struggle with playing 80 mins. Bell can’t spell Burns as he’ll need to play 80 mins at 13 with no Knowles. We really are up against it

My guess would be

Robertson
Makinson
Blake
Whitley
Ritson
Davies
Mbye
Lees
Burns
Paasi
Sironen
Batchelor
Bell

Stephens
Matautia
Walmsley
Vaughan (or a back like Whitby or Roberts- can’t see them being thrown in though)

If thats the team he goes for, the back will probably be Bennison!