Saints away

Quote: asmadasa "icon_stupid.gif Its not a dead horse, its what everybody with a bit of rugby league knowledge can plainly see what WTW needs. Its also what the coach himself acknowledges in most post match press conferences with no go forward, being easily rolled down the field and constantly losing the collision.

Using Aiton at prop speaks volumes of the lack of real options that R.A. seems to have at his disposal and the reason why there is a suggestion that we are now trying to buy a prop Jerome Gout from Toulouse (if its true and not a wind up).

In the short term maybe give a recalled Spiers a go (at prop from the bench) against Warrington and play players in their natural position for a change (yes I know that sounds a bit controversial
We have 5 props yet all of them have probably only managed 1-2 good games. What we need is for them to perform consistently. We can't have it both ways where we say this team should be doing better than it is and then let them off the hook by saying we are light up front.

Yes clearly not the biggest or best pack but even so it's under performing in a big way. That's nothing to do with size etc it's to do with the players in question not doing the job as well as they could. In which case I can't see more props helping, as they will simply drop to the level already at the club if my experience is anything to go by.

No one is pretending we can match up to the bigger packs in SL but then you must be a fantasist if you thought we would this season. However there are teams that we are clearly struggling against and we shouldn't. Oddly we proved we can do it against Catalan, although I accept they were probably off par but all the same it as a good show from us.

It's a dead horse because it simply isn't going to be improved this season by signing new players - what's needed is for the well payed Props we have to prop consistently well - we won't win SL this season with them but it will make for a better season than so far. Clearly a Prop is first on the list for next season.

Forwards win games I utterly agree with you on that, but packs are created not bought - of all the elements of a team the Front Row is the hardest to get right IMHO - all other players can be made to look good by a dominant pack especially props - a pack actually has to be good especially the props. Sadly it's not all about size, it's about heart, teamwork and pride in themselves and each other - won't happen overnight or with rush signings. It's the one position where I'm willing to be patient.

That said the playing of Aiton and even Southern at prop I'm not sure I can explain so easily