They always said Chris Annakin was too small & not heavy enough & he still got a game

I think you get a bit more leeway when you are a local squad player who has come up through the club. Can't be the same when you are bringing someone to use up a quota spot. Not criticising Whitbread btw just commenting on the Annakin analogy.

Size of the players heart as well as stature and fitness is also a huge consideration for me and will quickly find them out especially in the forwards .We’ve have a few man mountains in our recent history who should have been pulling trees up and striking the fear of god into the opposition , but for whatever reason they played like damp squibs ,so physically size is important in said position but they certainly must have a heart to match or it’s game over in my books .

Unfortunately Annakin certain would have benefitted from more size.

Couldn’t fault his commitment and never took a backwards step unlike some of our more so called illustrious players

Correct, Pauli Pauli and Jarrod Hickey immediately spring to mind

A good big un will always beat a good little un, I’ve heard a few times but nobody told Nigel Bell that!

There are always exceptions to the rules and I’d put Jonny T into that category,but you’ve only to look at walmsley to see how size matters and helps when you get to a certain level .

Will always remember Bob Gant saying to Nige Murray in the dressing room after an A team game: If you had my heart in your body we'd be an international.