Agree would put washy to hooker to clean anything up near the ruck.

Are we really considering washy at hooker when we have Wildie, young maskill and wood?

Wood in place of Aiton, a definite mismatch.

Aiton is more often than not our top tackler each game and we're still conceeding approximately 30 points per game! I'm all for the academy players being given a shot where possible but it seems ridiculous to contemplate Wood, Wildie and Tim Smith all in our starting 13.

Surely a number 9s role is more about distribution, quick plays that a decent tackler.

Hell out attack has been blunt enough lately without sticking a player who can't quicken the distribution to give the halfs more space to work with.

Chase could well be missing for us. 2 high quality players potentially missing, which is a real shame, should still be a fairly even contest.

We should be with our poor defence. Wood, Wildie and Maskill would/will be targeted at 9. Washbrook is no slouch and has covered there with Hull. His move to 9 would enable Annakin/Kirmond/TT to play 13. Not ideal but think anything else would provide defensive weak links that will be exploited by Cas.

So is this where our season begins then?

The highlights against hull showed we lacked the defence mainly out wide so I fail to see how whoever plays at 9 can resolve that.

Also the try's not out wide one was from kick positioning and another one or two from what appeared to be a player or two shooting out of the line leaving a 1 on 1 or a gap for hull to burn through,

That says to me that defensive structure and on the wings is more of an issue than sticking a hooker detrimental to our attack and distribution into 9 spot.

I'd be tempted to go with Maskill at hooker - he really looked the part against Hemel. I know people will say that it's different against SL opposition but he looked less out of place than some of our other players did against Hemel.

Besides:

No fear - it's only Cas!!

What is it with the fetish for playing players out of position?

Playing our loose forward out of position in order to make space to play one of three other players out of position (one of whom may have only just landed in the country and may not be actually any good) as well does not sound like a plan to me. In fact it sounds down right lunacy.

The club made the decision that we didn't need Ellis, and it was never beyond the realms of possibility that Aiton may be missing sooner or later, so we have to play Wood at hooker with Wildie on the bench or Maskill if deemed ready. Agar/Glover/Elstone/The Club are ultimately judged on decisions they make and they should have the courage of their convictions and if we didn't need Ellis - Wood, Wildie and Maskill will be sufficient, they should live or die by the decisions.

As a total gamble and looking for a player to get the rest fired up,i would stick Cockayne at hooker.He can scoot them to death and has decent hands.Smith to stand off,Mellars into centre and Lyne/AN Other on the wing.

A bit OTT there ! Its only a game and its only Cas your playing.

This.

Has this this actually been confirmed?