Regarding the 13 postion for me a good 13 can help make a side.its part of a spine of the team. A good 13 should be able to be able to defend, run the ball in have good foot work a passing game and be able to read the game we can go on about say half back but you could have the best half back in the world but it makes no differenceif the pack are getting done over.granted some coaches tend to go for size and do in effect play a prop at 13 but i still like to see out n out 13s.(saying its a postion my lad played hell of alot of rugby in so bit bias)

A former task of a loose forward was to break quickly from the scrum and nail the attacking scrum half or stand off, but as the nature of the scrum has changed greatly, and disappeared totally last season, this role has diminished somewhat.
By the way, forgive my ignorance but is the forthcoming season also going to be scrumless. I don't recall seeing anything in writing re this.

The decision regarding scrums has been deferred until later this month.

Cheers phe. Just seen it announced as deferred until this month on BBC Sports page.

That unfortunately left the game when it was no longer required to push.
It meant the SR and 13 were already waiting for the 13 so a useless excercise.

I do like the 13 making the extra man though and picking and passing so the SH is further out. We need more scrum moves.

D Turner was the best at breaking from the scrums the number of times he smacked A Murphy and other great Scrum Halfs .Broke the star of This sporting Life nose ,after the director told Turned it did not look real enough, after a few takes.Do not know if it's true but after the last shot Turned said to the director is that ok for you .I do agree a loseforward role as changed big time .I would give Bachelor the 13 spot got a lot going for him

Batch doesn't have the power to go down the middle. He is far more useful as a rangy runner on the right.
Pitts has that spot but I don't mind Pitts doing 13.

Leaving Batch in one position will help him more.

Agreed.

Batch isn’t a “middle” he’s an edge in my opinion.

Leave him to take on the outside backs and halves and let someone like Pitt’s, Arona or Battye to take up that role. I’d probably say though Whitbread will get significant game time at loose in 2022.

Batch is very much a right SR. Tanginoa should start in his best position of left SR and Pitts in his best position of right SR. Batch/Ashurst for me fight out the bench spot interchange. Though I think Ashurst would make a better LF.

Tanginoa wasn’t as effective in right SR on Boxing Day. I do hope Willie doesn’t do a Chester and play Tangi in every position but his best at left SR (just to fit Ashurst in). Let’s hope lessons are learned there.

One thing I will say though. Aydin looks pretty much ready to be an interchange prop to me. That is a bonus and really does give us more depth in the front row. I look forward to seeing Aydin get plenty of games off the bench this year. And hopefully see how far Eseh is off being ready too.

Pitts is the best LF we have, for me Ashurst is not a LF in any sense, sorry.

I’ll make a bold prediction and accept the risk. If Pitts maintains his form and avoids injury and of course the team has a half decent season he will be the SL dream team LF at the end of the season.

Pitts and Kelepi in the second row for me, with Batch on the bench. Personally I’d go with Crowther at loose.

tbh, with Tash on a 2yr deal, can only see him used as a 2nd row with Kelepi on the other side and JP at 13.

Injuries permitting, I think you're probably right. But based on form at the wnd if last season that's what I go with.

What this debate/discussion has highlighted is that there is a massive number of options and as such competition for the back row positions which should keep everyone performing to their best with no option for complacency.

Well whatever Willie decides is fine but Tangi plays best at left SR and Pitts best position is Right SR. We have Crowther, Walker, Arona, Whitbread, Odonnovan, Adebeyi who can all play 13.

I’m a big believer in playing players in their best positions where possible. Seems like we are moving Tangi and Pitts from their most effective positions to accommodate Tash. It’s a risk that’s not needed as Tash and Batch should fight over the bench allowing players to play in most accustomed position imo.

I’m not a coach though so we will have to wait and see what Willie does.