Thinking about Obst/Horne/Long and what Skills they have, in a straight shootout I think the 'honours' are:

Organising - Long
Attacking/breaking the line - Obst
Defence - Obst
Field kicks - Long
Support - Horne

And when looking at the hooking role I feel there is no need to spell Houghton as he is as effective after 80 as he is at the start. In fact without the chop and change I think we do better as a team.

With this in mind could we drop Horne and use Long and Obst in the centre, with Houghton playing the 80?

Obst is the form back so deserves to play, I would go for Long over Horne and play Horne off the bench. That way if he came on Obst could go to dummy half to spell Houghton and allow the three of them to switch things around between them.

Horne been that poor the last couple of games Paul??

For me yes. He still supports well but he has just seemed very slow and constantly getting caught with the ball in recent weeks. Long looked better in the last two games they played together and Obst is obviously playing well.

Obst should defo be starting and if like you say Horne is not up to scratch then he should give Long/Obst a go in the middle. But I cannot see it happening, Long is back for the Derby game and i can see us reverting to Horne/Long with Obst on the bench.

Based on form, for the derby I'd go with Obst and Long starting and Horne on the bench.

Think Long and Obst could be they way to go, would create us our first dynamic half back partnership since Mackey & Entat

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Unfortunately so can I

Looks like everyone is of the same opinion re Long and Obst so why shouldn't Agar see the same as us? Just what exactly would keep him from starting Horne on the bench?

Guess it depends what sort of game Horney has in France. He has had the odd exceptional one, eg Wigan, this season. If he does pull it out of the bag, would Agar have the guts to start Long on the bench at the derby?

Have to agree with you paul, Horney as you say supports well but seems to have lost his yard of pace, me and this bloke was talking about the same thing friday night, i too would go with long and obst

has to be Long and Obst for me too. Longy hasnt been fit last few weeks and played fairly well so hopefully come derby day he will be raring to go (maybe with his best mate in the team too)

You pick the best team available. The coach should be brave enough to change a winning team.

I expect, for example, Dobson will be straight back in the Rovers team when fit.

Long & Horne at half back,Obst starting hooker,with Houghton of the bench,he's a scooter and nothing else.

And you wouldnt bring the house elf back if he was fit...oh hang on...needs permission 1st