Jamie Shaul would be my fullback, McDonnell could play on the wing where his weak defence wouldn't be as exposed.

Shaul for me was one of the standout players for me in your team Saturday, looked like a player who could create something out of nothing with his good balance mixed with his speed.

We need to give him a 5 year deal and play him at fullback

Did he indeed? Food for thought as I think as Shaul will be our fullback for years to come, I hope, he should remain and develop there. He's already got the confidence and the cool head under pressure, just needs experience.

McDonnell may not be fit for te start of next season, so Shaul will get a continued run.

Here's a radical idea, why not pick who is fit and in form?

Also there's no reason why they both can't be accommodated in the same team. They could even switch between full back and winger during the game, something else which isn't exactly a new ploy.

at least we have 2 brill fullbacks

I'd play Shaul on the wing, McDonnell full back myself.

I'm not actually sure that McDonnell or shaul are/will be top class full backs. McDonnell is currently better but, has been said, doesn't link into the line well enough (which is one of the reasons we struggle to open opposition defences) and shaul doesn't really do it at all but has played too few games to really judge him yet

I made the point about Shaul so far not having shown any '3rd pivot' type play before the final. He's young and inexperienced - it may well develop. At the moment he's a Shaun Briscoe type FB but with greater acceleration than Briscoe had. He sniffs around centre field when an attacking play starts which is exactly what Briscoe used to do and scored a lot of tries from it. He may well make a better winger than FB ultimately.

If he cannot become the 3rd pivot then we need to start utilising a ball playing number 13

Just give the 2nd rowers more ball handling responsibility.

You mean, give them more creative allowance rather than just run the drop off all game long? You must be dreaming!

The third pivot talk is a bit tough on Shaul IMO. I would actually say that McDonnell started to struggle with it as the season went on after a great start, and that it was not entirely down to the fullback. As teams have started to work us out our use of the fullback behind the line has gotten more and more predictable, as well as being harder to pull off as we have been on the front foot less often and with less dummy runners to mask it. Shaul came in at a difficult time for that part of the fullback's role, so I'd like to see him in better circumstances to see whether or not he can do it or if it's just that we currently stink at that play.

Mcdonnel to come straight back in at 1. Shaul on the wing, to get a bit more experience. Been really impressed with mcdonnell. Wasnt really expecting much when he signed. He looks pretty slippery, must be a nightmare for defenders.