Watkins isn't exactly brilliant in defence either.

Yeah, you're right, but from our own defensive point of view, it's a bit of a worry. Moon is class and Watkins has great speed and footwork.
Mind you, I think Arundel is certainly better defensively than he's shown so far.

Think there will be 10-12 points in it either way. We have enough to do it for sure, just hope we find some organisation, I know it was a friendly but we looked a bit of a shambles at times against Wovers. Expect a big crowd!

With the expected weather and the pathetic sheadingley pitch I could see it being Horne and Whiting to miss out with the preference being for Green and Johnson in the front row with Pitts to come on at loose.

McDonnell
Crookes
Arundel
Yeaman
Briscoe
Holdsworth
Seymour
O'Meley
Heremaia (better at getting the forwards moving IMO)
Lynch
Ellis
Galea
Westerman

Houghton
Green
Johnson
Pitts

We've just spent 1m on that pitch and its like a carpet also Burrow at 9 and Mcshane on the bench is hardly weak there dont know which side you've watched when we've been weak at 9.

I'd go with this, with Heremaia instead of Galea.

Keep Westerman away from lock.

I thought RU trashed it the other week?

It looks decent to be fair.

was just repeating what I read on the L**ds board a few weeks ago, players having to replace divots during games etc.

hopefully the pitch, conditions or idiot with the whistle won't ruin what should be a good game tomorrow night.

I honestly think and hope I am wrong (wont be the first time) that Gentle has made a error picking Crookes instead of Lineham, like others I really worry about our right hand defence.

Also like others I would play Whting or Pitts at 13, to play through the middle, start Pitts as he has earnt the start with his pre-season.

Our pack on paper is a good, if not slightly stronger than Leeds IMO, but their backs and halfbacks are stronger than ours, with this and home advantage I think Leeds will win (again hope I'm wrong).

Very excited though about the season starting, really missed my rugby this off season.

1. McDonnell
2. Crookes
3. Arundel
4. Yeaman
5. Briscoe
6. Holdsworth
7. Seymour
8. Ogre
9. Houghton
10. Lynch
11. Ellis
12. Westerman
13. Galea

14. Green
15. Johnson
16. Pitts
17. Heremaia

It's about time you did something with that pitch, it's been truly awful. Oh, and McShane's . The reason you're weak at 9 is that your front row is weaker than ours and neither of your hookers are very good at moving them around.