Squad for Crusaders

In no way does Fitzgibbon deserve to be dropped to the bench, yes he is playing too many minutes and should be spelled but as our captain he should certainly be starting games and his work ethic is such that he certainly shouldn't be dropped, along with that out of all of our props he is the one most suited to starting games. Would have him starting at prop alongside O'Meley. The debate is probably more to do with Radford/Lauaki/Moa and fitting 2 of those onto the bench. Having said that given that we play an extra prop at 13 then we would lose out with Westerman there as he isn't really the hard yards kind of forward. If he plays 13 then we have to play more expansively and allow him a free role to roam and do damage where he sees fit. If we are to continue with a forwards based gameplan then Fitz at LF is what we will continue to see.

For me out of all of the forwards Tickle is the one needs a kick up the back side and the idea of benching him or giving him a week off should be in the thoughts. Lauaki could fill a back row role with Radders and Moa spelling O'Meley and Fitzgibbon. This also gives the flexibility of if a prop is excelling leaving them on for longer minutes and Fitzgibbon doing a spell in the back row.

My team would be: (with a license to entertain)

1. R Whiting
2. W Sharp
3. J Turner
4. K Yeaman
5. T Briscoe
6. R Horne
7. S Obst
8. M O'Meley
9. D Houghton
10. C Fitzgibbon
11. W Manu
12. D Tickle (with a warning that he needs to improve on recent weeks)
13. J Westerman

14. D Washbrook
15. E Lauaki
16. L Radford
17. S Moa