Which for me is the worry about Agar, has he learnt anything in his time in charge or is it still going to be same old same old when the influence of Long is not out on the field?

I hope it was just a bad day at the office but it shows alot work is needed on a back up halfback pairing

Blaming Horne is unfair. He did not have a great game but so many times he was left unsupported but the players around him. It's a big season for Horne, if he does not get back to form I can see us signing a SO for next season.

He needs options though and today we gave him none, that said he still needs to make better decision and do things at pace rather than being stood still.

Shadow of his former self, sadly. As much as it pains me to say it, he is weakening our side at the moment. Never looked the same since the neck injury and diabetes problems.

Horne is a total waste of time at 7, as he has proved time after time. Our only option at 7 is Tansey. Berrigan needs to play 9 and we have nobody else who could do the job.

He had a poor season last season, which most put down to him returning from the injury etc...IMO we cannot afford to give him another full season, he should be dropped and other options use, by all means let Horne fight for the shirt, but Craig Hall has been binned on many occasions for less.

I know his main position was centre, I know he has experience in the half,s, but he actually won the Clive Churchill medal at hooker which in my opinion it the position he is most effective at.
You are right in the fact he is versatlie and could cover the halfs, but it still leaves the problem of the 9 shirt and all Houghton appears to do now is scoot out, Houghton not doing much at the minute.
It we move Tansey to play with Turner in the halfs and Berro as 9 I believe this would be a good combination. Whiting to f/back,Hall to centre if Claders back..

Stangely though the best I have seen Horney over the last couple of years is at F/Back, although I do not believe he is even 100% fit!

I've already said it's a huge season for Horne, think he is worth another game or two yet before dropping him. If Long is back in a week or two and Horne is not playing well then I would drop him and bring in Turner in for a go with Long.

Fair point..however if he plays Horne again he must surely put Tansey with him this week, and like you say maybe bring Turner in with Long, this would benefit Turner as he is only a young lad.

Tansey must play 7 next week regardless of who plays 6. I'd have him and Horne together with Whiting at FB, Calderwood on the wing and Hall at centre.

I'm a huge fan of Horne, Paul, but ATM he clearly isn't fit. For that reason alone I believe it would be worth replacing him at least while Long is out. He's also lost weight and pace, and for someone who has always relied on his physical attributes and athleticism for the best parts of his game that's having a huge effect.

Not sure a complete new halfback pairing is the way to go unless Horne is not fit to play? If he isn't fit then try Turner/Tansey but that would be risky.

Could not be any worse than yesterday though could it?

Again can't blame the halves for it all, the forwards were not dominant and the other players were not offering themselves for the halves to utilise.

Looking at the strapping Horne was wearing yesterday and the way he was playing I'd say he's not fit to play now. Sure, he's not so crocked that we can't get him on the field, but there's little point in doing that if he's not going to be effective. It's unfair on him as much as the rest of the side and the fans - he can hardly show whether he's improved on last season when not 100%.

Back in my playing days, I fractured C6. After nearly a year out of the game, I started playing again. When I resumed, my ex-missus used to comment about the lumps & bumps on my face, something that I rarely suffered from before my injury. When I analysed it, I'd completely changed my playing style, I was tackling upstairs instead of round the legs, I also knew that I wasn't running with the ball at anything like my previous pace. Basically, I was subconsciously attempting to protect my neck and it was affecting the way I played the game. It took some time but in the end I knew that I wasn't putting enough in anymore and decided the time had come to hang up my boots.

I hate to say but I seriously think that Rich Horne is still carrying some baggage from what was a very serious injury.