Is it just me or are others wondering why Liam Salter is not mentioned? one of our most consistant players last year. He did nothing wrong & improved game on game. In my team he would be in ahead of Gleeson.

Hodgson can practically do a full 80 mins, he would only need cover for a short spell, it makes sense to me. We have enough options in the pack that covering Costigan would not be a problem.

I think you can certainly make a case for him, he looked pretty good defensively I felt, but needs to improve his lines in attack and his service to his winger.

Depending on what goes on in pre season he could and should be putting pressure on both Welham and Salter.

Could,nt agree more. Pretty much go with the general opinion of the teams selected, but in my opinion Liam Salter has better defence than any of the selected first five. Obviously he wont get a go at fullback, and both welham and gleeson are defensively suspect. If his attacking flair can, or has been improved i would have him in front of them both.

1. Eden

2. Cockayne
3. Salter
4. Welham
5. Hodgson

6. Burns
7. Keeting

8. A. Walker
9. Hodgson
10. Poore

11. Cox
12. Costigan
13. Langley

14. Hall
15. Lovegrove
16. Weyman
17. Larroyer

1. Eden
2. Cockayne
3. Gleeson
4. Welham
5. Hodgson
6. Burns
7. Keating
8. A. Walker
9. Hodgson
10. Poore
11. Larroyer
12. Costigan
13. Langley

14. Carlile
15. Cox
16. Weyman
17. J. Walker

I prefer to see two props on the bench so favour J. Walker for the last spot over Lovegrove who I still think is an important member of the squad but should only be seen at second row. I'm hoping we have a lot more to see from Gleeson and a pre-season plus few games under the belt should show us why he was signed. Larroyer had a bit of a bouncy chest in the world cup but I reckon could be one of our best signings. We have plenty in the squad behind this lot who can do more than just fill in which is a first since we entered SL. Really looking forward to this season and expect us to win everything going. If we are anything less than stunning in our first game i'll be calling for Sandercock's head.

I agree with all of that. Well maybe not the winning everything bit!
There are a few either/ors, with Horne, Salter and Hall going close, in addition to those you mention. The idea of using Costigan to briefly spell J. Hodgson, getting another big forward on the bench, could work well also. Really grind the opposition down, hopefully.

It really won't, if I see Costigan going anywhere near dummy half The Sniper Skein will swing into immediate and devastating action.

Yeah, I'd go with something similar to BF's team above, because I'd rather have a 'real' hooker on the bench and be using Costigan in his best position. But the pay-off of being able to include 2 of Cox/Horne/Lovegrove on the bench wouldn't be insignificant. Especially early in the season, on heavy grounds.
Depends how many top quality minutes Hodgson can do at 9 and how Carlile is developing.

Is it worth having the extra hooker if he is only going to spell for 10/15 mins, Hodgson is capable of playing big mins.

Don't think it was our sole intention but our main intention.

Maybe the coaching staff think Welham won't be as exposed this season because he'll have a half-back and a second-rower inside him who can actually defend?

Hmmmm. We'll see. I'm yet to be convinced he will ever become a proficient defender. As he turns 27 next season, if he doesn't manage it now he never will. Big season for him.

surely your picking the team on last years form how do you know who will be injured in warm up games, who will play with knocks etc. sean gleeson is in most peoples team yet we now know he wont start against leeds. kostigan,wheyman,keeting,maki,laroyye we dont know how quickly they will adapt to uk conditions

Not forgetting the injured players in edan, berns and horn