I’ve never seen Hankinson defending in the middle so wouldn’t like to speculate.

I think Sam Tomkins would make a good 13 towards the end of his career.

I think the interchange reduction ties in with the role of the loose. IMO we'll start seeing 80 min hookers and second rows becoming the standard, leaving the opportunity for the loose to come off and back on once, hence it lending itself to a third prop. I think we'll see something like

P 2 x 20 mins
H 80 mins
P 2 x 20 mins
SR 80 mins
SR 80 mins
LF 30 + 20 mins

S Prop 2 x 20 mins
S Prop 2 x 20 mins
S Loose 1 x 30 mins
S Utility back - cover for injuries or if someone is having a Coote

I think he's too small to deal the amount of defensive work and hard carries needed in a loose.
I always thought Sam's natural progression would see him as a playmaking controlling half opening up breaks for others once his speed left him.

Manfredi