How do people see the back row shaping up for next season and what would you like to see?

I suppose the first question to ask is if Hame will be used as a prop or back rower. If he is being used as a back rower then I really cant see how Radford or Tickle fit into the team at all.

Its actually harder to decide then it first seems. My first choice would be.....

11. Manu
12. Fitz
13. Washbrook

Hame on the bench. Bring Hame on for Manu after about 20 mins then after 30 minutes bring Manu back on for Fitz or Washbrook (whichever needs a breather most). If Hame is struggling before halftime just bring Fitz/Washy back with a similar pattern in the second half. Which leaves no place for Radford/Tickle or Burnett in the 17 if everyone is fit. Is that too much of the salary cap wasted on the back row or is it a sensible level bearing in mind the inevitable injuries?

Mine would be

11. Tickle
12. Fitz
13. Washbrook

with Manu on the bench

However I reckon Agar will go with

Radford
Tickle
Fitz

Not playing Hame then? Or would you use him as a prop? I personally think he needs to be in there to get the team fired up and actually hurt the opposition.

He would be on the bench also, used to cover back and front row as required, which is what I think will happen with him anyway.

Pretty much how i see it as well...........Thing is as well....teams will think we have don e the hard work with that pack that starts only to see Hame,Manu,Shrek,Moa coming off the bench and hopefully thinking...$hit..look at this lot.

Think he would be wasted in the front row TBH. Him and Manu running out wide would terrify most defences in SL IMO. I think a front row of Cusack, Dowes, O'Meeley and Moa has the right balance with great support from an explosive back row.

Hell yes and with Long to put them away and Hall to back Manu up...that worked well last season towards the end....also the last time Manu had a proper s/h to put him away (Head) he was bloody devastating.

An added bonus I noticed about Hame is that he is actually very good when passing the ball which creates doubt in the opposition minds. They know they have to get the numbers in the tackle but he has already shown that he can throw a miss-out pass to the winger/centre. The same applies to Manu when he puts Yeamo through a gap. All these little things start to add up and make us a more dangerous attacking prospect.

I agree to an extent but not all of those can play at anyone time, even including places on the bench. We will need at least one back spot on the bench, so Hame will be used to cover both back and front row I reckon.

I would go for someting like the following

Cusack
Berrigan
O'Meeley
Tickle
Fitz
Washbrook

Manu
Hame
Backcover
Houghton

For most games I'd have 2 props on the bench with a back rower and then a back. I'd ask Berrigan to play 80 minutes or use Washy to give him a quick breather if needs be. Houghton can play when berrigan picks up the odd injury or as an interchange if we are playing against a smaller pack.

Have we signed BillyJoe Backcover?

Let's be honest it's a pleasure to have a the number of options we clearly will have (baring another run of injuries). We will probably see some sort of rotation with our front and back row throughout the season keeping players fresh.

Agree with that, I was just interested in what people would class as the best pack/back row (in terms of balance of the team, not just the best players) at any one time. With all these options nobody really seems to have exactly the same idea about how we should use the pack/back row

The one thing I would hope we would all agree on is that Radford should not be used at loose forward ever again.

Injuries permitting it will be nice to have the choice of starting packs. Maybe some games a blitz them from the off type of pack may be prefered with both Manu and Lauaki starting as wide running 2nd row.

Horses for courses is certainly an option because of all the different attributes our sqaud players bring.

That would be mine with Whiting as backcover, who can also play in the forwards.

Dowes has to step up this year.

Unfortunately I get the feeling the one person whose opinion actually counts doesn't agree.

manu
radford or tickle (other on the bench)
fitzgibbon

I would favour that approach, especially to give players a rest during the season.

That's my fear!

Surely, with "his team" Agar can't go with the proven tripe he did last season, not even a fool would do that.

Lauaki I see as a prop/backrow. I personally don't want Dowes in the pack, he would be a weaker option for me. So I would name Moa/Lauaki on the bench as the props but when Lauaki comes on Fitz could actually play down the middle with lauaki playing wide and then there is no need for Dowes to play.

I wouldn't bet against that Standee!!!

He'll either have Fitzy or Radders at 13....both wasted there in my opinion. Would rather have Fitzy in 2nd row with washy at 13.

We'll have to wait and see......

or ask wolfie!